by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — Want to work that Thanksgiving dinner off? Plainridge Racecourse has the answer when the curtain comes down on its 10th season with a blockbuster 13-race card on Friday, November 28. Post time is 12:30 p.m. (EST).

Along with two $10,000 open events the track will present year-end awards to Jim Hardy, the meet’s leading driver-trainer, Jennifer Allen, leading owner in amount of purses won, and Joel Wheeler, who led all owners in trips to the winner’s circle.

“This shapes up as a ‘blockbuster day,'” COO Gary Piontkowski commented. “It’s a superb way to end our 2008 meeting.”

With regular driver-trainers Hardy, Mike Eaton, John Hogan, Brad Irvine, Todd O’Dea, the Guidettes, Wallace Watson, John Nason, Stephen Quinn, Bonnie Rush, Shaun Scott and Robert Dinning giving fans much to cheer about all season, and veteran trainer Mike Perpall among the meet’s top five trainers, close finishes have been occuring with regularity. The track also received much support from members of the New England Amateur Drivers Club and its president Bill Abdelnour.

Walter Case, Jr. made his Plainridge debut on November 21. With 15 drives to his credit over three Plainridge racing programs, Case (11,033 career wins) has compiled five wins, four seconds and three third-place finishes. On Friday the Maine native drives in 10 races.

And then there’s fond memories of this year’s 13th running of the Beckwith Memorial Pace on Labor Day and the induction of Paul Battis to the track’s ‘Wall of Fame,’ whom Piontkowski said is enhanced by “his presence.” Its 16 members have won 38,439 races and $137,192,794 in purse money.

Unsung praises go out to staffers Paul Verrette, racing secretary; Frank Dubreuil, paddock judge; Richard Flanders, starter; Russ Paige, facilities manager; Lenny Calderone, announcer; and Gerald Rocco, Jr., track superintendent.