by Keith Gisser, director of publicity, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — The atmosphere was festive on Saturday night (August 25) at Northfield, as the track’s 50th Anniversary celebration culminated with a car giveaway.

The name of a Northfield regular, John Ciocca of Northfield Village, was drawn from over 15,000 entries as the winner of the brand new Pontiac G6 convertible valued at nearly $30,000. Jay Automotive Group, which also celebrates 50 years of business this year, sponsored two auto drawings at the track this year.

Patrons were treated to cupcakes after a ceremonial cake cutting that featured first year drivers including Fritz Talcott, Jim Mace, Don McKirgan, Walter Young and George Ursitti, while State Representative Tom Patton and Northfield Village Mayor Victor Milani were also on hand for the party.

A Super Night: Ohio’s $1 million Super Night, which Northfield hosts on Saturday, September 1, was finalized after the contesting of four Ohio Sires Stakes and two Scarlet and Gray eliminations on the track’s anniversary card.

Freshman colt trotters Rose Run Jeriah and Born To Bea Master confirmed their status as favorites next week with impressive wins in their $20,400 races. The 2-year-old colt pacers Show Me Big Slick and divisional track record holder Hello Yankee both led at nearly every call in their $21,900 splits, also establishing their claims as top contenders for Super Night.

Tre Bien and Stringtowner dominated their $10,000 Scarlet and Gray elims. The favored pair will be joined in Saturday’s final by Coal Black Beauty, Civil Attack, Laughing Is An Art, Ron Jeremy, Private Room and Expresso Forte. The other three divisions of the Scarlet and Gray did not require eliminations.

Super Night entries are due by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday (August 29) and the draw will be posted at www.northfieldpark.com/entries.asp around 12:00 noon that day.

For dining reservations on Ohio’s richest night of racing this year, call (330) 467-4101.

Don’t Sleep In: You may be resting from your labors on Monday, September 3, but don’t rest too long! Northfield begins simulcasting at 12:05 p.m. with thoroughbred action from Philadelphia Park, followed shortly by racing from Delaware Park and Calder Race Course. Pacers and trotters go behind the gate at 12:30 p.m. with simulcasts from Freehold Raceway, while Chester Downs starts at 12:45 p.m. and Scioto Downs races a matinee card at 1:00 p.m.

The action will be hot and heavy throughout the day and night, with 35 tracks scheduled.

Get the whole list at www.northfieldpark.com/simulcast_schedule.asp.

There is no live racing at Northfield on Labor Day.

V.P. Of Handicapping? The Little Brown Jug is less than a month away and Northfield Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi will once again be co-hosting the simulcasts from the Delaware County Fair. He will be joined by Sam McKee, Ellie Sarama and a cast of thousands.

Northfield simulcasts all five days of the central Ohio festivities, starting Sunday right through the Thursday, September 20, Little Brown Jug. On Monday and Wednesday (Jugette Day) of that week, the track simulcasts the Delaware Fair card only, until its regular mid-afternoon simulcasts begin.