by Joe Hartmann, for Plainridge Racecourse

Plainville, MA — Maine native Bruce Ranger, who began his career with successful stints in Maine and Massachusetts, and who has gone on to be successful at every track he has raced at, comes home to New England for Labor Day and has accepted an invitation from the management of Plainridge Racecourse to compete in the first annual New England Legends races, a part of Bert Beckwith Day festivities.

The New England Legends will feature those living members of the New England Harness Racing Wall of Fame, that is on display at Plainridge Racecourse.

Those invited to compete in the New England Legends include Jim Doherty, Willard Beckwith, John Hogan, Peter Blood, Leigh Fitch, Ted Wing, Steve O’Toole, Bruce Ranger and Greg Bowden. Gary Kamal will also be invited to participate in the Legends activities.

Closing in on 7,000 career victories, Ranger has earned more than $25 million in purses while continuing to be one of the most consistent performers in the Standardbred sport. Since 1998, Ranger has had a Universal Driver Rating System percentage of better than .400 on four different occasions and is the leading all-time driver in Pompano Park history.

The biggest day of the year in New England harness racing, the Labor Day card at Plainridge Racecourse will be highlighted by the 12th edition of the $75,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace and the $20,000 Ron Pasquantonio Memorial Trot. In addition, Plainridge will host the New England Legends races as well as announce the addition of the late David Marshall as the newest member of the New England Wall of Fame.