by Joe Hartmann, for Plainridge Racecourse

PLAINVILLE, MA – With the completion of this Saturday’s U.S. Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands, the top free for all pacers in North America will be managing to grab a breather.

It could have the big names in the sport fresh and ready to compete in New England’s premier harness racing event, the Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace at Plainridge Racecourse on Monday afternoon, September 4.

Plainridge General Manager Steve O’Toole announced today that the purse for the Beckwith, an Invitational event, has been raised to $75,000 for the first time in the event’s history.

O’Toole said that Director of Racing Paul Verrette is making contacts with the top trainers in the county to have the bes6t of the best race at Plainridge.

Expected to be in the running for an Invitation is Maltese Artist who set a new all-age track record in capturing the 2005 event.