by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — The Beckwith and Bergstein classics will once again be contested on Labor Day (September 6) at Plainridge Racecourse.

Three weeks from now the holiday festivities will once again bring hard core racing fans together for another enjoyable weekend which honors greats of the present and the past.

The Bergstein is named after the legendary Stan Bergstein, executive vice-president of Harness Tracks of America. It carries a purse of $25,000 added and will go postward prior to the Beckwith final.

The Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace will take on a new format that race secretary Paul Verrette hopes will draw horses already on the grounds. The race tribute to the late Bert Beckwith began in 1994 when Village Jiffy scored a head victory over Shady Daisy for a purse of $50,000 at Foxboro Raceway.

Last year’s Beckwith was won by Foiled Again with Dave Palone making his first Plainridge appearance. Palone said after the race that “It was a privilege to drive in a race named for one of the best horsemen that ever lived.”

Bert Beckwith was all of that and more.

The festive weekend at the Plainville, Massachusetts racecourse also featues the Legends series, memorial races and the track’s “Wall of Fame” inductee.