by Robert Lieberman

Norwood, MA — This coming Monday, Sept. 6, the 11th running of the Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace will take place at Plainridge Racecourse, with a slightly different twist to the race and just like in the past it will turn out to be another day of great racing.

This past Monday, August 30, and Tuesday, August 31, the eliminations took place for all the stakes to be contested on the Labor Day card and here are the fastest winning times for the different races.

The Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace: Camityourinmyway, trained by Stephen LaCasse, driven by D.T. Sumner and owned by Cynthia Stainaker and Stephen LaCasse, won in a time of 1:54.3. Also timed in 1:54.3 was Spongbobsquarepans, trained by Barrie Farrar and driven by Mike Micallef for owner Robert Bogigian.

Stan Bergstein Pace for 3-year-olds: Shoobee’s Place, trained by Nifty Norman, driven by Jim Hardy and owned by David McDuffee won in 1:52.

Joe Hartmann Memorial Pace: Fox Valley Shyboy won for trainer George Ducharme, driver Jim Hardy, and owner Michelle Larson in a time of 1:55.

Kurt Areamo Memorial Pace: Beach Enigma N scored for trainer/owner Mike Perpall and driver John Hogan in a time of 1:54.2.

Gary Kamal Memorial Pace: Joel Blue Chip won for trainer/owner Joel Wheeler, with driver Jim Hardy, in a time of 1:55.

Al “Bucky” Day Memorial Pace: Fox Valley Select was a winner for trainer Russell Lawson, owner Barbara Lawson and driver Todd O’Dea in a time of 1:56.1.

James Winters Memorial Pace: Bet On Betty won for trainer/driver Wallace Watson and owner Alfred Ross in a time of 1:54.2.

David Marshall Memorial Trot: Wild Run Hanover scored for trainer Paul Magan, driver Steve Nason and owner Bradford Dowty in a time of 1:59.

To add to the excitement, leading driver Jim Hardy was able to drive four winners on Monday and another two winners on Tuesday, so Labor Day could turn out to be a very lucrative day for the leading driver.

One final note on the Tuesday card, 20-year-old provisional driver Andrew Harrington startled the racing world at Plainridge when he proceeded to stop the timer behind Arid N with times of :27.3, :56.4, 1:25 and 1:53.2, which is not only Harrington’s fastest mile ever, but was the fastest mile of the day.

Arid N is trained by Robert Ward and owned by Arthur Brewer II.

When Harrington returned to the paddock, he was welcomed by all the drivers to congratulate him on his very rewarding and memorable race.

This Thursday (Sept. 2), racing starts at 4 p.m., but starting Monday (Labor Day) and until the end of the meet, post time will be at 1 p.m.