by Greg Blanchard, WEG media

Campbellville, ON — Just weeks away from summer and the hotter temperatures, many racing fans are warming to the idea of a return of harness racing, this Thursday night, May 20, to Mohawk for a 108-day meet.

For the last seven months, Standardbred racing was conducted at Woodbine, but the scene shifts west to the Campbellville track that many consider the home of harness racing in the greater Toronto area.

“I just love Mohawk,” said veteran trainer Glenn Lalonde. “All the farms are all within a 30- or 40-minute radius of Mohawk so it makes it a lot easier on the horsemen.”

Racing will be conducted Thursday through Saturday nights, plus Monday and Tuesday nights, until October 16. Post time is 7:30 p.m., except for Mondays when the excitement starts at 7:20 p.m.

One of the highlights of the meet comes early during one of the rare Sunday cards. Mohawk’s annual Fireworks and Family Fun Night celebration is set for this Sunday, May 23. A special first race post time is set for 6:30 p.m. Other Sunday cards are scheduled for August 1 and September 5.

The C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old pacers, North America’s richest harness race, is set for Saturday, June 26.

Other major race dates this summer include the Maple Leaf Trot on Saturday, July 24; the Metro Pace and Canadian Pacing Derby on Saturday, September 4; and the Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday, September 18.

There will also be some new twists on the summer meet this year.

On the wagering side, the Early Pick-4 on Monday nights will now feature a C$50,000 guaranteed pool. With added exposure on the TVG network, the pool has swelled to over C$60,000 the last two weeks.

Also on Mondays, a new two-hour show called Bet Night Live will debut on the Score. The show, which replaces Race Night On The Score, is built around a four-race online wagering contest and promises to be fast-paced and informative. For more information, visit www.horseplayerinteractive.com.

Customer Service will also be ramping up the on-track experience on race nights as well with selected promotions and giveaways throughout the summer.

“Both the customers and the racing community look forward to this time of year when we go back to Mohawk,” said Bruce Murray, WEG’s Vice-President of Standardbred Racing. “With most of our major stakes contested at Mohawk now, plus the big purses and large fields, it’s the best harness racing has to offer on this continent.”

Information about the meet is available daily at www.mohawkracetrack.com.