from Plainridge Racecourse

Plainville, MA — The ability to get behind the starting gate in an actual race, the opportunity to send a driver into a dunk tank and a chance to win $50,000 are among the festivities when Plainridge Racecourse hosts Back to the Track weekend on Saturday (Aug. 23) and Sunday (Aug. 24).

Back to the Track weekend will kick off at 12 noon on Saturday with tours of the Plainridge barn area, in which local fans can get a behind the scenes look at all that goes into the Massachusetts harness racing industry. All fans participating in these tours will be entered into drawings to join in the racing action. Eight lucky fans will be drawn to join Plainridge drivers in a pair of exhibition races. Other winners will have the opportunity to announce a post parade, and to serve as a ceremonial marshal for a race.

Before and during the Saturday card, there will be a cookout featuring specials on burgers, hot dogs and drinks. Prior to first post, several Plainridge drivers will be flipping burgers while meeting and greeting the fans.

Several events will be featured on both Saturday and Sunday. The 2013 Hambletonian was won by the Massachusetts product Royalty For Life, and the sport’s premier trophy will be on display each day, allowing those in attendance the opportunity to see and have their picture taken with this prestigious award. A local vendor fair will also take place on both days, and the winner of each race will receive a cooler awarded by an area business. Between the races on both cards Plainridge drivers and trainers will be giving Back to the Track t-shirts to the crowd. Finally, there will also be activities for all members of the family, no matter their age.

Three unique promotions highlight the Sunday afternoon festivities. One is the exhibition races, where the lucky fans will climb aboard two seat jog carts and go behind the gate accompanied by one of the track’s leading drivers.

Back to the Track weekend at Plainridge will also feature a new twist on losing wagers. Any fan presenting a losing ticket from the Sunday card will have the opportunity to send a Plainridge driver into the water of a dunk tank.

The highlight of the weekend is the scratch ticket promotion, sponsored by MOMS Motorcycles of nearby Foxboro, in which one lucky patron can win $50,000 in cash.

The final Back to the Track event will take place following Sunday’s races when there will be a performance by the Berkshire Valley Boys band.

Post time is at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Planridge Racecourse is excited to be part of Back to the Track 2014, and urge fans to keep track of the entire schedule at this link.