from Saratoga Casino and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Casino and Raceway will celebrate the culmination of the $300,000 third annual Joe Gerrity, Jr. Memorial Open Pacing Series on Saturday (August 20). One of the biggest highlights of the season, the series final features a purse of $129,250, along with a $25,000 consolation event. Post time is 7:20 p.m. and all attendees that purchase the $2 live racing program will receive a coupon redeemable for their free 2011 commemorative t-shirt.

To qualify for the lucrative final, the 39 horses nominated to compete in the series must have started in at least two legs of the series taking place between July 30 and August 13. The $129,250 final of the Gerrity Memorial takes place Saturday, featuring the top eight point earners from the three preliminary races.

Several notable horses will be going head to head in the final, including Real Nice (post eight), who won the $495,000 George Morton Levy Memorial final earlier this season and has earned $435,390 so far this year.

The 2010 Saratoga Casino and Raceway Horse of the Year, Kelly’s Noah (post two), will also be in the lineup, as well as Go Go Solano (post three), who went undefeated in the three preliminary legs of the Gerrity Series.

Former national trainer of the year, Mark Ford, will send out the uncoupled entry of Gallant Yankee (post five) and Malicious (post six). Rounding out the field are This Is Wyatt (post four), Urgent Action (post seven) and Benn’s Superman (post one).

“Because Go Go Solano swept all three legs and drew the three hole, he is the likely favorite for the final,” said Race Secretary Don Hoover. “His top competition will be reigning champ Kelly’s Noah with the two hole.”

Hoover said that Saturday’s final is not one to miss, and not only because the post position draw demands an exciting race from start to finish.

“The field has a lifetime combined earnings of over $3.5 million, so the overall strength of the 2011 Gerrity Pace is the best yet.”

Hoover also said that due to the depth of the field, the track record is likely in jeopardy.

The Memorial Pacing Series was created in 2009 to honor the memory of Joe Gerrity, Jr. and his many contributions. A highly respected leader, inspiration and an icon for Saratoga Raceway and the horse racing industry, he was a breeder of horses in Loudonville, a licensed harness driver and became Chairman of the Board of Saratoga Harness Racing, Inc. (now Saratoga Casino and Raceway) on April 1, 1987.

Gerrity later oversaw the expansion of the facility and the installation of video gaming machines, funding the project in part himself. He also served as a Director for the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State for 20 years, and also acted as Treasurer for much of that time. Gerrity passed away in October of 2005.

An additional card highlight for Saturday night is The August Fun Trotting Series Final, featuring a $78,000 purse and a showdown between Grain Of Truth and Lorenzo Dream.

Racing fans can also look forward to October 1 when the $1.4 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions heads off with a 7:05 p.m. post time.