by Mike Wandishin

Harness racing action will return to the Great Pocomoke City Fair on Saturday, August 6, at 1 p.m. This is a new date and earlier in August than has been the norm for the last decade.

As always a card of fun exhibition racing, plus the second season of sanctioned races will take place. The entry box will open Monday, August 1, and close Wednesday, August 3, at 12 noon. Entries will be available on the USTA’s site by 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4.

The Dawn Trader Memorial, for female drivers, and The Jack Dolby Stars of The Future continue to be integral parts of the card. The Dawn Trader Memorial remembers local driver-trainer Dawn Trader who was one of the sport’s leading female drivers and passed away far too soon.

The Jack Dolby Stars of the Future returns for its ninth season and gives teenagers, aged 14 and up, who have been behind the gate and have a letter of recommendation from an “A” driver, the chance to compete in a race. Some of the graduates of this race include Justin Brenneman, Brandon Givens, Harry Landy, Jeff McIntrye, Chris Sharpe, Charlene (Polk) Sharpe, Montrell Teague, B.J. Truitt, Jr., and many others.

“So many people in the sport complain that we can’t get and keep youngsters interested in harness racing and this is our way of helping to keep those that are involved interested until they can compete in sanctioned, formal races (at age 18),” says Jack Dolby, long time respected horseman and chairman of harness racing at the Fair.

The always popular “Heavyweight Challenge” will return for those drivers that are a “bit short for their weight” (drivers weighing over 250 pounds) and will be an exhibition race(s). Races will be written specifically for 2-year-olds and maidens and the rest will be handicapped type races. Horses can enter for either exhibition or sanctioned races. The exhibition races give the grooms, trainers and owners a chance to drive during a race.

For more details, contact Mike Wandishin, Director of Racing, (765.621.7959) or Chuck Barnes (443.235.9009) for more details.