by Matt Sparacino, publicity director, Harrington Raceway

Harrington, DE — The draw for the inaugural Bobby Quillen Memorial Pace for older pacers at Harrington Raceway was completed with 15 of the sport’s top older horses entering the rich event which will boast a final of $345,500 (est.) on October 22.

It will be the highest purse ever at Harrington and second highest ever offered in Delaware, as the top four finishers in each elimination division will return. The elims will be contested on Monday, October 15.

The race has drawn arguably the best group of pacers ever to Delaware’s half-mile track, including the likes of the sport’s top money earner among the older pacing ranks, Joe Muscara’s Mister Big, who has banked nearly $1.3 million this year for trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr.

T-shirts will be given to the first 350 patrons on the night of the final.

The race is named in honor of the late Bobby Quillen, who was a popular state legislator and member of the Harrington Raceway Board of Directors. He was an avid lover of harness racing and always supported the sport locally. If he would have been alive to see the quality of the fields, he would have most certainly used his everyday phrase of ‘never better.’

Final driver changes and morning line odds will be available by 12:00 noon Thursday.

$30,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial eliminations
First elimination – 7th Race
Post – Horse – Driver
1 – Maltese Artist – Yannick Gingras
2 – Mister Big – David Miller
3 – Silent Swing – Phil Hudon
4 – Fake Denario N – Tim Tetrick
5 – Holborn Hanover – George Brennan
6 – True North Hanover – Donnie Russell
7 – Pacific Renegade – Ron Pierce

Second elimination – 8th Race
1 – Jereme’s Jet – Tony Morgan
2 – Western Ace – Jim Morand
3 – Palone Ranger – Ron Pierce
4 – Mypanmar – John Campbell
5 – Tarver Hanover – Tim Tetrick
6 – Cheyenne Hollywood – Tony Morgan
7 – Dream Rocket – Tony Morgan
8 – Gold Dust Beach – David Miller