by Jack Ginnetti
Marlborough, MA —- Although the largest crowd of the season was focused on Plainridge’s 16th memorial tribute to Bert Beckwith, the fourth generation of the Nason family had themselves a day to remember.
The biggest races of the Labor Day afternoon’s 12-race card with memorial tributes were won by Steve and John Nason.
Steve took home the bacon with his win in the $20,000 Stan Bergstein Pace with Trigger Finger (1:52.2), after finishing ahead of the pack in the $7,500 Joe Hartman Memorial consolation with Hurricane Emily (1:54.1).
But there was plenty more to come. John (the father) had a rail trip with Grey Bomber (1:55.1) to pick up the winner’s share in the $20,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial.
Again, there was more of the Nason mystique that took place prior to post time. Arthur Nason and the famed Mountain Skipper were the track’s 19th recipients named to the Plainridge Wall of Fame. Arthur Nason won more than 1,600 races, nearly all of them on the New England circuit. Mountain Skipper was not only a dominant horse in New England in the early 1970s, he was a national figure.
Interviewed after the Beckwith race, John Nason said, “It’s like living a dream. I cut the mile out and it worked to my advantage.”
Besides Steve and John, the elder Nason said his stepson, Andrew Harrington, is doing quite well at Scarborough Downs.
The Legends Driving Series, thanks to his two first place wins, went to veteran Hall of Famer John Hogan, who earned $3,000 with trips to the winner’s circle with Do You Really in the opener and Much Bettor Merit in the fifth.
But Hogan wasn’t through. He completed his driving tribe with Hi Speed Delivery (1:56.2) in the nightcap.
The New England Amateur Drivers Club and the C.K.G. Billings Amateur were won by Rompaway Alvin and Wine Guide.
Race tributes were also made to Ken Heeney, James Morrill Sr., Kurt Areano, Gary Kamal, James Winters, Ron Pasquantonio (won by Prince Rocco), David Marshall and Bucky Day. The presentation of red coolers after each race was a picture taking moment.
National Hall of Famer John Berry from Pompano, Florida, handled commentary between races.