by Keith Gisser, director of publicity, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Northfield will drop Tuesday live racing after the February 12 card, two weeks earlier than originally announced.

The track will replace those two dates with live racing on Wednesday, July 23 and Wednesday, July 30. You can always get the most current version of Northfield’s live racing schedule by logging on to our Web site and clicking on the following link.

Scarlet and Gray: February 15 is the deadline for 4-year-old Ohio-breds to sustain or supplement to the Scarlet and Gray Stakes.

The $250 sustaining payment or $2,500 supplemental nomination fee should be sent to Northfield Park, P.O. Box 374, Northfield, OH 44067, Attention: Race Office.

The $200,000 Scarlet and Gray is the only stake for Ohio-breds that is separated by gait and gender. The rich Scarlet and Gray finals will be raced Saturday, August 30, with eliminations, if needed, contested the week before.

The 3-year-olds have a sustaining payment of $100 due on March 15, while freshman payments are due April 15. For a complete list of nominees and the Scarlet and Gray entry form, click on this link. You can also call Director of Racing Gregg Keidel at (330)467-4101, extension 300.

Caretaker and Wall nominees due: Attention trainers and horse owners: Northfield will name Caretakers of the Year as part of its triennial Wall of Fame ceremony.

Northfield is inducting a new class into its Wall of Fame on April 30, 2008, and while official nomination forms are available in our programs, an e-mail to info@northfieldpark.com also allows the Wall’s Board of Trustees to consider an equine or human racing star for an award.

Four new members will be named to the Wall, and the track will also name a Horse of the Year, a Distinguished Owner, and the winner of the John Lee Good Fellowship Award.

To nominate for any award, simply list the name of the individual and the award for which you wish him or her considered, along with a synopsis of the achievements that make the person or horse worthy of that honor. The nomination form may be mailed to the track or left with the switchboard operator.

This ‘N That: Saturday’s clubhouse restaurant special is a $9.95 marinated steak panini, stuffed with cheese, onions and ‘shrooms, and served with fries. Friday, try the $8.95 open face roast beef sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes for $8.95. Your humble carnivore, err, scribe gives both two thumbs (or should that be forks?) up. Lenten specials will be offered starting Friday, February 8…John Allen’s Hannah’s Dragon, trained by Kevin Ehrhardt, saw her six-race win streak end Friday night, but she remains tied with Daryl Sherman’s Zakman for the local lead, with four victories this year…The nomination form for the 2008 Night of Champions, is available by clicking on this link or from the race office. April 15 is the entry deadline. County fair performers rack up points during the season in order to earn a spot in one of eight $17,500 (est.) finals, which will be raced Saturday, October 4.