by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — On Saturday, March 17, Northfield Park’s clubhouse restaurant features a special St. Patrick’s Day buffet, at the regular $18.95 weekend price.

In addition to a full salad bar, complete dessert selection and carved meats, the Irish-themed feast assembled by Food and Beverage Director Tony “O’Minelli” features corned beef and cabbage, Irish beef stew, chicken in Irish Whisky sauce, fish and chips, soda bread and more.

So quaff a Jamieson’s, a Harp, or a Bailey’s, enjoy some great harness racing and dine like King Niall. Best of all, in honor of St. Patrick, who according to legend, rid Ireland of snakes, the track WILL NOT feature a reptile display.

Springing Into Battle: The $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie is Saturday, April 21, and several horses are inching closer to earning invitations to the prestigious event.

Load The Dice, trained by Michile Lorenzo, won the $157,000 Isle of Capri final at Florida’s Pompano Park last week in a track record 1:49.3. Locally owned 2005 Battle champ Maltese Artist was second. If the Lorenzo name is familiar, it’s because Michile’s husband Rod sent Joey Zaza to the Battle in 2002. Load The Dice is owned by the Engel Stable, the Sheffield Stable and D.R. Van Witzenburg.

Meanwhile, Robert Messick’s Roddy Bags Again has taken two straight top races at Dover Downs, and Let It Ride Stable and Robert Cooper’s Ewie Duncan N, a recent New Zealand import, is setting the Meadowlands on fire, winning five of six.

The Battle of Lake Erie website debuts April 3, with profiles of all the contenders, as well as history and Battle trivia.

This And That: Driver Elliott Deaton, currently third in the local standings, hopes to be back in action this weekend after being involved in a first race accident Saturday that saw four of the eight horses in the race not finish. Tony Rose was also injured, suffering a wrenched knee, but is expected to be back in action Monday evening.

Ryan Stahl’s four wins Saturday pushed him ahead of Deaton in the rankings, while 1997 driving champ Ray Fisher, Jr. had five winners Saturday to move into sixth place.

Don’t forget, the clocks “spring ahead” early on Sunday morning, March 11, and that will affect the post times at several daytime tracks. Go to www.northfieldpark.com/simulcasting.asp to get the current schedule.

The next Players Club mailing will include points earned through Tuesday, March 20, and will be mailed on Friday morning, March 23.

Steve Cetinsky’s Oozie’s Bad Boy, racing in $4,000 claiming races at the end of December, stepped up to win Saturday’s $10,000 Invitational Pace in 1:54.4. The Bad Boy took a lifetime mark of 1:53.2 last week.

Your humble scribe will be “walking with his feet ten-feet off of Beale,” next week, so the traditional NCAA March Madness Keeping Pace edition will be delayed until the field has been pared to 16, but have no fear, I will press forward on March 19 with my fearless prognostications. Go Winthrop.