by Ayers Ratliff, for Northfield Park

Northfield,OH — Northfield Park is hosting the “Pace for the Cure” on Saturday (Oct. 15),part of “Pinktober,” a month-long effort to raise funds to fight breast cancerat the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park.

The onemile dash, which carries a purse of $7,500, is the fifth race on the live cardand features all female drivers to celebrate and help raise money for Susan G.Komen of Northeast Ohio as part of the Hard Rock Rocksino Pinktober Campaign.

“NorthfieldPark is committed to playing an active role in the Hard Rock Rocksino’sPinktober event,” said Brent Reitz, Northfield Park Vice President and GeneralManager. “The ‘Pace for the Cure’ is a great way to highlight both harnessracing and the awareness and support for breast cancer research.”

The raceis the centerpiece event of an Oktoberfest Saturday, a night packed with plentyof activities for harness racing fans.

Therewill be a dice roll for prizes (6-7 p.m.) and a beer slide (7-8 p.m.) withrailbirds competing for prizes, as well as a Leinenkugel Stein hoistcompetition at 9 p.m.

The LadyLuck Clubhouse will offer an Oktoberfest themed buffet from 6-9 p.m. for$14.95. Reservations can be made by calling 330-467-4101.

Fans canalso join in the drive to eliminate breast cancer by purchasing raffle tickets($1 each or five for $3) and depositing their raffle tickets in bags thatcorrespond with their favorite “Pace for the Cure” driver. Tickets from thewinning bag will be entered into a drawing for prizes.

Raffletickets can be purchased at Northfield’s promotional table on the first levelof the grandstand on Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. and continuing until posttime for the fifth race.

Inaddition, fans can show their support for “The Pace” is to purchase a limitededition commemorative “Pace for the Cure” t-Shirt for only $10.

Themonies raised as a result of Pinktober at Northfield will help Susan G. KomenNortheast Ohio to provide vital services like free mammograms and clinicalbreast exams through partnerships with local healthcare facilities; diagnosticservices, including ultrasounds, biopsies, and advanced services; and survivorsupport, including financial, transportation and other services.

Among theparticipants in this year’s Pace for the Cure is Devan Miller, perhaps thehighest winning percentage female driver in the game today.

Miller,winner of the Lady Pace Driving Championship at the historic Delaware CountyFair on Sept. 20, has won eight of her 16 drives this year, with threerunner-up finishes and a pair of thirds. Miller, 28 of Columbus, haslicense to be good. She is the daughter of David Miller, perhaps the mostaccomplished driver to hail from Ohio.

Beaten ina photo finish in the Delaware race is Ulrika Fox, who’ll compete in thisyear’s Pace for the Cure. Fox has won six of 18 drives this year.

Also set tosquare off in the Pace for the Cure are local trainer/drivers Rachel Kaneokaand Rosy Weaver, along with Jayne Weller, Jamie Coffy, Casey Wolfe, ChristinaEvans and Renee Bauslaugh.

Weller isthe most accomplished among the drivers. She has registered nearly 200victories and is the daughter of June Weller, the only female to ever drive inharness racing’s crown jewel, the Little Brown Jug.

Admissionand parking are free every day at Northfield Park. First race post timeis 6 p.m.