by Jay Hochstetler

Pinehurst, NC — The Pinehurst Driving and Training Club Spring Matinee, presented by Preferred Equine Marketing, is set for Sunday (April 8) in Pinehurst, N.C.

The annual celebration of Standardbreds in the Sandhills expects good weather and another large crowd with last year’s event hosting more than 4,000 patrons.

A new wrinkle to the matinee races in 2018 is the Race for the Cure. Five Pinehurst trainees adorned in pink equipment will be piloted by Pinehurst horsewomen who will be sporting pink shirts and whips. The pink whips will be raffled after the race with all proceeds donated to breast cancer research. Hambletonian winning trainer Linda Toscano starts from the rail and will be joined by fellow Hambletonian winner Paula Wellwood as well as fellow Pinehurst trainers Kim Miller, Jennifer Davis and Alison Hynes.

The rest of the races are packed with some of the best and brightest 2-year-old pupils Pinehurst has to offer. The eight-race card is filled with sons and daughters of the premier stallions in harness racing including Captaintreacherous, American Ideal, Muscle Hill, Cantab Hall and Sweet Lou.

Fans will be treated to plenty of opportunities to win outstanding prizes via the Pick-A-Winner challenge for every race as well as several other giveaways throughout the card.

The revenue from the fans and sponsors of the Pinehurst Matinee helps the Pinehurst Driving and Training Club in their humanitarian efforts to donate funds to local charities and harness racing charities across the country. Opening ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. with post time for the first race at 1:30 p.m.