Saratoga Springs, NY — On Saturday (July 24), Saratoga Casino Hotel will welcome some of the country’s top harness racing talent for the 12th edition of the track’s biggest race — the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace. This year’s memorial pace features a $150,000 purse.

In addition, the evening’s card will highlight 10 New York Sire Stakes races with 2-year-old pacing colts competing for $200,000 in total purses.

The 2021 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace features a well-balanced field of top pacers including world record holder This Is The Plan, who has more than $500,000 in earnings this year. Another top contender is Nicholas Beach, who is coming off a stakes win and a world-record qualifying mile prepping for this event.

“We have an incredibly competitive field for our marquee race of the year,” said Peter Iovino, Race Secretary at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “With the top two contenders drawing the outside posts, it should be an excellent race for the betting public.”

The first post time for Saturday is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. As always, parking and admission are free.

The memorial pace was created in 2009 as a dedication to Joe Gerrity Jr., a highly respected figure in the area’s equine development and an integral leader of Saratoga Harness. Gerrity was a breeder of horses in Loudonville and licensed harness driver before becoming Chairman of the Board for Saratoga Harness Racing, Inc. in 1987. He later oversaw the expansion and development of the facility as it became the premier property to feature video lottery terminals in New York State. Mr. Gerrity passed away in October of 2005.