by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — WEG Standardbred racing is set to return to Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville for the 51st season of live racing.

The 102-day meet will kick off on Thursday (May 22) and live racing will be held five nights a week on Mondays, Tuesdays (except May 27 and Oct. 7), Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Each race night will have a 7:25 p.m. first race post time.

“It’s an exciting time of the year,” noted driver Jonathan Drury. “Everyone looks forward to the return of Mohawk because that means it’s summer time and a full schedule of great stakes events. Other drivers, along with fans and customers, are going to have a lot of fun this summer.”

The most anticipated event on the stakes calendar is the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup, featuring the finest 3-year-old pacers, set for Saturday (June 14). The evening will offer a special post time of 6:45 p.m.

Stakes action begins immediately at Mohawk, with the SBOA Stakes eliminations for 3-year-old filly pacer and trotters featured on the initial Saturday card, and continues almost non-stop until fall.

Major stakes engagements include the Maple Leaf Trot (Saturday, July 19), the Metro Pace, Canadian Pacing Derby and She’s A Great Lady Stakes (Saturday, August 30) and the Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage Stakes, Peaceful Way Stakes and William Wellwood Memorial (Saturday, Sept. 13).

Ribs will be prominent throughout Pepsi North America Cup weekend as Crabby’s BBQ Shack and Silver Bullet BBQ will play host to fans.The popular ‘Your First Bet Is On Us’ promotion returns. Every customer can register on site for a free $2 bet. Fans can also visit Labatt’s Beerville to play great games and win cool prizes.

Mohawk Racetrack will also be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the town of Campbellville. Mohawk will host fireworks on Friday (June 13) with a special post time of 7:05 p.m.

Mohawk fans can also follow the action each night on Twitter. Hosts Mike Hamilton, along with track announcer Ken Middleton and Greg Gangle, will offer ‘tweets’ during each live program aimed at giving customers more race related information.

You can follow them on Twitter at the following: Hamilton_WOMoh, Middleton_WOMoh, GGangle_WOMoh.

Fans should also be sure to check out Mohawk’s Trackside Bar for its nightly specials throughout the meet.

The specials are: Monday – 1/2 Price Wings; Tuesday – Bud & Burger, Thursday – Steak N Stella; and Friday – Thank Cod It’s Friday.

Patrons are also encouraged to engage with Mohawk Racetrack through its Facebook page, found by clicking the following link.

Also fans can go to www.Twitter.com to sign on to Twitter and then search for the following harness racing stars.

Drivers:
Aaron Byron – @ByronAaron
Chris Christoforou – @CCAstreos
Dan Clements – @DanielWClements
Jonathan Drury – @JDruryRacing
Billy Davis Jr. – @BillyDavisRacin
Phil Hudon – @Whodon99
Jonathan Drury – @JDruryRacing
Anthony Haughan – @AHaughan
Jody Jamieson – @JodyJamRacing
James MacDonald – @JamesOMac26
Anthony MacDonald – @HorseRacingAMac
Doug McNair – @DMcNair12
Scott Young – @YoungieAnswers
Scott Zeron – @ScottZeron

Trainers:
Carmen Auciello – @CarmenAuciello
Nick Boyd – @Ralphie9
Blair Burgess – @Desibesi
Casie Coleman – @FastLane111
Danny Girard – @DannyGirard1
Mark Horner – MarkHorner44
Corey Johnson – @SeaJay09
Blake MacIntosh – @BlakeMacRacing
Robert McIntosh – @BobMcIntosh52
Jason McGinnis – @JasonMcGinnis21
Anthony Montini – @MontiniRacing
Mike Sinclair – @Sinny51
Shawn Steacy – @S_Steacy