by Dale P. Zahn, Racing Director

Holland, MI — The stars of the program will be the horses and the drivers competing for nearly $100,000 as the Ottawa County Fair in Holland, Michigan once again presents the running of the prestigious Wolverine Futurity Races. While fast, colorful, close-up competition along with the sound of hoofbeats will get the heartbeats racing, this year’s program will be a “Show, a night of Entertainment and fun unlike any other,” according to Race Director Dale Zahn. The goal this year is to make for a fan and horseman friendly event that is full of non-stop entertainment and great value for the cost of admission!

Professor Brian Nielsen and the MSU chariot.

This year, the Wolverine Futurity will welcome “The Spartan!” Mr. Brian Nielsen, Professor of Equine Exercise Physiology at Michigan State University, will bring a retired standardbred racehorse to Holland to hitch up to a specially designed Spartan Chariot while he dresses up as a Spartan gladiator and takes the reins! Families are invited to come meet this team, have a photo taken and see the versatility of the breed! At 6:45 p.m., the Green and White will assist on the racetrack with the Opening Flag Raising Ceremony as the Red, White and Blue is presented by members of the Boy Scouts of America.

Over the years, many fans in the Ottawa County Fair Grandstand have had to deal with bright sun that sets right over turn three on the racetrack. Fair Officials this year will be providing absolutely free to the first 500 paid admission guests, colorful visors. Once the 500 are gone, an additional supply is available for a small charge…..as if that isn’t enough, at various times during the evening, harness racing drivers and others from the Fair will be tossing dozens of t-shirts into the grandstand. The Race Director commented, “often people in the upper seats get left out, so, this year we’re going to send some people up into the stands to make sure all of our guests from the high seats to the lower ones, east to west, get a chance to win a t-shirt that says ‘County Fair Harness Racing – Where It All Began.’”

Continuing the entertainment theme, plans are, time permitting, to host a “Bouncy Bounce Race” to spotlight the unsung heroes of the sport, the grooms who will ride specially inflated horses in a fierce competition to the finish line! Something the kids will surely enjoy is meeting and greeting “Happy Horse” courtesy of the Michigan Harness Horseman’s Association. So, come on out and have a picture taken with Happy Horse!

For the harness racing enthusiasts that like to handicap the races and pick winners, back by popular demand will be the pick a winner contest in which 2 – $50 cash prizes will be awarded to fans picking the winners of each Futurity race. Complete details will be included in the Official race program.

Another special guest appearance has been arranged that will feature a 27 year-old musician/race caller that is flying in from his home on the east coast just to announce at the Wolverine Futurity and to entertain fans with his live bugle calls and music between races! Professional race announcer, composer and musician James Witherite, chief announcer at Harrah’s Philadelphia will be at the mic all evening and will be joined by a Michigan resident and occasional radio host of Triple Crown racing programs in Lansing, Steve Wing, who will conduct lively driver interviews from the winners circle.

“We want this year’s running of the Wolverine Futurity to be a very full, fun-filled night of entertainment and first class harness racing featuring the best 2 and 3-year-old trotters and pacers in our State,” Zahn said. “We hope when the lights go out after the last race that people leave saying, Now That’s Entertainment!” Post-time for the first race on the swift half- mile racetrack on Ottawa Beach Road, just east of the State Park is set for Tuesday, July 23 at 7 p.m.