by Dale Zahn

Holland, MI — The prestigious Wolverine Futurity, featuring the state’s top 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers, will face the starting gate and race on Tuesday, July 27, at the Ottawa County Fair in Holland, Michigan.

It all began in 1942 in Croswell, with total purse money of less than $900 for the trot and pace divisions. The winning time for the inaugural pace was 2:16. Three years ago at Holland, Shark Dressed Man cruised the oval in track record time of 1:55.1.

Things have certainly changed, as has the racing climate in the Wolverine State. Fast forward to 1980 after the Futurity spent four years at Kinross. A Fair would ‘bid’ to get the rights to host the Wolverine and generally a couple thousand dollars would do the trick. Holland, with some significant harness racing roots and connections, entered the picture and bid the then enormous fee of $10,000 to bring the race to the Ottawa County Fair where it has remained ever since, being approved by the Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association.

During its 30-year run at the West Michigan facility, the track itself has become one of the finest of all Fair tracks, barns have continually been improved, the grandstand got covered and the marriage of great racing and great times at a great Fair became well known and widely appreciated.

Purses in 2010 are estimated to be in the $17,000 range. As an added attraction, a minimum of $2,500 will be awarded to lucky race fans for picking winners on the night’s program. Fans will simply select their favorites, enter them on an appropriate entry form contained in the racing program and from the pool of those correctly picking the winner in each race, a drawing will take place with prizes of $25, $50, $75 and $100. It’s proven to be quite a crowd pleaser at the Fair that has no wagering on its races.

The Wolverine Futurity is many things to many people and it all takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in the Tulip City, located just 2-1/2 hours from Chicago to the west and Detroit to the east, along the West Michigan Shoreline.

Further information on the Fair can be found at www.ottawacountyfair.com.