by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Columbus, OH — The Wolverine Futurity, held annually at the Ottawa County Fair in Holland, Michigan since 1980, will remain in place for 2009 and will be contested on July 28.

The Wolverine Futurity featured a total purse of $250,000 last year.

The Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association Bronze Circuit also will be contested at the fair on July 30 and 31. The MHHA’s Silver Circuit will not appear this year, because of state budget cuts.

“I went to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and they gave us the Futurity. They wanted to keep it here,” Ottawa County Fair president Earl Welling told the Holland (MI) Sentinel.

Welling also told the paper he negotiated to split the 20-race Bronze Circuit over two days. He wanted to offer more than two days of harness racing, including a session on the July 31 Retiree’s Day that is well received. Welling added that the Fair has to raise money to fund the cost of racing over two days.