The harness racing season is getting closer in Manitoba. The stake race schedule has been released, and plenty of big-time racing will occur.
The first stake race of the summer will be the Lady Crocus, which will be held on July 15th. The 76th running of the Manitoba Great Western Stakes will occur on August 26th. Traditionally, the eliminations were held on the same day, but it was changed last year to having them the week prior. The Futurity Final is usually the richest of the events and will take place on September 9th. The tentative last day of racing (September 23rd) will see three separate finals.
The following is the list of race dates with corresponding stake races:
July 15th: Lady Crocus
August 5th: Futurity Eliminations
August 12th: Golden Boy & Silk Lace Leg 1
August 19th: Manitoba Great Western Eliminations
August 26th: Manitoba Great Western Final
September 2nd: Four-year-old Stakes
September 9th : Futurity Final & Kindergarten
September 16th: Golden Boy & Silk Lace Leg 2
September 23: Golden Boy & Silk Lace Final & Juvenile
All these dates are subject to change. September 30th is the rain-out date if needed.
The racing schedule still needs to be officially released, but the tentative one has qualifiers being held on June 10th at 1:00 p.m. and real racing beginning on June 24th at 2:00 p.m., both at the Loop in Winnipeg. In addition, Miami Fair is expected to have two race days on July 22nd and July 29th. The remaining race days are scheduled to be held at the brand-new Loop, located at the Red River Exhibition Association grounds on the outskirts of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Once the official schedule is released, Harnesslink will have everything you need to know about harness racing in Manitoba.
by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink