Northville Downs ready for opening day

Excitement and nicer weather are in the offering in Michigan as opening weekend at Northville Downs for live harness racing kicks off Friday, April 7^th, 2023.

Friday night features the $10,800 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap. A field of seven pacing mares do battle with Will Johnson’s Princess Rougarou, a lifetime earner of $338,319, leading the charge. She will take on the likes of Sam Mignano’s Danikova who has earned $363,206 in her lifetime, as well as Sandra Hennessey’s and Paula Sugars’ Sugar Dance who has earned $225,470 lifetime. Rounding out the field is Fiftyshadesofbliss, Artistic Cut, Cousin Margie and Come On Over.

Friday also features the ever-popular ‘dollar night’ at The Ville with one dollar popcorn, live race programs, pop and win bets, as well as two-dollar hot dogs, beer and hamburger specials will be offered to fans in attendance on-track.

Saturday’s program features a multitude of aged campaigners who have all earned their share of purse earnings over their careers. In the $9,000 Open 2 event (race two), Liberal ($343,816), Magic Shark ($268,865) and Quality Closer (1:49.2, $520,947) lead the field of seven pacers. The three have combined for 133 lifetime wins and over $1.133 million in purse earnings.

Then in race four, the $10,800 featured Open 1 Pace, a field of seven competitors will duke it out down the Boulevard of Broken Dreams to the finish. Leading the way in this group is 28-time winner and 2022 Michigan Aged Pacer of the Year Lying In Cash (1:50, $189,290) who captured 10 wins in 2022, including eight of those at the Open level at The Ville.

Taking on the 2022 Michigan champion are 54-time winner Dusto, 42-time winner Oh K Man, 20-time winner Jet’s Sureshot, 16-time winner Rockin Rusty, 9-time winner Pitt Panda and 26-time winner Ticks A Yankin. The stellar field has a combined for 195 lifetime wins and purse earnings just shy of $1.5 million.

Saturday night’s program features the $1 Pick Three wager on races 4-6 and the $1 Pick Four wager on races 6-9.

Racing will be contested every Friday and Saturday night from April 7^th through and including September 30^th, 2023. First race post time will be 7 p.m. each race night throughout the meet.

For live racing dining reservations, be sure to call Northville Downs in advance at 248-924-2073.

by Ken Terpenning, for Northville Downs