London,
April 20, 2015 -- The Raceway at Western Fair District will have its 2016 Wall
of Fame induction ceremony this Friday night and will honour a man who captured
many of The Raceway’s greatest moments on film - long-time track photographer
Harry Holme.
Holme began
his career at the Western Fair Raceway in 1961 when he was hired by one of the
pioneers of modern-day harness racing in Ontario, Evan McGugan. Holme would ply
his trade at the London oval for more than four decades and eventually took
over the photography of many of the Western Fair Association’s signature
events, including the annual 10-day Western Fair.
Holme, who
passed away this past October at age 84, will be honoured during a trackside
ceremony and unveiling during Friday’s program.
That same
night, The Raceway will host its first ever Horse Ownership Trade Show. The
event takes place in the main lobby from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and will feature
fractional ownership groups, private trainers and various industry groups on
hand to answer any questions related to becoming involved in Standardbred horse
ownership.
Customers
will also have a chance to enter the Owner For A Night contest and take a ride
behind a Standardbred compliments of the ‘Wanna Ride’ team who will be on hand
throughout the evening.
The mini
horses will also be a major part of the show on Friday. Fans will have a chance
to meet these pint-sized trotters and pacers prior to racing and get to watch
them compete in a pair of races during the night. One of those will be a special
match race featuring a pair of minis piloted by two of the sport’s future
stars.
The
Raceway’s signature event, the $150,000 Molson Pace, is slated for Friday, May
27th. Defending champion State Treasurer has a couple of starts
under his belt and will be back in search of an unprecedented fourth straight
Molson Title.
The race
office is busy lining up this year’s field and more confirmed starters will be
announced later this week.
