Once again, no research by the troll
Harness racing tradition stays alive at Croswell Fair
| JULY 27, 2011
BY DALE BALL SPORTS EDITOR
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CROSWELL — Harness horse racing has been part of the Croswell Fair for decades. And, despite the diminishing racing industry in Michigan, the show, featuring prestigious Charles Coon Memorial Futurity, will be back this next Tuesday night.
The Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association (MHHA) has set August 2 for the 40-year-old Coon Futurity and Silver Stakes circuit races at the Croswell Fairground half-mile track.
Gary Rankin, Croswell Fair board member and the Superintendent of Speed for the harness racing, said he learned of the MHHA’s granting of the races just about a month ago. Because of the lack of support for harness racing by the State of Michigan, the industry has been affected deeply over the last few years, including entries for such grand traditional events like the ‘Coon.’
“A couple of those (Coon) races last year there were only three horses entered. It’s been getting worse every year. So, who knows what’s going to happen this year,” said Rankin. He quickly added, though, “At least, we’ll have the Silver Circuit and that should be about 12 or 13 races. So, I expect we’ll have about 18 races overall.”
The Charles Coon Memorial Futurity has been one of the richest stakes events in Michigan since its start in 1971, drawing the top state-bred pacers and trotters in those four decades. The race was named after Croswell native Charles Coon, who served with the MHHA from 1940 through 1970.
The featured races next Tuesday will be the Coon 4-Year-Old Horse & Gelding Trot, 4- Year-Old Horse & Gelding Pace, the 4- Year-Old Mare Trot and the 4-Year-Old Mare Pace. Post time at the Croswell Fair track is 6 p.m.
