Northfield: "Pace for the Cure" featuring female drivers slated for Saturday evening

MGM Northfield Park is hosting the "Pace for the Cure" on Saturday (Oct. 15), to raise funds and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. The event showcases female drivers and offers a novel event for horse racing spectators.

The one-mile dash will carry a purse of $10,000 and will help raise money for the American Cancer Society. "Pace for the Cure" is well received by horsemen, and they typically show their support for the event by dressing their horses in pink harnesses, ribbons and sulkies.

"The 'Pace for the Cure' has become a tradition here at Northfield. It is a great way to highlight both harness racing and the awareness and support for breast cancer research," said Brent Reitz, vice president of regional racing operations for MGM.

Guests can join in the drive to eliminate breast cancer by purchasing raffle tickets ($1 each or 10 for $5) and depositing their raffle tickets into bags that correspond with their favorite "Pace for the Cure" driver. Tickets from the winning bags will be entered in a drawing for prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased at Northfield's promotional table on the first level of the grandstand on Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. and continuing until post time for the "The Pace."

Among the participants this year is defending champion Mandy Jones. She is driving Blue Spanx, the horse she drove to win last year's "Pace." Emma Wahlberg is the highest-percentage driver among women this year, sporting a .444 average. The winningest driver this year is Rosy Weaver, posting 17 wins in 78 drives in 2022. Those three will take on Christina Johnson, Alisha Binkley, Lauren Harmon, Amy Wengerd, Nadine Habke and Jolene Christman.

The "Pace for the Cure" is a marquee event highlighted in the undercard of a night that features the $100,000 Courageous Lady, a Grand Circuit open stakes race for 3-year-old filly pacers, as well as eight $40,000 Ohio Fair Championships.

-edited release (Ayers Ratliff for MGM Northfield Park)