by Matthew Lomon

Plenty can change in 60 years, but Hanover Raceway’s prominent position in the small southwestern Ontario town remains very much the same.

The half-mile oval first launched its pari-mutuel wagering product in 1964, and has served as Hanover’s heartbeat ever since.

Locals, tourists, and racing fans alike have flocked to the raceway on 5th Street summer after summer, as standardbred racing takes center stage in the town of 7,900 for three and a half months each year.

This upcoming racing season, which kicks off Saturday (June 1), will be Hanover’s 60th in operation.

Opening Day festivities will feature a packed card, which includes Ontario Sires Stakes, Prospect Series, contests, fan-favorite mini-horse races and free cake as part of their 60th Anniversary Celebration.

Ahead of the major milestone, two of the driving forces behind Hanover’s continued success, Gail Murray and Scott Price, took a trip down memory lane before diving into what fans can expect in an action-filled 2024.

Few, if any, embody the spirit of harness racing at Hanover better than Murray.

The lifelong horseperson has been with the track in an official capacity for more than 35 years, where she currently holds the reins as assistant race secretary.

However, Murray’s ties to Hanover extend well before her time in the race office.

Murray’s father, Nelson Gadke, drove at Hanover during the track’s early days. But as she recalls, the racing product was much more limited.

“Back then, we didn’t have the best horses,” Murray said. “It was a lot of farmers that had a couple of racehorses and maybe didn’t have, as people do now, 10 or 20 to train. They had two or three.”

A modest racing catalog didn’t in any way dampen the enthusiasm, as Murray recalls.

“There were a lot of people in town who supported coming here,” she said. “It was at a time when everybody didn’t go to Florida for their vacation or didn’t go to Toronto for a Blue Jays game or anything like that.

“They would come here on a Saturday and go to the races. It was very inexpensive entertainment for the whole family.”

Before sharing what else she’s seen change over the years, Murray took a moment to honor three past race secretaries, each of whom played an integral role in Hanover’s development as a highly-respected racing venue.

“In a very male-dominated sport, we had three female race secretaries, who have since all passed away,” Murray said. “There was Jean Thibaudeau, who was a member of the Walker family, Lynn Wedow, and Diane Twasnick, who was also race secretary at Elmira Raceway before moving on to Grand River.

“Looking back, I think that’s an accomplishment in itself.”

Hanover has always been ahead of its time, both off and on the track.

Throughout its six-decade existence, the eight-wide racecourse has been a hotspot for superstar driving talents like Trevor Henry, Bob McClure, Doug McNair, Scott Young, Scott Zeron, and Tyler Borth, who all cut their teeth at Hanover before setting off for other tracks across North America.

And Murray, whose contributions to Hanover have been recognized with an invitational pace in her honor, was there for it all.

“I remember them as young men, and sometimes, not so well-behaved,” she said with a laugh. “But they turned out to be wonderful gentlemen and built great careers for themselves.

“A lot of horsepeople have come here and got their start, and that’s one of the many wonderful things about our track.”

One of the latest graduates of Hanover’s renowned development program is none other than its new general manager.

Price, who’s entering his second season in the role, quickly gained a deep respect and appreciation for the horsepeople and staff that welcomed him with open arms.

“I’ve been around harness racing before at different tracks in Orangeville where I grew up, but not to the level that I am now,” Price said. “There’s a lot to learn, a lot of language and industry-specific processes, but I found people very supportive and helpful.

“They’re the type of people that, and Gail has said it to me many times, they might not have any money but if somebody needed something, they’d be the first ones there to help bail you out or help get you going again.”

That wholesome Hanover atmosphere is something Price picked up on right out of the gate.

“Within a year of being around here, I’ve made some great friends and I’m looking forward to meeting up with them again this year,” he said. “Everybody has been supportive of me, knowing that this was new. Gail, specifically, deserves special thanks. I don’t think I’d be as far along in this industry as I am now if I didn’t have Gail to help me through it. She’s been nothing but a tremendous help throughout.”

Price said he hopes to share the Hanover team’s family-like feel with racing fans in 2024 and beyond.

“We’re trying to introduce the youth to the industry,” Price said. “We’re having more kids-related activities, races, and other things this year to make coming to the track a family day.”

Hanover’s summer calendar is loaded with family-focused events, the first of which is an open house on June 22, running from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Price says fans will gain access to different areas around the track not normally accessible on race day.

“We’ll be giving tours of places that you don’t normally get to see on a race day, including the backstretch,” he said. “You’re going to get a first-hand look at what goes on behind the scenes.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces on a race day that people don’t realize exist and now they’re going to see it all up close.”

The track’s 15-week program also features two fundraisers with its Christmas in July (July 27) and Back to School Day (Aug. 31) celebrations.

The former will be in support of the local Salvation Army Food Bank Drive, while the latter benefits the Saugeen Student Start-Up Program.

Other significant race days include July 13 for the Harness The Hope Women’s Driving Challenge, Aug. 3 for Hanover’s signature event, the Dream Of Glory final, and Aug. 24 for the Balanced Image final, OSS Grassroots Series, and Gail Murray Invitational Pace.

The victors of this year’s Dream Of Glory, Harness The Hope, and Balanced Image will also receive a small piece of Hanover alongside their winnings.

“For our three major races, which now includes a women’s driving challenge, we have baskets made up with local products,” Murray said. “We source things that are home to Grey and Bruce County.

“We try to give them something special that’s unique to us.”

For Murray and Price, that something special is both a nod to those who came before them and an unwavering commitment to the next generation of racing at Hanover.

“There’s a legend that’s been built here that’s still continuing,” Price said. “We’re honoring tradition while also trying to be different.”

First race post for opening day is 1:30 p.m.