Big money and big stake races are the themes behind the 19-day fall harness meet that starts Friday at Edmonton's Northlands Park.

An estimated $2.5 million will be up for grabs until closing day - Dec. 20. There are 22 stake events on the schedule, including 10 stake finals. Six of those races are for $100,000. The highlight day will come Dec. 5 with the first ever Battle of Alberta Super Finals card. There are six stakes for $500,000 in total purses for Alberta-sired pacers on the afternoon program, making it the richest day of standardbred racing in the province. 

"I'm really excited," said ASHA racing manager Fred Gillis on the Battle of Alberta card. "The top ones (pacers) should be there." The stakes program accounts for $1.34 million in purses. The per-day overnight average will be around $62,000. Gillis believes there will be around 400 horses for the meet. Race secretary Alan Bott pegs the number a little lower. "I would say around 300 racehorses," he remarked. 

The key to full cards through the meet will be health. "We got devastated by a virus last fall," recalled Gillis. Several big-name stables will return to Edmonton for the meet - including Keith Clark, Gerry Hudon and Rod Hennessy.

Highlight fall races in Edmonton:

$100,000 Western Filly (3-year-old filly, open) Nov. 28 - replaces the Northlands Filly Pace

$100,000 Western Pace (3-year-old colts, open) Nov. 28 - replaces Western Canada Pacing Derby

$100,000 Battle of Alberta (2-year-old filly, Alberta-sired) Dec. 5

$100,000 Battle of Alberta (2-year-old colts, Alberta-sired) Dec. 5

$100,000 Battle of Alberta (3-year-old colts, Alberta-sired) Dec. 5

$100,000 Battle of Alberta (3-year-old fillies, Alberta-sired) Dec. 5

FINISH LINES: Popular trainer/driver John Chappell has left Alberta for Cal Expo... Opening weekend will feature two promotions. On Friday night the first-ever College Combat will be on the track - with 17 college frat groups competing in races. More details to come on thehorses.com later this week. On Saturday, the Lucky 7 Harness Handicapping Tournament will take centre stage with $7,000 in cash prizes. Register online from the main page on thehorses.com... The meet will operate on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday rotation. Weeknight post time is 6 p.m. with weekend cards at 1 p.m.

(Main page/inside photo: J. Huntington)

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