Bulldog Hanover leads field for Dan Patch Stakes

A field of ten will be sent postward in the $315,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (Aug. 12). In what will rank as one of the most highly anticipated editions of the Dan Patch Stakes, the 29th installment of Hoosier Park’s premier event will highlight the 15-race program that is set to begin at 6:15 p.m.

Boasting an increased purse of $315,000, the Dan Patch Stakes will serve as Indiana’s richest harness race and is reputed as one of North America’s premier races for older male pacers.

Bulldog Hanover, the world’s fastest Standardbred, will headline the field and has been enlisted as the 3-5 morning line favorite from post three with Dexter Dunn in the bike. Bulldog Hanover made harness racing history and became the fastest pacer ever with a 1:45.4 performance in the $500,000 William R. Haughton Memorial in his last start on July 16 at The Meadowlands. For the year, Bulldog Hanover has won seven of eight races and earned $504,431. For his career, he has 21 victories in 29 starts and $1.27 million in purses. Bulldog Hanover is also no stranger to success at Harrah’s Hoosier Park after he rattled off four straight stakes victories here to conclude his sophomore campaign in 2021. The world record holder is trained by Jack Darling who also co-owns with Brad Grant.

With combined career purse earnings over $10 million, the talented field of ten includes four millionaires, two world champions, and the number one ranked horse in all of harness racing. North America’s leading money-winning trainer, Ron Burke, will look to become the first trainer to score three Dan Patch victories.

The 2022 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated as the 14th race on the program with an estimated post time of 11:05 p.m.