The 2026 edition of the Balanced Image stake, for Ontario Sired 2-year-old trotters, will be held at Hanover Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 29, with eliminations held on Saturday, Aug. 22.
The Balanced Image Final will be part of an action-packed Aug. 29 program that will also include the Dream Of Glory Trot Final and “Doc” Morley Invitational Pace, rescheduled from the cancelled card of Aug. 1. The Thibaudeau Trot will also be on the Aug. 29 card.
Complementing the Balanced Image eliminations on Aug. 22 will be the Gail Murray Invitational Pace, Lynn Wedow Memorial Trot and Walker Memorial Trot.
“It was unfortunate that weather prevented our fans from enjoying the Dream Of Glory Final last Saturday,” said Hanover Raceway GM Scott Price. “But we have a great line up of stakes races and invitational events in store for the last four weeks of the season, starting with the Balanced Image eliminations on Aug. 22 through to the Bud and Ethel Fritz Memorial Pace on closing day, Sept. 12.”
Entries for the Balanced Image eliminations, open to Ontario Sired freshman colts and fillies, will close on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. in the Clinton Race Office. The final will be drawn at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Aug. 25.
The Dream Of Glory Final will be redrawn on Aug. 25, including only those horses who entered for the original event. The “Doc” Morley Invitational Pace will remain open for entries and be drawn with the Aug. 25 card.
To better accommodate the Aug. 29 date for the Balanced Image Final, Ontario Sires Sakes Grassroots Leg 4 for the 2-year-old trotting colts will be shifted from Wednesday, Sept. 2 to Friday, Sept. 4 at Grand River Raceway.
“We want to make sure Ontario Sired horses can make the most of the opportunities available to them, whether that is in the Gold, Grassroots or Prospect Series or the stakes events hosted by Ontario racetracks,” said Standardbred Improvement Program Committee chair Bill O’Donnell.
Among the Grassroots point leaders eligible to the Balanced Image are colts DA Trixter (Trixton), Graceful King (King Of The North), The Great Gazoo (Green Manalishi S) and Sundae Royale (King Of The North), along with fillies Thankful In North (King Of The North), TH Francesca (King Of The North) and Dreamtrade (Forbidden Trade).
For more information about the Balanced Image Trot please contact the Clinton Race Office at 519-606-0161.
If you need more information about the Ontario Sires Stakes program please contact the OSS Program Coordinator at ossprogram@ontarioracing.com or visit the OSS website.