PHOTO ESSAY: Maywood Park Harness

The beauty, grace and power of horse racing in the Midwest isn’t limited to just Thoroughbreds.  Standardbred tracks dot the landscape and are fixtures during the summer fair season in states like Minnesota and Iowa.  Below is a photo spread of an evening at one of the Chicagoland harness venues, Maywood Park.  The evening also marked the last Maywood drive for retiring Hall of Fame driver Dave Magee whose last career drive was to take place the next evening at Balmoral Park (see related story on Magee).

 

Prairie Thunder with Robert Smolin driving at Maywood Park
Prairie Thunder with Robert Smolin driving at Maywood Park
Blazing Fury takes Dave Magee for his last drive at Maywood Park
Blazing Fury takes Dave Magee for his last drive at Maywood Park
Crime Of Passion with John De Long, I Got My Wish with Ryan Anderson, At Max Speed with Todd Warren, and Prairie Thunder with Robert Smolin at Maywood Park
Crime Of Passion with John De Long, I Got My Wish with Ryan Anderson, At Max Speed with Todd Warren, and Prairie Thunder with Robert Smolin thundering down the lane  at Maywood Park
I Got My Wish and Ryan Anderson get their wish together and are first across the wire at Maywood Park
I Got My Wish and Ryan Anderson get their wish together and are first across the wire at Maywood Park
I Got My Wish and Ryan Anderson coming in for their winner's circle picture at Maywood Park
I Got My Wish and Ryan Anderson coming in for their winner’s circle picture at Maywood Park
The beautiful Crime Of Passion and John De Long pulling in front at Maywood Park
The beautiful Crime Of Passion and John De Long pulling in front at Maywood Park
Dontdoubtthelakers and Todd Warren coming in from their race at Maywood Park
Dontdoubtthelakers and Todd Warren coming in from their race at Maywood Park
The gate moves into position for the start of a Maywood Park race
The gate moves into position for the start of a Maywood Park race