DOVER, Del.— When Dover Downs 49th harness racing season debuts on Monday, Oc.t 30, Dylan Davis, after four consecutive meet-leading trainer championships is the one to beat in the upcoming near six-month long meet..
Last season, the leading trainer title went down to the last day of the meet with Davis and Jim King locked in a 72-72 win tie. Davis' trainees went on to win two races on the meets final program to nip runner-up King to win another crown. Davis totaled 74 winners.
With another strong roster of fast pacers and trotters in his stable, Davis should get off to a big start, with King's hard-hitting group of young horses set to challenge again.
Other seasoned Dover Downs conditioners with horses to watch returning this season are track-multiple trainer champion, Josh Green, Clyde Francis, leading the powerful George Teague stable, Joe Hundertpfund, Leigh Raymer, Wayne Givens, Doug Lewis, Kevin Lare, Les Givens, Don Brittingham, Eric Ell,
Trish Foulk, Nick Surick and Bobby Glassmeyer along with the sport's perennial leading trainer Ron Burke.
In addition to a strong overnight racing program headed by Preferred, Open and well-match claiming events for both trotters and pacers, the final major stakes of the 2017 season will highlight the month of November. The top two-and-three-year-olds now in training headed by the $350,000-estimated Hap Hansen Progress Pace, eight lucrative Matron Stakes for two- and three-year-old trotters and pacer plus four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for male and female pacers and trotters freshmen.
The track's 49th campaign opens on Monday, Oct. 30 continuing until March 30 with four days racing daily. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. No live racing on Fridays and Saturdays.
The popular Dover Downs Race and Sports Book features daily simulcast racing from major harness and thoroughbred tracks. During the football season, three-picks NFL football is available from Noon until 12 Midnight each day. There is no charge for parking or admission at Dover Downs. Reservations are suggested for the popular Winner's Circle Restaurant, call 302-764-4600.
Marv Bachrad