Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park opens its 126 night 2019-2020 racing season on Sunday (Nov. 3), with track record holder Panocchio in action and driver Rick Plano just one win away from a milestone — his 7,000th career driving win.

The gallant 9-year-old Panocchio now has 66 career wins with 42 of those victories achieved over Pompano Park’s five-eighths-mile oval. Trained by Jim Mattison, who co-owns with Emile Johnson, Jr., Panocchio still has that same will to win since his very first trip to the Pompano winner’s circle six years ago.

Mattison said, “He may have lost a step or two on the track but he sure hasn’t lost a desire to win. Vicky (Jim’s wife) takes such tender loving care of him and, really, he’s our boy. He sure loves this track and he loves the warm weather and I don’t think there will ever be another one like him for us.”

Panocchio has drawn post six on Sunday night and Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey will be in his sulky. He’s listed as second choice at 5-2 on the morning line behind the new arrival to Pompano Park, War-N-Munn, owned, trained and driven by Kevin Wallis and listed at 2-1 in the program.

Hennessey and Wallis both have more than 10,000 career driving wins in their respective careers.

Rick Plano comes into the action with 6,999 career driving wins and is one of an elite group of trainer-drivers who have combined wins in both categories totaling more than 10,000 with $50 million in purse earnings.

Said Plano about his success spanning five decades, “It’s been a great ride and I hope I can get 1,000 more. I have been lucky enough to have a great wife of 42 years and some exceptional help that have been dedicated to the health of our horses. I just hope that good health will allow me to continue competitively for years to come.”

Prior to the pari-mutuel card, a pair of $12,000 FSBOA sponsored Sunshine State Stakes finals will be contested. A pair of winning streaks are on the line in those events as Hurrikanekingjames and Prairie Delight will attempt to stretch their skeins to four straight.

Post time for the nine-race program is 7:20 p.m.