by Terry Cullipher, Kyharnessracing.com

Calvert City, KY — Kentucky’s 2010 harness racing season begins Thursday, April 29, at Bluegrass Downs, as a big weekend is scheduled. Live racing begins on Thursday, the track will have its first ever Derby Eve Party on Friday, followed by the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

With purses between $1,100 and $2,000, the track had little problem putting together their first live racing program. Several horsemen from Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Illinois have waited all winter for racing to begin at Bluegrass Downs.

Jerry Bradley, the track’s General Manager, has always welcomed anyone licensed in Kentucky to participate in racing at his track. For 13 years Bluegrass Downs has been a place for many horsemen across the country — California, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Iowa and many others states — to set up shop and race their horses.

Many of the same faces have returned for the short meet. The boys from Mississippi found the road back. The Tetrick team (Tom D. and Tom T.) of Illinois will make the trip to race at the western Kentucky track. Roshun Trigg, Bluegrass Downs’ leading trainer, is back and has brought 12 horses to Kentucky in an effort to repeat his 2009 meet.

Race Secretary Billy Perkins will be in his regular spot, atop the grandstand with binoculars in one hand, program in the other, as he pulls double duties that include announcing the races. Presiding Judge Rich Williams and associate judge Lou Haskell held on to their positions through the winter as both will return to the judges’ stand.

The horsemen can expect to see a couple of new faces this meet — Gabe Prewitt and Dave Frizzell. Prewitt, the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association’s new executive secretary, plans to be in attendance opening day at Bluegrass Downs. Frizzell is Kentucky’s new associate judge and he will be working at all three harness track in the state this year.