by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — It has been 20 years since the rejuvenation of major league harness racing at Dover Downs. Its signature event, the Progress Pace, now has a new name. It is the Hap Hansen Progress Pace, named for the late Dover Downs and Brandywine Raceway executive who passed away last year.

This year’s event will be the 20th renewal of the largest purse race in Delaware harness racing. The $400,000 (est.) Hap Hansen Progress Pace is the highlight of the first full month of the track’s 47th season and highlight event of its 2015 “Novemberfest of Racing.”

The Hap Hansen Progress Pace features the sport’s leading 3-year-olds and is expected to be led by the top two sophomore pacers Wiggle It Jiggleit and Wakizashi Hanover. The top eight money-winning sophomores meet in in the $300,000 (est.) final on Monday (Nov. 30).

The Progress Pace was created by Dover Downs’ CEO Denis McGlynn in the fashion of a former state of Delaware sports tradition — The Battle of the Brandywine — formerly the showcase of ill-fated Brandywine Raceway.

Last year, Canadian champion McWicked, driven by David Miller, notched the fastest win of the event’s history, scoring in 1:48.4.

Over the years, most of the sport’s leading drivers, owners and stables have participated in the Progress Pace. Hall of Fame drivers include four-time winner John Campbell and three-times winners Ron Pierce and Luc Ouellette. Brett Pelling has trained three Progress Pace champions.

Sampson Street Stable has shared in three Progress Pace champions with Newman Racing, two, the only other with more than one winner.

The first Progress Pace was carded in 1996 with a $100,000 final. The winner was Armbro Operative, owned by Tom Walsh Jr. and Dave McDuffee, driven by Mike Lachance. It was the first of three Progress Pace winners conditioned by Brett Pelling.