by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — When Dover Downs’ 49th season debuts on Monday (Oct. 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 meet’s 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-matched claiming events for both trotters and pacers, the final major stakes of the 2017 season will highlight the month of November. The top 2- and 3-year-olds now in training will race at Dover, headed by the $350,000 (est.) Hap Hansen Progress Pace, eight lucrative Matron Stakes for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers, plus four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for male and female freshman pacers and trotters.

The track’s 49th campaign opens on Oct. 30, continuing until March 30, with four days racing weekly. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m.