by Jennifer Starr, Racing Marketing Manager, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Opening night for the 2013 harness racing season at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be Saturday (March 23) and it will kick off the Northeast PA track’s 48th racing season.

Dale Rapson, Vice President of Racing Operations, announced details with regard to entries.

“Preference will be given for Pennsylvania sired horses, horses stabled at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and horses stabled in Pennsylvania. Trainers must submit to management a list of all horses stabled at their facilities for approval.”

“The 2012 Bonus Program went well,” said Ron Battoni, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association. “If continued in 2013, there will be some changes made. Details will be forthcoming.”

With a post time of 6:30 p.m., racing will take place on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday for the months of March through May. A special doubleheader of live racing will be featured on Kentucky Derby Day (May 4) with the first post time of 11 a.m. and the second immediately following the 139th running of the prestigious race.

In June and July, racing moves to five nights a week, with a post time of 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. A special earlier post of 3:30 p.m. on Fridays is a new addition.

Racing in August through November 16 will continue on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (with the early post) and Saturday.

A total of 140 race days is scheduled. The track will be closed March 31 and the week of September 8 for the PA Oktoberfest.

The Breeders Crown will be held on Saturday (Oct. 19). Eliminations will be held on Oct. 11 and 12. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs hosted the Breeders Crown in 2010 and welcomed nearly 10,000 fans to a historic night of world-class racing.