by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — For this week only, declarations to race at Dover Downs, opening its 42nd season, must be made earlier than usual.

The draw for opening day, Sunday, Oct. 31, will take place this Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. The same early entry schedule continues through this Thursday. The Monday, Nov. 1, draw will be held this Wednesday, Oct. 27, and Thursday, Oct. 29, for racing on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Starting next Saturday, Oct. 30, and for the balance of the Dover Downs 2010-2011 meet, the regular 10 a.m. until 12 Noon time frame will return.

The Sunday, Oct. 31, opening day feature races are a $16,500 3- 4- and 5-year-old pace, a $14,000 Filly and Mare pace and $12,500 and $11,000 male paces.

The second day’s draw for the first Monday card of the season takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 27. The Nov. 1 racing is headed by a $35,000 Preferred Pace, a $32,000 Delaware Special, $26,000 Open Pace and a $24.000 3 & 4-year-old Open Pace.

On Thursday, Oct. 28, the Tuesday, Nov. 2 conditioned sheet spotlights an all female card. The top races are a $26,000 and $22,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace. Other distaffs on the card are $18,000 and $15,000 paces and a $16,500 2-5-year-old pace.

The Saturday, Oct. 30, draw at the usual time of 10 a.m.-12 Noon is set for Wednesday, Nov. 3, headlined by feature trots. There is a $26,000 Open, $18,000 and $15,000 trots and a $12,000 male pace.

The draw for 2-year-old Matron Stakes for trotting and pacing colts and fillies, to be raced on Saturday, Nov. 6, will take place with a declaration on Monday, Nov. 1, and the 3-year-old filly and mare divisions and Matron colt trot, as well as the Progress Pace for 3-year-olds will draw on Tuesday, Nov. 2, to race on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Again this season Dover Downs features 15 races daily; Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. while Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing on Friday.

During the upcoming 131-day meet, there are a handful of non-live racing day exceptions. There is no racing on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25, and the traditional one-week Christmas break, from Dec. 21-26. There is no racing on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 6.

On Progress Pace Final day, Sunday, Nov. 14, Dover Down holds its annual Progress Pace Cap giveaway. Fans must show their Capital Club card in the Race & Sports Book to receive their free 2010 cap.