by Frank Salive, for The Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The excitement of a new season and an opening night jam packed with festivities will kick off the 46th season of harness racing at The Isle Pompano Park Racetrack on Saturday, Sept. 19.

“We feel that adding the drivers’ meet and greet autograph session before the races and a fireworks show after really underscores the enthusiasm for the new season everyone here is feeling,” says The Isle Pompano Park Vice-President and General Manager Michael Bloom. “The infield has been manicured and our facilites have been shined up to the fullest. The fireworks show on Saturday night after the races is certain to bring over some new people to racing from our casino and it dovetails just great with what we’re working to accomplish here. There’s a real buzz about the return of racing this year all around the property. We’re looking forward to an outstanding racing season in 2009-2010 here in South Florida.”

Pompano Notes:

First race post time at The Isle Pompano Park for 2009-2010 is 7:05 p.m. After September programs on the 19th, 25th, and 26th, the track will step up to three cards a week in October and scale up to five programs per week by December.

The drivers’ meet and greet autograph session on opening night will be conducted trackside from 6 p.m. through about 6:30 p.m. The Isle Pompano Park’s all-time leading driver Bruce Ranger will be joined by David Ingraham and Wally Hennessey to sign the postcard pictures of them in racing action.

The three marquee reinsmen at the track will then be interviewed live on TV by The Isle Pompano Park’s new track announcer Frank Salive at 6:40 p.m. right after the program changes.

The opening night program at Pompano Park is comprised of ten races. In addition to the five races in the third leg of the Florida Sunshine Stake Stakes for the 2- and 3-year old pacing colts and fillies, the $12,000 Open Pace has Armbro Dynamic in post one as the 2-1 morning line choice. Michile Lorenzo trains the 6-year-old Western Hanover-Bruce’s Lady pacer for Souren Hovsepian with Wally Hennessey hired to drive.

Director of Racing Operations John Yinger points out the opening program of the new meet is also the debut card for many new staffers he’s hired for his team.

“We’ve been able to bring back Bob Owens as our Paddock Judge after he was away from racing for several years,” Yinger says. “Michael Hall will be coming in as our Presiding Judge, and Charlie Miller as our Starter. Also joining our team are Tia Shaffer as our Outrider and Parade Marshall and Jeff Schaffer as our Blacksmith. Our backstretch manager Bill Bigler has completed a refurbishment of the grooms’ quarters.

“I also want to note the track surface has undergone extensive work in the lead-up to this meet. Charles E. Coon and Sons have the track surface looking just sensational. All told we’re really excited about this new season and a positive upswing and renewed commitment to live harness racing at The Isle Pompano Park.”

The weather forecast for The Isle Pompano Park’s opening program is for partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 88 degrees with about a 40 percent chance of scattered rainshowers.