by Marv Bachrad, Dover Downs Publicity Director

DOVER, Del. — The 2005 Classic Series gets under way on Monday, April 18 at Dover Downs featuring four divisions of the sport’s finest four-year-old and older trotting and pacing males and females. Last year, three world records and a track record were set at Dover Downs.

With Delaware-owned horses such as 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue, Don Boss Vita, winner of last Sunday’s Su Mac Lad Final and Ontario standout JM Vangogh among a number of local nominees, the first of three preliminary Classic Series legs has strong First State interest.

Nominees declaring for the Classic Series first leg must be made no later than 12-Noon sharp, Wednesday, April 13, at the Dover Downs race office. The number is (302) 857-3230. The Classic Series entry fee for each division will be 2% of the purse. Checks should be made payable to The Hambletonian Society.

One of the most anticipated rivalries in this year’s Classic Series is a possible meeting between Rainbow Blue, the 2004 USHWA and O’Brien Award winning Horse of the Year and last season’s Dan Patch Award winning Older Mare, $2-million winner Loyal Opposition. She has won her last four straight and six of eight this year including a 1:49.4 victory. The 19 nominees include $1-million winner Burning Point, Carolina Sunshine and Stonebridge Kisses. Several of last season’s top sophomores are also among the possible starters led by Kikikatie, Glowing Report, L Dees Val, She’s My Belle and Artbitration.

Two local horses, Don Boss Vita owned in Felton, Del. and winner of last Sunday’s Su Mac Lad Final and Ontario standout JM VanGogh, owned in Harrington, are among 34 eligibles for The Trotting Classic.

Other nominees include Argentine-bred world champion Chucaro Ahijuna, Rotation, Armbro Approach, Approved Action, Cash Hall, Chasing Tail, Eilean Donon, Elegant Man, Fool’s Goal, HP Paque, Hellava Hush, Hez Striking, Holy Guacamolie, Mac’s Crown K, Mohammed Mali, Muscles Marinara, St John’s Boy and War Paint.

The largest number of nominees, 38, responded for The Pacing Classic. Among the new crop of four-year-olds are Timesareachanging, a $1.2-winner of the Dan Patch sophomore award, Holborn Hanover, winner of the Progress Pace, and Georgia Pacific, the Matron champ. Geartogear, Rapid Dialing, Metropolitan, Art Director and Articulator, are no strangers to Dover’s fast five-eighths mile oval.

A powerful group of older horses is plentiful. Luckyisasluckydoes equaled the track and world record in last year’s Dover appearance. Others include Life Source, Maltese Artist, Make It Brief, Boulder Creek, Casimir Camotion, Cheyenne Rei, Dr Drew, Eaton Road Kill, Escape The Wind, Foxy Maneuver, Life Source, Make It Brief, Maltese Artist, Memory Book, Metropolitan, Mini Me, Ponder, Royal Mattjesty, Sagebrush, Santastic’s Pan, Skydancer Hanover, The Globe, The One Night Pan and You Rock.

The Classic Oaks list is headed by trotting mare Mystical Sunshine, a 10-race winner last season, including the $220,075 Matron Stakes last Fall at Dover Downs and the C$438,949 Elegantimage at Woodbine. She trotted a lifetime fastest 1:53.2 winning a Hambletonian Oaks elimination.

Dan Patch Award winner Housethatruthbuilt, Canada’s O’Brien winning Peaceful Way, Silver Springs, and Hambletonian Oaks and Filly World Trotting Derby champion and track record holder Windylane Hanover lead an impressive list of trotting mares also eligible to the Classic Oaks. Other eligibles include Almond Joy, Bramasole, Dresden Dolly, Fox Valley Flan, Godess Of Chaos, Ivy Swinger, Yankee Calypso, and Zorgwijk Emani.

The Classic Series is exclusively for four-year-olds and older trotter and pacers.

Horses competing in the Classic Series must start in a minimum of two of the three preliminary legs – all at a mile distance – to be eligible for $250,000 finals – all four at 1-1/16th distance – at The Meadowlands, Saturday, July 30th. Determination of eligibility for Classic Series Finals is through a point system. Details are available at TCS website http://www.theclassicseries.com/.

A $10,000 bonus is offered to the Classic Series trainer accumulating the highest point total through the series. Last season, Trond Smedshammer won the $10,000 bonus.

The Classic Series second leg is June 4 at Woodbine Racecourse in Rexdale, Ont. The series then moves to the Meadowlands, N.J., on July 23. The lucrative $250,000 finals will be held July 30 — Hambletonian elimination day — at the Meadowlands.

The Classic Series was founded by the sport’s leading yearling sales companies – Standardbred Horse Sales Co., Hanover, Pa., Kentucky Standardbred Sales Co.,Lexington, Ky., Garden State Horse Sales Co. of New Jersey, Tattersalls Sales Co., Lexington, Ky., The Adios Sale, at the Meadows, SUNY Morrisville Sale at Morrisville, N.Y., Forest City Yearling Sale, Ont. Canada – and the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown.

Dr. J. Glen Brown, D.V.M. is Classic Series president, First Vice-President -Paul Spears, Second Vice President- Tad Stockman, Secretary -Tom Crouch, Treasurer -George Segal and Executive Director Nick Salvi.

Classic Series Directors are: Lew Arno, M.Murray Brown, Charles Lockhart, David Hanson, Jamie Martin, Joe Thomson and Brian Webster.