by Nick Salvi, executive director, The Classic Series

Lexington, KY — Dover Downs will kick off The Classic Series (TCS) again this year with the first of three preliminary legs scheduled for Monday, April 18.

Many of the featured performers expected to compete have recently begun their seasons and are rounding into form as the Series approaches.

Declarations for Leg #1 are due in the Dover race office at (302) 857-3230 by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 13. The entry fee for each division will be 2% of the purse and checks should be made payable to The Hambletonian Society.

Horses competing in TCS must start in a minimum of two of the three preliminary legs to be eligible for the $250,000 Finals, scheduled at The Meadowlands on Saturday, July 30. To determine eligibility for the Finals, TCS uses a point system, which is available at The Classic Series website.

The $10,000 bonus offered to the trainer who accumulates the highest point total throughout the entire series is again in place for 2005. Trond Smedshammer picked up an extra $10,000 by posting the high total for 2004.

All of the stars will be out at Dover next Monday. You’ll find the entries after the draw and other updated information on the web all week.