by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — The usual high powered major stakes action highlights the opening two months of the 41st Dover Downs season which begins on Sunday, Nov. 1. The track features live racing six days a week, with Fridays dark, through April 15, 2010.

The prestigious Matron Stakes lead off the lucrative stakes on the first Saturday of the six-month long meet, Nov. 7, with the track’s signature event, the $450,000 (est.) Progress Pace to follow on Nov. 8. The Matrons and Progress Pace finals are slated for the following weekend.

The First State’s top 2-year-olds vie in rich Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund events to close out the 2009 stakes program.

2009 Progress Pace
Date-Day-Event-Est. Purse
11/8-Sunday-3-year-old Pace-Elim-$25,000
11/15-Sunday-3-year-old Pace-Final-$350,000
11/15-Sunday-Pace-Consolation-$25,000

Matron Stakes
Date-Day-Event-Est. Purse
11/7-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Pace-Elim-$70,000
11/7-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Trot-Elim-$70,000
11/7-Saturday-2-year-old Colt Pace-Elim-$75,000
11/7-Saturday-2-year-old Colt Trot-Elim-$75,000
11/8-Sunday-3-year-old Filly Pace-Elim-$60,000
11/8-Sunday-3-year-old Filly Trot-Elim-$75,000
11/8-Sunday-3-year-old Colt Trot-Elim-$75,000
11/14-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Trot-Final-$200,000
11/14-Saturday-2-year-old Colt Pace-Final-$265,000
11/14-Saturday-2-year-old Colt Trot-Final-$200,000
11/14-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Pace-Final-$230,000
11/15-Sunday-3-year-old Filly Pace-Final-$200,000
11/15-Sunday-3-year-old Filly Trot-Final-$225,000
11/15-Sunday-3-year-old Colt Trot-Final-$220,000
11/22-Sunday-3-year-old Colt Pace-Elim-$70,000
11/29-Sunday-3-year-old Colt Pace-Final-$235,000

2009 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF)
Date-Day-Event-Est. Purse
11/21-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Pace-1-$20,000
11/21-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Trot-1-$20,000
11/22-Sunday-2-year-old Colt Pace-1-$20,000
11/22-Sunday-2-year-old Colt Trot-1-$20,000
11/28-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Pace-2-$20,000
11/28-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Trot-2-$20,000
11/29-Sunday-2-year-old Colt Pace-2-$20,000
11/29-Sunday-2-year-old Colt Trot-2-$20,000
12/5-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Pace Final-$100,000G
12/5-Saturday-2-year-old Filly Trot Final-$100,000G
12/6-Sunday-2-year-old Colt Pace Final-$100,000G
12/6-Sunday-2-year-old Colt Trot Final-$100,000G

2010 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) races will be held in late March and early April.