by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — After Dover Downs opens for its 48th season on Oct. 31, the following day begins the track’s Novemberfest of Racing, a month-long parade of outstanding stakes races.

The track’s signature event is the 20th renewal of the $350,000 (est.) Progress Pace, recently renamed the Hap Hansen Progress Pace, to honor one of the sport’s and Delaware’s most renowned administrators, W.E. Hap Hansen.

The Hap Hansen Progress Pace begins with $35,000 eliminations on Monday (Nov. 21) and culminates in a rich final the following, Monday (Nov. 28) with a $25,000 consolation also scheduled on the program.

The rich Matron Stakes, the sport’s longest continued stakes series, leads off the Grand Circuit’s treasured events with all four Matron finals for 2-year-old colts and fillies on the Thursday (Nov. 3) program. The following Thursday (Nov. 10), all four lucrative trots and paces for 3-year-olds are featured.

The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund stakes for 2-year-old filly and colt pacers and trotters will join the Dover Downs 2016 stakes parade during November. The first of two DSBF $20,000 preliminary legs begin on Thursday (Nov. 3). Second leg events are scheduled to follow. The top eight finishers in each division return for $100,000 DSBF finals in late November.

Below is the schedule for the Dover Downs stakes program for 2016-2017.

2016 Hap Hansen Progress Pace
Date-Day-Event-Est. Purse
11/21-Monday-3-year-old Pace Elim-$35,000
11/28-Monday-3-year-old Pace Final-$300,000
11/28-Monday-Pace Consolation-$25,000

Matron Stakes
Date-Day-Event-Est. Purse
11/3-Thursday-2-year-old Filly Pace-$175,000
11/3-Thursday-2-year-old Filly Trot-$180,000
11/3-Thursday-2-year-old Colt Pace-$190,000
11/3-Thursday-2-year-old Colt Trot-$205,000
11/10-Thursday-3-year-old Filly Pace-$170,000
11/10-Thursday-3-year-old Filly Trot-$190,000
11/10-Thursday-3-year-old Colt Trot-$200,000
11/10-Thursday-3-year-old Colt Pace-$180,000

2016 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund
Date-Day-Event-Purse
11/3-Thursday-2-year-old Colt Pace Elim 1-$20,000
11/7-Monday-2-year-old Colt Trot Elim 1-$20,000
11/8-Tuesday-2-year-old Filly Pace Elim 1-$20,000
11/9-Wednesday-2-year-old Filly Trot-Elim 1-$20,000
11/10-Thursday-2-year-old Colt Pace Elim 2-$20,000
11/14-Monday-2-year-old Colt Trot Elim 2-$20,000
11/15-Tuesday-2-year-old Filly Pace Elim 2-$20,000
11/16-Wednesday-2-year-old Filly Trot Elim 2-$20,000
11/17-Thursday-2-year-old Colt Pace Final-$100,000
11/21-Monday-2-year-old Colt Trot Final-$100,000
11/22-Tuesday-2-year-old Filly Pace Final-$100,000
11/23-Wednesday-2-year-old Filly Trot Final-$100,000

2017 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund TBA