by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Dover Downs is now accepting applications for those seeking to race during the upcoming 43rd season which begins on Saturday (Oct. 29). The six-month long meet continues through April 12, 2012.

The 2011 portion of the meet will feature 15 races a day, six days a week, with only Friday as a dark day.

The track’s major event, the 15th Progress Pace, an estimated $350,000 contest for 3-year-old colts, will highlight a stakes-heavy November and December. Progress Pace $35,000 eliminations will be held on Sunday (Nov. 6). The top eight qualifiers return for the rich final and a $25,000 consolation on Nov. 13.

The Matron Series will present eliminations for 2-year-old colt and filly pacers and trotters on Saturday (Nov. 5) while the Matron 3-year-old elims for pacing and trotting fillies and trotting colts are set for Sunday (Nov. 6). Lucrative finals for the seven divisions will be held the following weekend. The Matron sophomore colt pace eliminations are slated for Sunday (Nov. 20) and the final is on Sunday (Nov. 27).

In late November, the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund will kick off its 2-year-old preliminaries with four $100,000 finals set for the first weekend in December.