by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

A new chapter in the history of harness racing in Northeastern Pennsylvania will be written Saturday, April 1, when daytime racing will be ushered in at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will have a new post time of 2:30 p.m. for the 2006 harness racing season. Both admission and parking are free.

Live action will be taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through June 11. Following the June 11^th date the track will revert to a four-day-a-week schedule through November 11.

Patrons coming out to the track in 2006 will find a “new” Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs as a multi-million dollar renovation project began in the fall of 2005. That work included a new simulcast facility that opened March 13 and a renovated clubhouse.

Extensive paving has taken place at the track that included the widening of the track entrance and parking lots.

Opening day’s racing card will feature the annual Selma Gordon Memorial Pace. The race is held in honor of the late Selma Gordon of West Pittston, wife of Northeastern Pennsylvania personality Manny Gordon.

Manny, who is in his nineties, and his late wife were ardent fans of the sport of harness racing.

George Napolitano, Jr., who has been dominating the racing season at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack the past several years, will be returning to defend his championships. He was the top trainer and driver in all four categories in 2005.

Napolitano, Jr., who was the leading percentage trainer at Pompano Park in Florida before shipping out, will have approximately 20 horses stabled at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

In 2005 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Napolitano, Jr., had 312 victories and $1,383,069 in purses to runner-up Mike Simons’s 225 wins and $1,222,410 in purses.

Joe Pavia, Jr., who was third in the standings with 183 wins, also is expected to be on hand for the opening week of harness racing here.

Tom Jackson, who was fourth to Napolitano, Jr., and fifth-place finisher Jim Taggart, Jr., also will be returning along with other top ten drivers Mark Gingrich, Matt Romano, Kyle DiBenedetto, Herve Filion and Steve Salerno. Sean Bier, who also has fared well at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in the past, will be returning as a regular after an absence of one year.

Carmine Fusco, who was second leading trainer last year behind Napolitano, Jr., will also have some 20 horses campaigning at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Fusco, Napolitano, Jr., and Pavia, Jr., will have the largest stables.

W. Bill Mullin, last year’s third-leading trainer and a perennial top five conditioner at the track, will have a stable of six horses. Pavia, Jr., and Gail Wrubel finished fourth and fifth, respectively in last year’s standings. Pavia, Jr., also is shipping in approximately 20 horses from Florida.