by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park kicks off its 52nd season of harness racing on Sunday (Oct. 4), the first of 126 racing programs.

Beginning on a Sunday-Tuesday, two-night-a-week schedule for October, the season expands to three nights — Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — Nov. 9 — before eventually going to a five-night-a-week schedule during the heart of the season beginning in December.

Racing Secretary Greg DeFrank has put together 19 Late Closing events to “spice things up a bit,” including an Open Pacing Series featuring three legs and an estimated $100,000 final scheduled for March 6.

The other Open events — one for pacing mares and the other for trotters — will also have a trio of legs with an estimated purse of $80,000 for each.

Late closing events for several classes of claimers are also written into the agenda with well over $700,000 earmarked for the late closers upon filling.

Nomination information is available on the track’s website.

DeFrank also said, “In addition to our Late Closers, we will also offer ‘Pop-Up’ events, which will have a quick leg and a race-off featuring enhanced purses from our regular events.”

“Pop-Up” events — with no nominating fees — occur when there is an abundance of horses in a particular class requiring divisions.

Pompano Park will offer an enhanced wagering menu this season with the popular Super Hi-5 offered on the last race and a new Pentafecta added to the “buffet,” contested on race four.

The Super Hi-5 requires a unique ticket winner to take down the entire pool with a 50 percent payout to multiple winners and a 50 percent carryover to the next night’s Super Hi-5.

The Pentafecta will pay 100 percent of the net pool to any multiple winners with a carryover only if no ticket has the required first five finishers in order.

Opening night festivities include trophy presentations to last season’s leading driver, Bruce Ranger, and leading trainer, Jim McDonald.

The first 200 patrons get a free $2 wagering voucher with purchase of an official Pompano Park track program.

The racing program, itself, features the opening legs of the Sunshine State Stake for both gaits of juvenile and sophomore trotters along with the top pacers on the grounds in the Open Pace.

That latter event is expected to attract perennial favorite Northern Companion, a 35-time winner at Pompano Park. Trained by Howard Klohr for owner Dorothy Zarza, Northern Companion will be driven by Tom Sells.

A fresh face in Florida to the Open ranks is Audrey’s Dream, a $341,000 lifetime winner with a sub-1:50 record to go along with it. Co-owner and trainer Ed Hensley is expected to be in the sulky for this encounter.

Post time for the Sunday opener is 7:30 p.m.