by Rick Kane, racing secretary, Harrah’s Chester

Chester, PA — The highlight of the 2008 racing season at Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack — Super Stakes Sunday — scheduled for August 17 — is fast approaching.

Featured during the day will be the Battle of the Brandywine for 3-year-old pacers, the Colonial for 3-year-old trotters and the Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers. For many years the “Battle” and the Colonial were flagship events at Brandywine Raceway in nearby Delaware and Liberty Bell Park in northeast Philadelphia, respectively.

Both the Battle of the Brandywine and the Colonial will offer a guaranteed purse of $500,000 followed by a $200,000 Consolation I and a $100,000 Consolation II. The Valley Forge will have a guaranteed purse of $350,000 along with a $150,000 Consolation I and a $75,000 Consolation II.

Among the nominated horses that enter into the three events, the top eight money earners for the 2008 racing season up to the day of the draw will vie for the top purse in each event. The next eight highest 2008 money earners will go in Consolation I followed by the last set of eight money earners in Consolation II.

Those who enter and are not among the top 24 in the finals or consolations, or if a consolation does not fill, will have their two sustaining payments refunded.

Starting fees will not be indicated until the entry box is closed and it is determined which level a horse will start. The $500,000 Finals will have a $5,000 starting fee; the $200,000 Consolations will have a $2,000 starting fee; and the $100,000 Consolations will have a $1,000 starting fee. For the Valley Forge, the $350,000 Final will have a $3,500 starting fee and the $150,000 Consolation will have a $1,500 starting fee. There is no starting fee for the $75,000 Consolation.

Each consolation must have eight horses drawn in to race in order for it to be carded.

As part of the under card there will be a $35,000 3-year-old Open Pace for Battle Eligibles and a $35,000 3-year-old Open Trot for Colonial Eligibles.

As it is each week, the Sunday entry box will close at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on the previous Tuesday, which for Super Stakes Sunday will be August 12.