The two horses who last year swept their four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes preliminaries and then were triumphant in their championships, pacing colt Frantic Hanover and trotting filly Ginger Tree Lex, both added a second qualifying win to their preparation for their coming sophomore campaigns at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Tuesday (April 21).
Tag: Harrah’s Philadelphia
Heaven Needs Me successful on Sunday at Philly
Heaven Needs Me, second in his first start of the year against the good Another C Note, went one better in the $13,500 featured pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (April 19), rallying off cover on a track not known for being kind to closers to win in 1:53.1. He stepped his own last half in :56.1 on a day when the temperatures plummeted (again) and did not reach 50 degrees.
Todd McCarthy drives seven winners at Philly
In Todd McCarthy’s first 2026 action at Harrah’s Philadelphia, this past Sunday (April 12), he failed to hit the board in six drives. But on Thursday (April 16), the transplanted Australian made up for lost time, visting the winner’s circle on seven occasions including after both feature races.
Sophomores shine in Philly qualifiers
Many of the horse vans coming to Harrah’s Philadelphia for Tuesday (April 14) morning qualifiers contained stakes horses looking to solidify their racing preparations for their upcoming sophomore campaigns, and upon going home many of their connections must have thought “Mission Accomplished.”
Lafitte, Another C Note ship in and win at Philly
Another C Note posted a 29-1 upset over Lafitte when the pair of pacers met on March 30 at Pocono Downs. On Sunday (April 12) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, they both came south and promptly won the two featured events – but it was Lafitte, up in class, who won the $14,000 headliner in 1:52.3, while Another C Note was in the subfeature and remained undefeated in two seasonal starts in 1:53.
Philly draws for Friday’s 2026 Opening Day
The 2026 harness racing season begins at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Friday afternoon (April 10), with a first post of 12:25 p.m., and the fields for the inaugural racing card of the year were put together on Tuesday (April 7).
Harrah’s Philadelphia draw schedule reminder
Horsemen should be advised of the following draw schedule for Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Philly’s first qualifiers of 2026
Harrah’s Philadelphia bounced back to racing life on Friday morning (April 3), holding a qualifying session ahead of the 2026 pari-mutuel Opening Day, one week away on the April 10.
Harrah’s Philadelphia qualifiers on Friday
Horsemen are reminded that Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack will hold pre-meet qualifiers on Friday (April 3) and Tuesday, April 7, mornings, with first post at 9:30 a.m. (EDT) each day.
Tetrick sweeps Sunday features at Philly
The Sebastian K S gelding Benjamin Hanover is now five years old. He has made only 51 career starts, but he loves to win, as he posted his fourth straight triumph, 10th in 19 2025 starts, and 29th of his career with a snappy 1:54.1 victory in the $16,000 fast-class handicap trot at a cool Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Dec. 21) afternoon.