Top juveniles eye Dover Downs in early November stakes
October 18, 2017,by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Following completion of the upcoming eight Breeders Crown finals, harness stakes action shifts to Dover Downs in early November for a month long Novemberfest of lucrative racing headed by the $350,000 (est.) Hap Hansen Progress Pace.
The leadoff events are the Matron Stakes, the oldest major stakes in the sport. The Matron Stakes begin 2017 championship competition with action featuring 2-year-old trotters and pacers on Thursday (Nov. 9). On the following week, the four sophomore divisions contest on Nov. 16.
Annually the Matron Stakes boast an impressive list of nominees. For the 2017 edition, 875 juveniles are eligible to the track’s major events for young male and female pacers and trotters.
For this year’s Matrons, 507 2-year-olds and 368 3-year-olds are eligible for the eight events. The largest number of eligible horses come in the freshman colt and gelding trotters section with 143 nominees. There are 117 filly trotters nominated. The colt and gelding pace finds a group of 133 with 114 filly pacers. Three-year-olds go to post on the Nov. 16 program with 95 colt and gelding trot nominees. The filly trot has 86. The Matron 3-year-old paces feature 99 males and 64 fillies.
Add to this, 82 sophomores for the Hap Hansen Progress Pace, the track’s signature event. The rich Hap Hansen Progress Pace begins with $30,000 eliminations on Nov. 22, culminating in a rich $350,000 (est.) final, on the following Thursday (Nov. 30).
In addition all four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund freshman divisions are on the November stakes program. There are two weeks of $20,000 preliminaries with the top eight point-getters matching strides in four $100,000 finals on Nov. 30.
For those planning to enjoy racing watching from the Winner’s Circle Restaurant, or for those seeking to stay at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel, it is suggested to make reservations early. Call 302.674.4600.
Monday through Thursday racing has a post time of 4:30 p.m. Parking and admission at Dover Downs is free.