The 2022 harness racing season at Harrah’s Philadelphia begins this Sunday (April 3), with the first of 14 races scheduled to start at 12:40 p.m.
The two feature races on the inaugural card are in the middle of the program, races eight and nine. First in line is a $14,400 pace for the class-climbing “non-winners of five races” sort, with Shake It the likely choice from post two in the field of seven for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Chris Ryder after the altered sophomore son of Heston Blue Chip opened his seasonal account with Meadowlands victories in 1:52.1 and then 1:51.2.
Dunn and Ryder will try for a sweep of the opening day features at Philly with Shake That House, an American Ideal gelding who has won $842,310 while facing the best of his generation. He’ll go from post four in a field of eight in the $13,000 featured fast-class pace, making his seasonal debut after qualifying in 1:52.2 at Philly on March 25.
Harrah’s Philly will again be featuring as talented a driving and training colony as can be found anywhere in North America, which adds to the competitive nature of the racing, handicapping and betting at the southeast Pennsylvania oval.
In April, Harrah’s Philadelphia will operate on a Sunday-Thursday-Friday schedule, with Sundays at 12:40 p.m. and the other two days at 12:25 p.m., with the exception of a dark day on Easter Sunday, April 17.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)