Harrington Raceway will open its doors for its 69th consecutive season of live harness racing Monday with a 14-race program beginning at 5:30 p.m.
In celebration of opening day, there will be $1 hot dogs in the lower grandstand as well as $1 live racing programs. A hat giveaway (while supplies last) will also commence at 5 p.m. on the first floor of the grandstand.
A $15,000 Delaware Special is the centerpiece of the program, featuring harness racing’s fastest pacer so far in 2015, Daryl Bier’s Bandolito (9-5, Bier), who was a dazzling 1:48.1 winner at Dover Downs on March 26. The five-year-old Ponder stallion will be joined by a deep but compact group of six that includes Frank Chick’s Jebswesternshake (7-2, George Dennis), Kovach Stables’ Feel Like A Fool (8-1, Allan Davis), Doug Lewis’ Mojo Terror (30-1, Jon Roberts), Mary Larrimore’s Believe This Bob (6-1, Ross Wolfenden), and Janet Hudson’s Just A Jolt (2-1, Victor Kirby). The race is carded as the seventh on the program.
Interested bettors should take note of a new bet minimum on the Pick 4 wager (offered in races three through six, nightly) as Harrington will now offer a 50-cent minimum on the popular multi-race wager.
Defending driving champion Allan Davis, who will appear in 13 of 14 races Monday, is expected to be a regular participant at the meet, as is leading trainer Wayne Givens, who has two horses entered.
The track’s marquee event, the Bobby Quillen Memorial, will be held September 21 with a new invitational format.
Live racing will be conducted on a Monday through Thursday schedule until a six week break on July 9.
(Harrington Raceway)