Rod Newhart will assume the duties of race secretary at Dover Downs when the Delaware capital-city raceway begins its 40th season the last Sunday in October.

"Rod Newhart has an excellent background working with horsemen and preparing race cards during his career, and I'm sure he'll enjoy the high quality racing that is a feature of Dover Downs program," says John Hensley, track harness racing manager.

Dover Downs opens its 2008-09 meet on Sunday, October 29 with 15 races daily, six days each week, with Friday being the only dark day. The meet's first draw takes place on Tuesday, October 21. Horses must be dropped in-to-go from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon sharp.

During November, the $425,000 (estimated) Progress Pace for three-year-olds, all rich Matron Stakes for two-and-three-year-old colt and filly trotters and pacers are featured. The four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminaries and $100,000 finals for two-year-olds are also on the early season schedule.

As customary, top pacers vie in the Monday feature. Tuesday is distaff day, with high-powered filly and mare pacers. The top trotters tangle in the Wednesday feature race.

Post time is 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The Saturday and Sunday cards begin at 5:30 p.m. Later in the 2009 portion of the meet, post time becomes 5:30 p.m. each race day starting on March 7.

(With files from Dover Downs)