Dover Downs will kick off its 45th season on Sunday, November 3. The six-month long meet will end on April 10, 2014.

As usual, the Dover Downs meet will feature top horses, top stables and top drivers during its lengthy season.

Racing will be featured Sundays through Thursdays daily. Friday and Saturday will be ‘dark’ days. As usual, weekday racing will begin at 4:30 p.m. and first-race post times on Sundays will be 5:30 p.m.

November is a giant month for major stakes, headed by the $350,000 (estimated) Progress Pace for three-year-old colt pacers plus all eight of the prestigious Matron Stakes, the longest ongoing stakes program in the sport. The Matron Three-Year-Old Male Pace is set for Nov. 24 with its lucrative final on Dec. 1.

And the top Delaware-sired two-year-old colt and filly trotters and pacers race for near $1-million during the first month of racing.

The lucrative Progress Pace, the track’s signature event, will highlight the meet once again. The 17th edition of the Progress Pace will feature the top eight point-getters. After $35,000 eliminations on Nov. 10, the top for from each elim return for the rich final on Nov. 17 with a consolation also carded. Fans in attendance at the track for the Final receive a 2013 Progress Pace cap.

Nov. 10 begins a special day of stakes races with eliminations of the Matron Stakes, the sport’s oldest continuous stakes for two-and-three-year-olds. The top eight finishers in each division will return for their respective lucrative finals on Nov. 17. The Matron Three-Year-Old Colt Pace will feature eliminations on Nov. 24 with a lucrative final on Dec. 1.

In late November and ending in early December, the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes for two-year-old filly and colt pacers and trotters will be a part of the stakes parade. The first of two $20,000 preliminary legs begin on the Nov. 11. Second leg events are scheduled the next week. All four $100,000 DSBF finals begin on the last week of November.

There is no charge for admission or parking at Dover Downs. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant by phoning 302-764-4600. Due to strong weekend bookings at the 4-Star Dover Downs Hotel, horsemen desiring to stay overnight are urged to make reservations.

Daily simulcasting of North American harness and thoroughbred racing and three-game parlays of NFL games are available in the Dover Downs’ Race and Sport’s Book in the Colonnade.

(Dover)