Dover Downs kicks off its 48th season on Oct. 31, with the six-month long meet continuing through April 13, 2017.

Many of the sport’s top horses and drivers compete in the Delaware Capital City raceway’s major-league harness racing season. The meet is headlined during early November by all-six Matron Stakes Finals for two-year old colt and filly trotters and pacers on Nov. 3 followed the next Thursday (Nov.10) by the three-year-old division finals.

The track’s signature event, the $350,000 estimated Hap Hansen Progress Pace is set for $30,000 eliminations on Monday, Nov. 21, featuring standout sophomore colts and geldings. The top eight point-getters return on Nov. 28 for the $300,000 (estimated) final.

Also, in late November, all four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) events for freshmen and sophomore First States present two $20,000 preliminary rounds for each colt and filly section culminating with $100,000 finals for each division.

During the season, Race secretary Rod Newhart, will again direct the highly competitive racing. A major feature race heads each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the regular season.

Defending champions, driver Corey Callahan and trainer Dylan Davis, head a usually strong group of prominent horsemen. Callahan has won the last seven leading driver titles while Davis seeks his third in a row.

As usual, the Dover Downs November and December months could determine a number of the sport’s highly competitive trotting and pacing divisional titles.

The first month of racing will include three Sundays of racing beginning at 5:30 p.m. From December through April, the Dover Downs' schedule is Monday through Thursday with post time at 4:30 p.m.

(Dover Downs)