Two-year-old trotter LGs Jaxon and driver Jim Morand kicked off the 54th harness racing season at Dover Downs on Monday, Oct. 30.
Trained by Les Givens and owned by Nanticoke Racing, LGs Jaxon won the season opener, a $10,000 trot for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Stakes eligibles, out-duelling Going Platinum and Corey Callahan for the 2-1/4-length victory in 2:00.3. The homebred Rolls Blue Chip-Miss Jocelyn gelding, who won the DSBF final at Harrington Raceway earlier this month (pictured above) and is now three-for-four lifetime, paid $3.40 to win as the bettors' choice.
The DSBF stakes series at the Dover meet takes place as follows: two-year-old eliminations from Nov. 2 through Nov. 15 ; two-year-old finals from Nov. 16 through Nov. 22; three-year-old eliminations from Nov. 27 through Dec. 7; and three-year-old finals from Dec. 11 through Dec. 14.
Bally's Dover honoured Victor Kirby during Monday's 14-race card for achieving 5,000 driving wins at Shenandoah Downs on Sunday, Oct. 29. Kirby was joined by friends, family and members of the Dover driving colony to celebrate his accomplishment. The Milford, Delaware resident cited his grandfather Vinyl, mother Sharon and trainer John Wagner for being an influence in his harness racing career.
Dover's 83-day meet will run through March 28, 2024. Live racing will follow a weekly Monday through Thursday schedule with a first race post time at 4:30 p.m.
The racing season will feature the Matron Stakes, with two-year-olds competing this Thursday, Nov. 2 and three-year-olds on the following Thursday, Nov. 9, followed by the Progress Pace for three-year-olds with eliminations scheduled for Nov. 16 and the final on Nov. 22.