Opening night for harness racing at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be Saturday, March 23, 2013, and it will kick off the northeastern Pennsylvania track’s 48th racing season.
Dale Rapson, the track's vice president of Racing Operations, announced details with regard to entries. “Preference will be given for Pennsylvania-sired horses; horses stabled at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs; and horses stabled in Pennsylvania. Trainers must submit to management a list of all horses stabled at their facilities for approval.”
“The 2012 Bonus Program went well,” said Ron Battoni, executive director of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association. “If continued in 2013, there will be some changes made. Details will be forthcoming.”
With a first-race post time of 6:30 p.m., racing will take place on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday for the months of March through May. A special double-header of live racing will be featured on Kentucky Derby day, May 4, with the a first-race post time of 11:00 a.m., and the second immediately following the 139th running of the prestigious race.
In June and July, racing moves to five nights a week, with a first-race post time of 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. A special earlier post of 3:30 p.m. on Fridays is a new addition to the race card.
Racing in August through November 16, 2013, will continue on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday with the early post, and Saturday. A total of 140 race days is scheduled. The track will be closed March 31 and also the week of September 8 for the PA Oktoberfest.
The Breeders Crown will be held on one night, Saturday, October 19. Eliminations will be held on October 11 and 12. Pocono Downs hosted the Breeders Crown in 2010, and welcomed nearly 10,000 fans to a historic night of world-class racing.
(With files from Pocono)
Another track goes to
Another track goes to PREFERENCE racing...