In keeping with its commitment to making its track a destination for the U.S.’s top horses and
horsemen, Pocono Downs will open the 2009 season with a brand new, state-of-the-art paddock area.
The $6.2 million project is scheduled to be operational in time for the track’s first qualifiers on March 19 in preparation for Opening Night on April 1.
To accommodate the construction necessities and ensure the paddock’s readiness for this year, Pocono had to shorten its 2008 meet to just 95 racing days and end the season last September. Construction is on schedule, meaning that horsemen arriving for the new season will be greeted with a facility designed to meet all of their needs and make their racing experience as pleasant as possible.
The centrepiece of the project is the main paddock area, which dominates the 53,000 square-foot building. One-hundred-twenty-six spacious, colour-coded stalls await the horses for each racing day. Lasix and containment stalls are also included, and all stalls are fortified with galvanized steel gates and contain drainage systems. There is ample space and plenty of natural light provided by over 100 windows in the building, which is approximately 33 feet high.
The comfort of horsemen was a major factor in plans for the paddock, and there are several amenities on site to ensure this. Plasma TV sets are located in the main aisles, and a snack bar is also on the premises with both indoor and outdoor seating available. Ceiling fans, an advanced exhaust system, and a radiant heating system will provide excellent comfort for horses and horsemen alike, no matter the weather conditions.
In addition to the main paddock area, the building also contains office space for the Pocono racing office, Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission officials, paddock staff, and security. For the first time, a locker room exclusive to female drivers will be available. There will be ample room for racing equipment and saddle pads, and wash areas are also provided.
The new building’s configuration, combined with improved grading, fencing, parking, exterior lighting, and cart storage layout, should improve the safety and efficiency of moving horses from the barn area and trailer parking into the paddock. In addition, every precaution was taken to make sure that the new building was environmentally sound. The entire stall area is now contained for sewage treatment and the storm water run-off of the new facility is filtered in conformance of current Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) standards.
Pocono Downs opens its 2009 season on Wednesday, April 1. Racing will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, with a 6:30 p.m. first race post time, as well as on Saturday afternoons, which will carry first race post times at 1:00 p.m.
(Pocono)