The curtain is set to rise on the 2009 live harness racing season at Rockingham Park on Saturday, June 6.
Rockingham Park, now in its 103rd season, is looking forward to an outstanding year of live racing. With many of the powerhouse stables returning from last year and new competitors arriving from all over the East Coast and Canada, the meet promises plenty of quality horses and full fields throughout August 30.
One of the new faces on the backside this year will be very familiar to harness racing fans in New England and all over the continent. Bruce Ranger, who holds all of the standardbred driving records at 'The Rock' and is a member of the New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame, will be back to compete for the first full season since 2004.
Ranger, who virtually owned the Rockingham winner's circle in 2003-04, recorded the most wins at one harness meet (215) and the most seconds at one harness meet (126) in 2004. On July 17 of that year, he won eight races on a single card, which is more than any other harness driver or thoroughbred jockey in Rockingham history. Moreover, Ranger also had multiple seven and six-win days during that summer.
Through May 31, Ranger ranked 46th in North America in the driver's standings with 122 wins, 115 seconds, and 84 thirds from 688 starts in 2009.
Ranger will challenge for leading honours with a host of talented drivers including David Ingraham, who topped the Rockingham standings in 2005-06, John Hogan, Richard Wojcio, Jim Hardy and Walter Ross, Jr. Some of those vying for the top training prize include Arthur Brewer, Kelly Case, Dawn Anderson, Peter Blood, Warren Harp, Fred Cohen, Diane Hellen, Linda Kakaley, Rich LaCava, and Gaston Grande.
Live racing will be conducted four days per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this season with a 1:05 p.m. first race post time.
The centerpieces of the summer racing season are the $30,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes on Saturday, June 20 and the $30,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot on Sunday, August 30. The highlight of the summer promotional schedule is the Pepsi Family Fun Day, with free pony rides and children's entertainment plus the chance to win great prizes like Red Sox tickets, on Sunday, July 13.
(With files from Rockingham)