Kentucky's 2010 harness racing season begins today at Bluegrass Downs, as a big weekend has been
scheduled.
Live racing will begin today, while on Friday the track will have its first ever 'Derby Eve' party, followed by the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
Even with purses between $1,100 (minimum) and $2,000 (maximum), the track had little problem putting together its first live racing program for the season. Several horsemen from Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Illinois have waited all winter for racing to begin at Bluegrass Downs.
Jerry Bradley, the track's general manager, has always welcomed anyone licensed in Kentucky to participate in racing at his track. Although it's not an 'A'-rated track, for 13 years Bluegrass Downs has been a place for many horsemen across the country -- California, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Iowa and many others states -- to set up shop and race their horses.
Many of the same faces have returned for the short meet. The boys from Mississippi found the road back. The Tetrick team ('Tom D' and 'Tom T') of Illinois will make the trip to race at the western Kentucky track. Roshun Trigg, Bluegrass Downs' leading trainer, is back and has brought 12 horses to Kentucky in an effort to repeat his 2009 meet.
Race Secretary Billy Perkins will be in his regular spot, atop the grandstand with binoculars in one hand and program in the other, as he pulls double duties that include announcing the races. Presiding Judge Rich Williams and associate judge Lou Haskell held on to their positions through the winter, as both will return to the judges' stand.
The horsemen can expect to see a couple of new faces this meet -- Gabe Prewitt and Dave Frizzell. Prewitt, Kentucky Harness Horsemen's Association new executive secretary, plans to be in attendance opening day at Bluegrass Downs. Dave Frizzell is Kentucky's new associate judge that will be working at all three harness track in the state this year.
With Bluegrass Downs having some of the lowest purses in the game, it leaves many folk wondering why people would race a horse for so little. Roshun Trigg was able to shed some light on those thoughts.
Trigg stated, "My job as a trainer is not necessarily to find the track that races for the most money, but more so to find a track that my horses can make the most money. Bluegrass Downs is one of those tracks. It works for me."
(kyharnessracing.com)