Thursday, February 09, 2012

After history-making season, Delaware Park announces dates for upcoming 75th season

Stanton, Del., February 8, 2012 — Horse of the Year, Race of the Year and emerging Triple Crown contenders in the 2-year-old ranks are all tough acts to follow, but just as anything is possible when a fresh field goes postward, so too is a racetrack getting ready to start a new season.

The 75th season of live racing at Delaware Park will feature 100 days, with the meet starting on May 12 and concluding on November 3. Live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Daily first race post time is set for 1:15 p.m.


Last year, Horse of the Year, Havre de Grace, was stabled at Delaware Park from April through late September. The Kentucky-bred trained by J. Larry Jones won the Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park before suffering her first lost of the year when she ran second, beaten by a nostril, against her arch-rival Blind Luck in what many have dubbed “The Race of the Year” in the Grade II Delaware Handicap. Just four days before on July 12, a 2-year-old colt by the name of Union Rags broke his maiden at first asking. The son of Dixie Union conditioned by Michael Matz followed with victories in the Grade II Saratoga Special and the Grade I Champagne Stakes before being stamped as a top contender for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Since 2002, an amazing 27 Delaware Park maiden winners have gone on to win Graded stakes victories:

Broadway’s Alibi (2012 – Grade II Forward Gal)

Mr. Bowling (2012 – Grade III LeComte)

Union Rags (2011 – Grade I Champagne)

Grace Hall (2011 – Grade I Spinaway)

Believe You Can (2011 – Grade III Tempted)

Ruler on Ice (2011 – Grade I Belmont Stakes)

Joyful Victory (2011 – Grade II Fantasy)

Havre de Grace (2011 Grade I Woodward etc.) (Horse of Year & older filly champion)

R Heat Lightning (2010 – Spinaway)

Friesan Fire (2009 – Grade II Louisiana Derby)

Old Fashioned (2008 – Grade II Remsen)

Sky Diva (2008 – Grade I Frizette)

Mani Bhavan (2008 – Grade I Spinaway)

Eight Belles (2008 - Grade II Fantasy)

Proud Spell (2008 - Grade I Kentucky Oaks) (3-year-old filly champion)

Cool Coal Man (2008 – Grade II Fountain of Youth)

Forever Together (2008 – Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf) (female turf champion)

Hard Spun (2007 – Grade I – Kings Bishop)

Miss Shop (2007 – Grade I Personal Ensign)

Barbaro (2006 – Grade I Kentucky Derby)

Miraculous Miss (2006 – Grade II Forward Gal)

Afleet Alex (2005 - Grade I Preakness & Grade I Belmont) (3-year-old champion)

Bellamy Road (2005 – Grade I Wood Memorial)

High Limit (2005 – Grade II Louisiana Derby)

Scrappy T (2005 – Grade III Withers)

Tapit (2004 – Grade I Wood Memorial)

Booklet (2002 – Grade I Fountain of Youth)

The Grade II Delaware Handicap will be run on July 21st and the Grade II Delaware Oaks will be run on July 14th.

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