By Chris Sobocinski – Delaware Park
WILMINGTON, Del.— A cap giveaway highlights the opening of the 87th live horse racing season at historic Delaware Park Casino this Wednesday, May 15th. The black cap, sporting the new Delaware Park Racing logo in white, will be given away while supplies last with purchase of the Delaware Park Official Past Performance Program.
The eight-race opening day card has a first race post time of 12:30 p.m.
Opening week festivities will continue the next day with live racing slated for Thursday, May 16th. The first live racing Saturday on May 18th will feature the simulcast of the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
Live racing will be conducted on a Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday weekly format for most of the 2024 meet. Nine Friday cards will be added to the schedule on the following dates: June 7th, June 14th, August 2nd, August 9th, September 13th, September 20th, September 27th, October 4th and October 11th. Live racing is not scheduled on Thursday, July 11th. Closing day for the live racing season is October 12th.
For the first time since 2009, the Delaware Handicap will be run on a Sunday. As part of a festival weekend of racing featuring multiple stakes, the $500,000 Grade II filly and mare classic will be run on a special Sunday, July 7th card. The $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks will be run Saturday, July 6th. During the festival weekend, on-track fans will have a chance to win assorted prizes, including the top prize of a $500 wagering ticket, while placing a Delaware Park horse racing wager at any trackside terminal through the Mystery Voucher promotion.
Two major handicapping contests, with a pair of seats each to the National Horseplayers Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada at stake, are slated for June 22nd and September 28th. A series of mini handicap contests have been scheduled on June 8th, September 14th, October 12th and November 2nd.
For more information, visit www.delawarepark.com.
