Dover Downs offers live harness racing from late October to mid-April in the state of Delaware. Built in 1969 to support both harness racing and automotive racing, Dover Downs is a big destination in the city of Dover. This track is the only one in the country to run a six month season with racing held six days a week. There are 15 races held each day.
Dover Downs is home to many stakes races during the season, but it is becoming best known for the Progress Pace, which has become one of the top events in harness racing. The Progress Pace is a relative newcomer as a harness race. It was begun in 1996, and it now attracts the top sophomore colts in pacing. In 2007, there were 102 nominees for the Progress Pace. Since the race’s inception, the purse has risen from $200,000 to over $400,000.
Depending on how many horses are entered, there will be more or fewer elimination heats. The winners of these heats will compete against each other in a final field of 8 horses. The eliminations will be held the week before the final race, giving spectators two days to pick their favorites. A lot more local horses are now competing in the Progress, and the competition is getting stiff. The best of the best are coming together at Dover Downs every year to compete in this race.
If you’ve never seen a pace, you don’t know what you are missing. The drivers sit behind the horse in a sulky, which is also called a bike. Pacers are faster than trotters, and they move both legs on the same side of their body in the same direction at the same time. It is amazing to watch the drivers maneuver their horse and sulky between the rest of the field. It takes a lot of skill.
The first year the Progress Pace was held, the winner was Armbro Operative, a colt that is currently standing at stud in New Zealand. He was driven by Hall of Fame driver, John Campbell. 1997’s winner was Dream Away, again driven by John Campbell. Browning Blue Chip won the final purse in 1998.
1999 saw the first gelding win the Progress Pace; Royalflush Hanover, driven by Luc Ouellette. He passed Grinfromeartoear on the backstretch and never looked back. Luc Ouellette piloted 2000’s winner to victory as well, a colt named Powerful Toy. Peruvian Hanover, driven by Ron Pierce, took the honors in 2001.
In 2002, Art Major won his final elimination heat, and went on to beat his stablemate, McArdle in the final. Art Major was driven expertly by John Campbell. Radar Sign won under the capable hands of Luc Ouellette in 2003, crossing the finish line in only 1:52.4. In 2004, a longshot won the Progress Pace. Holborn Hanover, only the second gelding to win this race, not only beat the odds, he set a new record for the event, pacing the course in 1:49.4.
Gryffindor, the third gelding to hold court in this prestigious race, won in 2005, driven by David Miller. 2006’s winner was a local horse. Total Truth, driven by Ron Pierce, fought off the competition to win a very exciting final. Ghee’s House claimed the $350,900 winner’s purse in 2007. He was driven by Brian Sears.
Simon M Skinner has worked in the online gaming industry since 2000. He has worked for some of the top online sportsbooks and now runs http://www.sportsbook-watch.com which reviews and recommends gambling companies online. He can be reached at info@sportsbook-watch.com