Delaware Park to begin 81-day season on Preakness Day

Delaware Park will conduct a similar schedule of live racing this year as it did in 2013. For the second straight season, Delaware will offer 81 programs, with opening day coinciding with the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 17. But by running just three days a week rather than four for the last six weeks, the season will extend an extra two weeks, ending on Oct. 22 rather than Oct. 7.

For most of the season, June 2 through Sept. 6, Delaware will race Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Mondays will be dropped starting Sept. 8. First post time remains 1:15 p.m. Eastern.

The track’s signature event, the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, is scheduled for July 12. The Grade 2 Delaware Oaks will be contested July 5. The remainder of the stakes schedule will be announced later.