Delaware Park hoping to open meet on June 17

Delaware Park plans to submit a revised racing schedule to state regulators and government officials that would set June 17 as opening day for a 65-day meet, the track said on Saturday.

The revised racing schedule will need to be approved by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, and Delaware would need to get the go-ahead from the office of Gov. John Carney. Like all other states in the U.S., Delaware is attempting to put together plans to gradually allow some businesses to reopen during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Delaware Park said in a release that it planned to run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays through July 16, and then add Thursdays through the end of the meet on Oct. 1. The track also said that it planned to hold the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 11 and the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 4.

Delaware Park has 240 horses on the grounds, and it said that ship-in policies would be consistent with the protocols adopted by many tracks in the U.S. as they seek approval from government officials to reopen.

Delaware Park was initially approved for 85 days of live racing this year. Purses at the track are subsidized by a casino on the property which remains closed.