A customary hat giveaway will take place at 5 p.m. in the lower grandstand area, where $1 programs and $1 hot dogs will also be available as part of the opening day festivities.
Last year’s co-leading trainers, brothers Wayne and Les Givens, will be back in action as they will race a combined seven horses on the program. Meanwhile, two-time defending driving champion Ross Wolfenden has a busy night ahead, with nine scheduled drives.
Local favorite Village Blitz (4-1, Wolfenden) will return to his home track at age 13 in the 11th race for his 343rd career race. Village Blitz has 35 career wins at Harrington, more than any horse in track history. A winner of 63 lifetime races, he has made $882,980 in his career.
The sixth race on the program will honor the late Ned Galentine, who passed away in 2012 and was a long time horseman and racing official.
Racing will be conducted on a Sunday through Thursday schedule until June 9, when the schedule goes to four days (Sunday–Wednesday) until June 26. There will be a special night of racing during the Delaware State Fair (7 p.m. post time) on July 25 before the summer/fall season returns on a Monday–Thursday schedule on August 12 and continues through Oct. 24.
The seventh annual Bobby Quillen Memorial, Harrington’s signature race, is scheduled for Sept. 9 and 16. Last year’s winner, Betterthancheddar, equaled a world record with his 1:49.2 win.