85th live horse racing season in history Delaware Park open Wednesday, May 25, with first posting time of 12:30 p.m. Opening week festivities will continue with live racing cards scheduled for Thursday, May 26 and Saturday, May 28
Top nine-time defending coach Jamie Ness will return for his twelfth season. The Heron, South Dakota native, will be looking for an eighth consecutive title, which would break the record set by Delaware Park and Hall of Famer legend Grover “Buddy” Delp from 1963 to 1969 and weighed by Scott Lake from 2002 to 2008.
After finishing 4th in the coach rankings last season, former top New York nurse Gary Contessa will return for his second full run. Contessa retired to become a personal trainer for locally-based Bell Gable Stable, owned by Nick and Delora Beaver, who won the title of top owner for 2021.
“I’ve always loved Delaware Park,” said coach Gary Contessa. “Delaware Park has always been one of my favorite places even though I’m one of the top trainers in New York. It’s got a country atmosphere and the people are really nice, so I’m in love with this place. I’ve always enjoyed coming here and I’ve also had a lot of success here over the years.
“After retiring in March 2020, I met Nick at a sale, one thing after another, and we came to an agreement for me to train privately for Bell Gable Stable. I attended the meeting. last year looking down at my barn didn’t know what to think and we won the title of top owner We really tried and worked hard to get there. enjoyed staying here last year and I’m really happy to help them win the title of top owner Plus, we’ve won two stakes races and they’ve never won a stake race before so everything was extremely positive.
“This year, we’re back with 2 years older. We’re dividing equally between 2 year olds and older horses but we are 2 years older this season than last year, so at the beginning of the meeting, I have maybe not very active because for 2 year olds it’s a bit of a wait game I have a couple that are showing me some pretty good signs I think we’re going to win some races, but that will only be a matter of when we get there.”
Other coaches who will be stabbed at Delaware Park include Cathal Lynch, Juan Arriagada, Gary Capuano, Andy Simoff, Anthony Pecoraro, Mike Gorham, Jane Cibelli, Lynn Ashby, Baltazar Galvan, Scott Lake, Michael Stidham, Tim Ritchey, Ben Perkins Jr. , Kelly Rubley, H. Graham Motion, Greg Compton, Brittany Russell, Victor Carrasco Jr., Chelsey Moysey, Edward T. Allard, Sam Cronk, John Robb and Arnaud Delacour.
Kaime Rodriguez, top guard jockey and regular rider for trainer Jamie Ness; Carol Cedeno, a former six-time top guard jockey and second in last season’s standings; and Daniel Centeno, who won a Delaware Handicap Class II aboard the Miss Marissa and placed third in last year’s rankings; is set to return.
“I take the same approach this season as every other, which is to stay fit, work hard every day and be ready,” said Carol Cedeno, who has been a top driver at Delaware Park since 2014. join your coaches”. from 2016 to 2018 to 2020. “Am I disappointed that I didn’t win the title last season? Yes, I’m sure it’s because Delaware is my home and I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished. But we still had a great meeting and the hard work and dedication paid off Jaime (Rodriguez) had a great meeting and I take my hat off to him. I’m not sure where I’ll be in the standings at the end of this season but I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting season and I’ll continue to work hard, be dedicated and perform day by day.”
Rodriguez, Cedeno and Centeno will star Angel Suarez, Raul Mena, Skyler Spanabel, Roberto Alvarado Jr., Aubrie Green and John Hiraldo.
The live race will be conducted on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fridays will be added from June 10 to July 8 and from August 26 to November 4. Delaware Oaks Class III matches scheduled for Saturday, July 2 and Delaware Handicap Tier II will take place on Saturday, July 9. 30th Owner’s Day will take place on Saturday, October 1. The 88-day meeting is scheduled to end on Saturday, November 5.
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