Live Meet Opens At Ocean Downs

BERLIN- Live racing returns to Ocean Downs for the 61^st year tomorrow night for the first night of what will be a 40-night live meet at the historic harness racing track near Berlin.

The 40-day summer live meet at Ocean Downs will feature 10 races nightly with the first post-time each night at 7:35 p.m. The season begins tomorrow night, Saturday, June 13, and continues on Sunday, June 14. Live racing returns next Saturday and Sunday before the regular schedule begins the following week. Throughout the summer, live racing will take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The live meet concludes on Sunday, August 23.

Opening night will feature a promo with Ocean Downs caps handed out to the first 1,500 fans with the purchase of a race program. The average nightly attendance at the track is just over 1,800 and includes racing aficionados as well as families young and old from little children to grandparents. Of course, the main feature at the track is the racing, but there are many other attractions and events to appeal to a wide audience.

Last week, early qualifying was held at the track with several of Ocean Down's top drivers in attendance and some great times were turned in. For example, driver Ray 'Shorty' Robinson, who was won the driver title three times at the track, turned in some fast early qualifying times. In total, 25 horses attempted to qualify for the summer racing series last Wednesday and Saturday.

In addition to the live racing on the track, Ocean Downs offers year-round simulcasting from some of the top harness and thoroughbred tracks in North America. Ocean Downs continues to be family-friendly with arcade and horse games for children along with plenty of great food and drink in the grandstand and in the restaurants at the facility.

As always parking and admission are free at Ocean Downs. For more information, contact the track at (410) 641-0600.