Live Racing Set to Return to Ocean Downs

BERLIN- Live racing returns to Ocean Downs tomorrow night for the 58^th year with the first two days of what will be a 40-day 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. Live racing will be held each Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer and the meet will end a little late this year on August 25. The only exception on the calendar is Wednesday, July 4, due to the Ocean Pines community fireworks show held at the track.

Ocean Downs officials brought in nationally recognized track expert Greg Coon to revamp the track surface at the historic track on Route 589 near Ocean Pines.

'He chewed up everything and put a layer of eight to 12 inches of stone dust,' said Ocean Downs general manager Peter Szymanski. 'It will help traction and there will be no cupping out. It'll be very safe and probably one of the best half-mile tracks in the world.'

Opening night of the live meet will feature an Ocean Downs hat giveaway to the first 1,500 fans with the purchase of a race program. Qualifying races for the 2007 live meet began last Wednesday and fast early times were turned in on the new track surface.

The battle for leading driver and trainer honors begins tomorrow night. Tony Morgan, who drove 1,004 winners last year to win the Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year championship was the top driver at Ocean Downs last year with 47 wins. Trainer Mike Hall will also be back to defend his Trainer of the Year award at Ocean Downs last year. Hall won 19 races as a trainer at the ocean oval last season.

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.