Dates for the 2023 live racing season at Delaware Park, which this year will offer 85 days from May 24 through Oct. 28, were approved by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission on Tuesday. The 86th season at the Wilmington oval will be conducted on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule with the exception of seven dark Fridays–May 26, July 28, every Friday in August, and Oct. 27.
This year's stakes schedule, anchored by the GII $500,000 Delaware H., offers 12 added-money events worth $2.25 million. Additionally, all stakes races will be run Lasix-free this year.
The Delaware H., which had been contested at 1 1/4 miles every year since 1951 with the exception of 2020 when it was shortened to nine furlongs during the Covid-19 pandemic, will be contested a mile and three-sixteenths this year. Before 1951 it was contested at a mile and a sixteenth.
“It has become increasingly more difficult to consistently attract the top contenders in the filly and mare division with the race at a mile and a quarter, but we also want to be respectful of the distance aspect of the tradition as much as possible,” Delaware Park Director of Racing Jerome “Jed” Doro said. “We are hoping a sixteenth of a mile less will encourage more of the top contenders in the division to come while still keeping the race attractive to those who want a little more ground.”
Other notable stakes offered during the 2023 season include the GIII $300,000 Delaware Oaks and GIII $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial S., both set to be contested July 1.
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