Mar 16, 2017 | Racing
The Standardbred trotters and pacers will begin their 52nd season of pari-mutuel harness racing in northeast Pennsylvania this Tuesday evening, March 21, as The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will present the first of 135 cards of the sulky sport scheduled for 2017, with Tuesday’s first race marked for 6:30 p.m.
The racing was set to begin on Saturday night the 18th, but two feet of snow at the mountain oval this past Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by high winds that caused considerable drifting in places, put paid to that idea, as for the safety of the horses and horsemen it was imperative to do a thorough job of track preparation, and thus the opener was pushed back until Tuesday.
The highlight of the 2017 Pocono season will come on Saturday, July 1, with the $2 million+ Sun Stakes Saturday card, which annually draws the sport’s best horses over several of the major categories. It was recently announced that Wiggle It Jiggleit, 2015 Harness Horse of the Year at age three and the fierce seasonlong rival of 2016 Harness Horse of the Year Always B Miki, will make his debut for the year in the Franklin Pace elimination races, to be held on Saturday, June 24.
And speaking of Wiggle It Jiggleit – the very first race of the 2017 racing season at Pocono, a $14,000 pace for “non-winners of three races or $30,000 lifetime,” is likely to have as its chalk, starting from post three, a stablemate to “Wiggle,” from the Bergstein/Proximity Award-winning Team Teague of owner George, driver Montrell, and trainer Clyde Francis. This three-year-old Delmarvalous gelding – who is 3 for 4 in his brief career – is named Nine Ways (nine is of course three times three), and his fastest win is in 1:53. (That’s a lot of coincidental numerology.)
The fifth race companion “nw 3” trotting event to the opener finds the sophomore filly Gin’s Tonic drawing the rail as she makes her first start of the year for local trainer Neal Ehrhart. The daughter of Muscle Massive had only one victory at two, but she picked a fine spot to notch it – in a division of the Keystone Classic at The Meadows, where she earned a mark of 1:56.3.
Older campaigners will be spotlighted in a pair of $12,500 events. The ninth race trot finds veterans ABC Muscles Boy and My Love Bi, who both took their 2016 marks of 1:53.3 at Pocono, coming into this race off promising early-season form, while the tenth race mares pace sports no fewer than six distaffs who have won since February 1, all of them in 1:54.1 or better in all kinds of wintry conditions.
Pocono’s all-time driving champion George Napolitano Jr. will be on the scene from opening night, coming up from Florida, where he already has shown himself in “midseason form” with a 27% win rate; his brother Anthony, second in the standings last year, will also have a full driving schedule from the word “go.”
The basic racing schedule at Pocono follows a Saturday through Tuesday basis, with first post at 6:30 except on Sundays, when the action starts an hour later. After Tuesday the 21st, Pocono is scheduled to race on Saturday-Sunday-Tuesday of the “following racing week” (March 25-28), with Mondays joining the mix on April 10.
A press conference/luncheon will be held at the track at 12 noon on Monday, with Pocono officials and horsemen on hand to take part in a preview of what should be a quality season of racing at The Downs. Pocono’s person of contact for media is Jennifer Starr, 570.831.2195.
Mar 15, 2017 | Racing
Welcome back, everyone, to live harness racing at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The 2017 season is upon us, although it took a little bit longer for it to get here than we originally expected.
The campaign was supposed to open on Saturday, March 18, but Stella, the winter storm of the century in the Northeastern Pennsylvania area, had other ideas. Even though the snow fell a full five days before the scheduled opening night, the pure amount of precipitation meant that there was just no way for even our crack track maintenance staff to have the racing surface ready for the Standardbreds.
The best-laid plans, as they say. And so we begin instead on Tuesday night, March 21, embarking on another outstanding season or racing. Let’s hope the warmer weather arrives sooner rather than later, but fans of Pocono know that the racing action always heats things up even if the temperature stays stubbornly on the low side.
So what can you expect from the new meet? If it’s anything like our recent seasons, some of the finest racing action in North American is certain to occur. The recipe: Take one of the fastest, best-kept racing surfaces anywhere, add in top-notch purses to draw in the best horsemen and horses in the world, and then sit back and watch the excitement.
You can also expect stakes races that bring in the sport’s superstars, a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes schedule that allows the Pocono faithful to see harness racing’s best rising talent, and overnight races that lead to great rivalries from week to week. Each racing night, pacers and trotters take to the 5/8-mile oval at Pocono in search of glory, and the fans are the ultimate beneficiaries of all of this talented horse flesh coming together in intense competition.
The horses are fantastic, but they’re also guided by the one of finest collection of drivers and trainers in the country. There are many questions to be answered among the Pocono horsemen this year. Will George Napolitano Jr. continue his amazing run of dominance on the driving side? Can young drivers like Anthony Napolitano, Matt Kakaley, Jim Marohn Jr., Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Miller and others continue to make inroads in the drivers’ standings? Is there a new face we haven’t yet seen ready to make a mark at Pocono?
On the training side, will the three-way battle for honors between Rene Allard, Chris Oakes and Ron Burke continue to rage until the closing nights of the season as it did a year ago? Or will there be some progress made by some of the trainers who were in the middle of the pack and are looking to move up the standings?
All will be answered in time. The racing schedule, with the exception of a few weeks at the start and end of the season, will be as follows until September: Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights at 6:30 PM ET, Sunday at 7:30. In September, our Monday cards begin in the afternoon at 4:30 PM ET. I, for one, can’t wait to get it started and see what happens.
I’ll be writing these articles all season long, talking about the exploits of our horses and horsemen, handing out weekly awards to the top performers. I’m looking forward to once again seeing our regular fans, who make The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono such a special place. Every year, when I come back to work in March, it’s like getting together with old friends once again.
And, as always, the sincere hope of everyone at Pocono is that we get a chance to make the acquaintances of some new friends as well. Those of you who might be checking this article out in the program may be new to harness racing. If you are, I encourage you to settle in and get ready an evening of fun and excitement.
Hopefully, you’ll be back again, and you’ll follow along with us through the 2017 season. It has the makings of another great campaign, and I’m extremely lucky to once again have the best view in the announcer’s booth. I hope you stop up to say hello. Good luck on your wagers. Here’s to the season ahead.
That will do it for this week, but we’ll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]
Mar 15, 2017 | Racing
Winter Storm Stella caused havoc in Northeast Pennsylvania, dropping more than 2’ of snow in the area, and thereby forced the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono to cancel their opening night for Saturday, March 18th. The legendary 5/8 mile racing surface would not be ready to kick off the racing season, and track officials, along with the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, decided to cancel opening night.
The official opening night will now be Tuesday, March 21st, post time 6:30PM.
On Tuesday, fans can pick up their free racing program with a coupon inside, and drop it in the registration drum for a chance to win up to $100 in live racing vouchers.
Mar 15, 2017 | Gaming, General News
Sunday, April 23rd through Saturday, April 29th!
WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 15, 2017) – Mohegan Sun Pocono welcomes spring with its annual NEPA Poker Open, a weeklong series capped off by the $550 Main Event on Saturday, April 29th! Bringing back the ultimate poker experience, the NEPA Poker Open will take place in the Mohegan Sun Pocono Poker Room and run from Sunday, April 23rd to Saturday, April 29th.
The NEPA Poker Open will feature an action-packed schedule of tournaments, professional players, high quality staff and big prizes. This will be an unforgettable live poker experience!
Key Dates – The NEPA Poker Open events will be as follows:
Sunday, April 23rd:
11:00am – Event One: $340 Black Chip Bounty, Buy-in $340.00
7:00pm – Event Two: $75 NL Hold Em Re-Entry, Buy-in $75.00
Monday, April 24th:
11:00am – Event Three: $125 NL Hold Em Bounty, Buy-in $125.00
7:00pm – Event Four: $75 NL Hold Em Re-Entry, Buy-in $75.00
Tuesday, April 25th:
11:00am – Event Five: $175 Green Chip Bounty, Buy-in $175.00
7:00pm – Event Six: $75 NL Hold Em Re-Entry, Buy-in $75.00
Wednesday, April 26th:
11:00am – Stage 1 Satellite (1 in 5 win a seat to Stage 2), Buy-in $18.00
1:00pm – Stage 2 Satellite (1 in 10 win a seat to Main Event), Buy-in $65.00
5:00pm – Stage 1 Satellite (1 in 5 win a seat to Stage 2), Buy-in $18.00
7:00pm – Stage 2 Satellite (1 in 10 win a seat to Main Event), Buy-in $65.00
Thursday, April 27th:
11:00am – Event Seven: $175 NL Hold Em Re-Entry, Buy-in $175.00
7:00pm – Event Eight: $75 NL Hold Em Re-Entry, Buy-in $75.00
Friday, April 28th:
11:00am – Event Nine: $125 NL Hold Em / Pot Limit Omaha, Buy-in $125.00
5:00pm – Stage 1 Satellite (1 in 5 win a seat to Stage 2), Buy-in $18.00
7:00pm – Stage 2 Satellite (1 in 10 win a seat to Main Event), Buy-in $65.00
Saturday, April 29th:
11:00am – Event Ten: $550 NEPA Open Main Event, Buy-in $550.00
7:00pm – Event Eleven: $125 NL Hold Em Bounty, Buy-in $125.00
Stay and play! Make your reservation today by logging on to Mohegansunpocono.com.
Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN POCONO
Mohegan Sun Pocono is North East Pennsylvania’s premier Poker Room offering 18 tables with Daily Tournaments and a wide variety of cash games including: 1/2NL, 1/3 NL with No-Max Buy-In, 2/5 NL, 10/20 H.O.S.E., 4/8 Omaha 8/B with Kill, 2/4 Limit, and 1-5 7card stud. Other PGCB approved poker games will be spread on request. We now offer a Bad Beat Jackpot and a Tournament Bad Beat Jackpot. Quad 2’s must be beaten to qualify. We also pay out progressive jackpots on all made Royal Flushes.
Mohegan Sun Pocono, owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, is one of the most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and dining destinations in Pennsylvania. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono features a 238-room hotel with on-site spa and adjacent 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It is currently home to 82,000 square feet of gaming space including 91 live table games, 2,300 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing. Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting our website. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, download our app and view us on YouTube.
Mar 13, 2017 | Racing
The Standardbred trotters and pacers will begin their 52nd season of pari-mutuel harness racing in northeast Pennsylvania this Saturday night, March 18, as The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will present the first of 135 cards of harness racing scheduled for 2017, with Saturday’s first race marked for 6:30 p.m.
The two biggest purse races on the Saturday card, each worth $16,000 and both for pacers, will come early at The Downs, in races two and three. The second half of the Early Double will feature claiming pacers valued between $20,000 and $25,000 in a handicap event; among the entrants is Freeneasy Hanover, who paced the local red clay oval in 1:50 while on a hot streak last year. The third race is written for “non-winners of six races,” horses usually moving up the class ladder to bigger and better things.
Many of this type of horse would eventually wind up in one of $15,500 co-features on Saturday, for older, high-level conditioned horses. The tenth race pace finds among its seven entrants Ontario Success, a 14-time winner in 2016 who comes in after good performances at The Meadowlands; their trotting counterparts have been slotted for race twelve, with Zooming and Wind Of The North, both career winners of $700,000+ who have trotted the Pocono oval in 1:51, starting from the two outside slots in the field of six.
The highlight of the 2017 Pocono season will come on Saturday, July 1, with the $2 million+ Sun Stakes Saturday card, which annually draws the sport’s best horses over several of the major categories. It was recently announced that Wiggle It Jiggleit, 2015 Harness Horse of the Year and the fierce seasonlong rival of 2016 Harness Horse of the Year Always B Miki, will make his debut for the year in the Franklin Pace elimination races, to be held on Saturday, June 24.
Pocono’s all-time driving champion George Napolitano Jr. will be on the scene from opening night, coming up from Florida, where he already has shown himself in “midseason form” with a 27% win rate; his brother Anthony, second in the standings last year, will also have a full driving schedule from the word “go.”
The basic racing schedule at Pocono follows a Saturday through Tuesday basis, with first post at 6:30 except on Sundays, when the action starts an hour later. During the early part of the campaign, Pocono will gradually “work into” that schedule: after Saturday, racing will be held on Tuesday, March 21st; Saturday-Sunday the 25th and 26th; and Tuesday the 28th; Mondays will be added to the schedule on April 10.
A press conference/luncheon will be held at the track at 12 noon this Thursday, the 16th, with Pocono officials and horsemen on hand to take part in a preview of what should be a quality season of racing at The Downs. Qualifying races will be held before the press conference on Thursday, beginning at 10 a.m. Pocono’s person of contact for media is Jennifer Starr, 570.831.2195.
Mar 13, 2017 | Racing
Due to the impending snowstorm, and for the safety of all horsemen and horses, as well as track personnel, Wednesday’s Qualifying races at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono have been rescheduled to Thursday, March 16th at 10AM. Box closes Wednesday morning, March 15th at 11:00AM.
Opening night is Saturday, March 18th with a 6:30PM Post Time.
Mar 1, 2017 | Racing
The rain held off just enough for the gates at the stable entrance of the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono to open on Wednesday morning at 7:30AM. Soon the stable area was filling up with the sounds of whinnies and laughter as horsemen arrived with their precious cargo, officially kicking off the 2017 racing season.
Linda and John Kakaley were the first to arrive with Mcsorley’s Mistake and Swiss Platinum, both owned by Charlie and Mary Johnston. A smiling Linda helped John get the first two horses settled in their stalls before a few more of theirs arrived soon after. John hit the track to train with Mcsorley’s Mistake as the torrential downpour began, but neither John nor the trotter seemed to mind.
Horses for the Peter Pellegrino Stable soon arrived in a trailer driven by Ollie Rose III, and Bucky Angle’s trailer was seen being unloaded by the veteran horseman. Outrider Tia Shafer’s horses Red and Hollywood., along with pony Niles stepped off the trailer after their long ride from Ohio, and were greeted by hugs from Tia.
Stall applications are still being taken for the stables at https://myhorsemen.mohegansunpocono.com with special reduced rates for the 2017 season. Call Luann Reynolds at 570-831-2125 for details.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono stable area features an excellent training track; tack shop and farriers; two veterinary clinics; laundry facilities; and a secure area with a guard on the premises 24 hours a day. Entry is with a license only. The stable area is minutes from major interstate highways.
Racing opens for the season at the renowned 5/8 mile track on Saturday, March 18th.. Three dates have been set aside for Qualifiers; Tuesday, March 7; Thursday, March 9th; and Wednesday, March 15th.
Jan 26, 2017 | Employment, Gaming, General News
WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 26, 2017) – Mohegan Sun Pocono is pleased to announce Mark Crescenzi as the new Player Development Executive. In this position, Mark will serve as a liaison between the casino and guests, offering a high level of service and assistance to valued guests. 
Additionally, Crescenzi will ensure Mohegan Sun Pocono offers guests a customized gaming experience to their specific interests and tastes. His longstanding experience will be extremely valuable in efforts to deliver superior customer service and build upon Mohegan Sun Pocono’s success.
Crescenzi comes to Mohegan Sun Pocono with eight years of casino industry experience in the Atlantic City market. His extensive understanding of casino operations within the casino industry combined with his exceptional leadership and guest service skills, make for a great addition to the Mohegan Sun Pocono team.
Crescenzi is a graduate from Stockton University where he studied Criminal Justice.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN POCONO
Mohegan Sun Pocono, owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, is one of the most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and dining destinations in Pennsylvania. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono features a 238-room hotel with on-site spa and adjacent 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It is currently home to 82,000 square feet of gaming space including 91 live table games, 2,300 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing. Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting our website. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, download our app and view us on YouTube.
Jan 20, 2017 | Racing
The 2017 schedule for the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono includes four consecutive nights of racing, and a double-header on Kentucky Derby day, according to Vice President of Racing, Dale Rapson. A total of 134 race nights and 135 cards are planned for the new season.
Racing opens at the renowned 5/8 mile oval in Wilkes Barre, PA on Saturday, March 18th, with limited days of racing in March, including Tuesday, March 21st; Saturday, March 25th, and Tuesday, March 28th.
In April, racing moves to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, with Sunday, April 2nd the 1st leg of the Bobby Weiss Late Closing Series for 3 and 4 year olds, named for the beloved former Director of Track Maintenance. Bobby retired in 2011, and was responsible for the record-breaking track surface that is maintained today. The series continues throughout April with the finals on May 2nd and 9th. There will be no live racing on Monday, April 3rd or Sunday, April 16th.
The prestigious $2 million Sun Stakes Saturday is set for Saturday, July 1st, and will feature the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial 3-year-old Trot; the James Lynch 3-year-old Filly Pace; the Max Hempt 3-year-old Colt & Gelding Pace; and the Ben Franklin Free For All Pace. Eliminations will take place on Saturday, June 24th.
Kentucky Derby day, May 6th, features a double-header with two Pocono live race cards. Post Time for the first card will be at 11 a.m., and the second will be immediately following the 143rd running of the Derby. The $50,000 Van Rose Memorial Pace for 4 YO & up will take place on the night card, honoring the late well-known local sportswriter, who was a fixture covering Pocono throughout the years. In between, there will be the Run for the Roses Hat Review and a huge party on the track apron. Live racing will immediately follow the second and third legs of the Triple Crown, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Monday, September 4th will be the PA Sire Stakes Championship Finals for the 2YO future superstars with estimated purses of $260,000. Also on the stakes schedule are the PA All-Stars for 2 & 3YO in July: and the 3YO PA Stallion Series and PA Sire Stakes starting in May.
Post Time for Sunday nights is 7:30p.m., with all other nights 6:30p.m. In September, October, and November, Monday night Post Time will switch to a 4:30p.m. Post. The 52nd season of live racing concludes on Saturday, November 25th.
***Stall applications are now being taken for the 2017 season by calling Luann Reynolds at 570-831-2125. Special reduced rates are being offered for the new season.
Nov 29, 2016 | Breaking News, Holiday
WHAT: Due to inclement weather, Mohegan Sun Pocono’s 2nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony (originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 30th) has unfortunately been cancelled.
*There are more holiday celebrations coming up at Mohegan Sun Pocono! Visit our newsroom for more details.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN POCONO
Mohegan Sun Pocono, owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, is one of the most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and dining destinations in Pennsylvania. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono features a 238-room hotel with on-site spa and adjacent 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It is currently home to 82,000 square feet of gaming space including 91 live table games, 2,300 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing. Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting our website. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, download our app and view us on YouTube.
