Jul 21, 2015 | 50th anniversary of racing, Racing
On July 15, 1965, the $7 million Pocono Downs opened its doors in Northeast Pennsylvania. Thousands of fans were on hand as Satin Queen was the first to cross the Finish Line on that sultry summer night.
50 years later, 42 tracks have come and gone, but Pocono Downs, now renamed the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, continues to host World-record racing from March to November each year. From August 15-22, the track will honor the past and look ahead to the future with a week of events for the fans to celebrate and honor the rich history and tremendous racing.
A week-long celebration kicks off on Saturday, August 15 with the World-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales making an appearance, and fans may have their photo taken from 6:00pm to 7:30pm on the track apron. A wristband is necessary, and will be distributed at 4:00pm on the Sky Bridge The photo is $5, and all proceeds will be donated to Marley’s Mission, a charity that provides equine-based therapy free of charge to children and their families who have experienced trauma. The Budweiser Clydesdales hitch will promenade on the track during live racing Saturday night, as well as the night before.
On Tuesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 19, fans can enjoy live racing and Pocono is “rolling back the prices” to 1965 on soft drinks, hot dogs, popcorn, and soft drinks.
The weekend will be full of exciting events, with a special Post Time of 5:30pm on both Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, August 21, the night will kick off with a special “Legends Race”, featuring drivers from the past 50 years competing in a thrilling race; Immediately following the races, fans can enjoy a special “Tribute to Motown” free concert featuring The Fellas and Encorz, two tremendous groups who will be performing on the track apron.
Saturday, August 22 starts off with an exciting guest dropping by to celebrate the anniversary! Former Major League Baseball player and manager Pete Rose will be on hand for autographs and photos from 4:00pm to 6:00pm in the Racing lobby. This is a wristband-only event, and wristbands will be distributed starting at 1:00pm. Authorized photos only will be signed, and they are available at the special signing.
Then the action shifts back to the track with a special Post Time of 5:30pm for the return of the $2.3 million Super Stakes Saturday, with the 3 Year-Old Colonial Trot; the 3 Year-Old Valley Forge Filly Pace; and the 3 Year Old Battle of the Brandywine Open Pace, plus two consolations of each. Amid the tremendous racing on that night will be the 50th Anniversary Souvenir Beer Mug giveaway, which will take place from 9:00pm to 10:30pm with the coupon from the live racing racing program. The special commemorative program will be on sale starting at 5:00pm in the Racing lobby.
Immediately following the stellar Super Stakes Saturday card will be a spectacular fireworks display to cap the tremendous week of events. The approximate start time is 10:30pm.
Fans are reminded that the souvenir book “The Golden Era of Pocono Downs” will be available through the remainder of the season, and can be purchased at the Program stand. This commemorative book takes a look back at 50 years of racing, events, and statistics, and contains photos of the past and present.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono is truly honored to be celebrating this milestone, and looks forward to a terrific week of fan-friendly events and outstanding racing. For more information on the anniversary celebration, follow us on Twitter @DownsAtMSP, #pcd50; and keep checking back for updates in the Racing section of www.mohegansunpocono.com.
Jul 21, 2015 | Racing
Robert Krivelin, three-time Amateur Driver of the Year by voting of the U.S. Harness Writes Association, showed that he could “beat the pros” as well, on Sunday, July 18th, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, bringing home the trotter Blintz, the longest shot on the board, to her maiden victory and returning a tasty $118 to win.
Krivelin got away second from the rail with his homebred daughter of Credit Winner (he races as the “Hero Stables”), then moved outside to challenge pacesetting Mrvelosity Hanover nearing the ¾. Marion My Way joined these two in the Pocono Pike for the stretch drive, but it was Krivelin and Blintz, winless in 10 previous starts, who had the most late, gaining into the 58.4 back half to win in 1:59.1 by ¾ of a length over Marion My Way, who edged Mrvelosity Hanover for the deuce.
The $118 win payoff was the third-highest of the Pocono meet, and the win for trainer/driver Krivelin made him only the third horseman to control both sides of a $50+ winner (Brandon Simpson and Charlie Norris are the other two).
Krivelin, a resident of “The Cradle of the Trotter,” Goshen NY, has 175 career driving victories, and has posted four seasons where his UDR was .300 or better. Not coincidentally, three of those four years (2001, 2012, and 2014) were the three occasions of his being named Amateur Driver of the Year by USHWA.
Jul 21, 2015 | Racing
You’d be hard-pressed to find a sharper pacing mare right now than Request For Parole, who won the $24,000 distaff feature Friday night, July 17th, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, tallying in 1:49.2 to reduce her lifetime mark of 1:50, which she had achieved at The Meadowlands just seven days prior.
Driver Anthony Napolitano drew the assignment behind the 5YO daughter of Badlands Hanover from trainer Ron Burke, and she scooted away quickly from the middle of the nine-horse field to reach the quarter in 26.1, only to let Gallie Bythe Beach, parked behind her early, go to the top at the 3/8, before a sapping half-mile clocking of 53.3.
Scandalicious came strongly first-up down the backstretch and had reached the leader just past the 1:20.4 3.4s, before going to the lead late on the turn. For a moment it looked like Request For Parole might be locked in jail behind the tiring pacesetter as the first-over might get away, but the top three had formed a breakaway trio, and “ANap” was able to swing his mare two- and three-wide behind the new leader, picking her up easily at midstretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC acquired the fast mare at the end of May, and now they have a pacer who looks like a possible national fast-class performer.
Jul 21, 2015 | Racing
Somebeachsomewhere, newly-installed into the Living Harness Horse Hall of Fame, sired three of the five winners in the $268,940 first round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts Wednesday night, July 15th, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The trio of winners by the great horse included two Ron Burke trainees: Check Six (out of Southwind Vanna), who quarter-moved to the top then snapped home in 55.4 – 27.3 to tally in 1:53.4 for driver Matt Kakaley and owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, William Switala and James Martin, along with 3 Brothers Stables’ JK Will Power (whose dam is Whats New Pussycat), who paced an individual last quarter of 27.1 to be a 1:54.2 “pocket rocket” for pilot Yannick Gingras.
The other SBSW winner was Canadian invader Carter Beach (dam: Flaming Diablo), who was in the “feature division” which contained three of the five Pennsylvania All-Star winners earlier this month. But in his first start “south of the border,” Carter Beach showed his mettle by grinding uncovered in a 56.1 last half to post a neck triumph for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer/father Carl, the latter co-owner with Thomas Kyron and George Harrison.
Neither the fastest winner or the longest-priced winner was a son of “Somebeach,” however. Speed honors went in the opening division to the Western Ideal-Stolly Up Bluechip colt Spider Man Hanover, who produced a superhero-like 27.1 brush to the lead in the third quarter to win in 1:52.1 for driver David Miller, trainer Brian Brown, and owners Country Club Acres, Kenneth Vauper, Mike Mallett, and Milton Leeman.
50-1 shot Whata Twist, last and gapping at the half, and then shoved four-wide late on the far turn due to chain-reaction interference, still managed to rally in the final strides for a 1:53 triumph. The Quik Pulse Mindale-Passage colt, driven by Brett Miller for trainer Chris Ryder, co-owner with Diamond Creek Racing, lived up to his name by producing a $107 return for a $2 win investment to his scattered backers.
Jul 21, 2015 | Racing
There were eight divisions of the $160,000 first leg Pennsylvania Stallion Series event Tuesday night, July 14th, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and — with one small exception — they saved the best for last.
The Dragon Again-Guthrie Hanover baby Griffon Hanover worked hard for the early lead, saw two brush by him in the second quarter, then got a clear shot in the famed Pocono Pike and rallied for the tally in 1:54, fastest of the octet of races. David Miller guided the speedy freshman to the win for trainer Tom Fanning and owners Robert Dathe and Donovan Spamer while completing a siring triple for Dragon Again.
The one dark spot? Griffon Hanover, much to the lament of improvers of the breed everywhere, was the only gelding among the eight winners.
David Miller bookended the Stallion Series action when he took the opening section with the Yankee Cruiser-Ma Foi colt Ginger Tree Cash in 1:55.4. Also with a driving double was Tom Jackson, first with the Well Said-Yankee Scramble colt Yolo Hanover in 1:55.3, then, in the most exciting of the eight stretch drives, picking up the field on the far outside with another son of Dragon Again (out of Western Powerful), Art’s Dragon, in 1:54.4. Dragon Again’s third winner, out of I’m Sassy, was Innit Hanover, first home in 1:55 with Scott Zeron at the lines.
Also with a multiple sire credit was Somebeachsomewhere; his two winners were I’m Some Graduate (out of the $1.3M-winning mare Western Graduate), guided by John Campbell to victory in 1:56, and Beach Ogre (out of Donkeys Can Talk), whose 1:54.4 win for Ray Schnittker was the only non-lifetime best in the competition, as the youngster had previously qualified at The Downs in 1:54.1.
Rounding out the action was Star Of Terror, by Western Terror-Game Bunny, a winner in 1:55.2 for driver Tim Tetrick.
Jul 14, 2015 | Racing
The father/son team of driver Marcus and trainer Erv Miller accounted for half of the six divisions of a $180,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars event for state-sired two-year-old pacing colts on the first Friday card of the season at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, while driver Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke bookended the action for babies.
The fastest of the three wins for Team Miller was the 1:53.3 triumph of He’s Marvalous, a son of Delmarvalous (hence the spelling: remember the Del(aware)-Mar(yland)-V(irgini)a peninsula). He’s Marvalous made every pole a winning one while closing in 56 – 27.1 for the combine of Badlands Racing LLC and L. A. Express Stable LLC.
Also flying the Miller colors in Victory Lane were the McArdle colt McDave, longest price of the six at
7-1, as he rallied from the pocket into back splits of 55.1 – 27.2 to score in 1:53.4 for owners Ronald Michelon and David & John Prushnok, along with Ideal Jimmy, an altered son of Western Ideal who was a “pocket rocket,” gaining into a 27.4 kicker to stop the clock in 1:54 for owner D R Van Witzenburg.
Palone/Burke got the evening’s stakes action underway with a victory with the Well Said colt Genovese, who made a backstretch brush of 26.4 in going from fifth to the lead and then on to victory in 1:53.2. Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jack Piatt III, and The Panhellenic Stable Corporation own Genovese; the first two share ownership with the JJK Stables LLC and Lawrence Karr of the other Palone/Burke winner, the Yankee Cruiser colt Allie’s Cruiser, who made a quarter-move and then sped home in 27.1 to complete a 1:53 victory,.
The 1:53 time of Allie’s Cruiser equaled the fastest clocking of the stakes sextet, which was earlier put up by a colt sired by The Panderosa, Bank Shot Hanover, in familiar style for driver George Napolitano Jr. – on the engine – trainer Daniel Renaud and owner Robert DiNozzi.
Jul 10, 2015 | Entertainment, Keystone Grand Ballroom, Reality Check
NEW DATE: Reality Check Presents Dance Partners Chris Soules of The Bachelor and Witney Carson of Dancing with the Stars
WHAT
The Bachelor star Chris Soules and his Dancing with the Stars partner Witney Carson join Mohegan Sun Pocono for a special Reality Check event.
WHEN
Wednesday, August 12th (rescheduled from previous date of August 19th)
7:30pm Performance and Q&A session
8:30pm Signing event
Keystone Grand Ballroom, Salons E & F
IN DETAIL
Chris Soules turns farm charm into dancing dynamo at Mohegan Sun Pocono during a free Reality Check event. Join the star of The Bachelor as he shows off his ballroom skills with his Dancing with the Stars partner Witney Carson for a live performance followed by an autograph signing on Wednesday, August 12th in the Keystone Grand Ballroom.
Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to time restrictions, signing of personal items, personalization, or photos taken with personal cameras are prohibited. Headshots will be given out at the event. This event is bracelet-only. A limited number of bracelets will be distributed starting at 5:30pm in the pre-function area outside the Keystone Grand Ballroom. Participants must have a bracelet in order to gain entry into the signing line.
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, download our app and view us on YouTube.
Jul 8, 2015 | Entertainment, Keystone Grand Ballroom, Party on the Patio
WILKES-BARRE, PA (July 8, 2015) – The Rolling Stones said it best: “Gimme Shelter!”
Due to anticipated inclement weather, Party on the Patio featuring Satisfaction, a tribute to The Rolling Stones, will be moved indoors to the Keystone Grand Ballroom. Doors open at 6pm and Satisfaction will take the stage at 7:30pm. This is a 21+ event.
Lip Sync Battle for this week is canceled and participants will be notified.
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, download our app and view us on YouTube.
Jul 1, 2015 | Racing
Saturday, July 4th, the best of the best will land in Northeast PA for the $2,268,000 Sun Stakes Saturday supercard, featuring the $500,000 Championships for the Ben Franklin FFA pace, the Earl Beal Jr. three-year-old colt trot, and the Max C. Hempt three-year-old colt pace, and the $300,000 James Lynch Championship for three-year-old filly pacers. All four of these events have consolation events, and there are three other Invitationals/Opens on the monster card.
The day begins with a special Meet and Greet with former Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly on the Sky Bridge from 4:00-6:00pm. This is a wristband-only event, with wristbands being distributed at 1:00pm. Only authorized photos will be signed, and will be available at the signing.
Racing fans can pick up their souvenir Earl Beal Jr. Memorial hat at 8:00pm in the lower Grandstand bar, with a coupon from the live racing program. Programs are available starting at 5:00pm in the racing lobby.
Breyer Horses will be on hand for the official launch party of the release of the Foiled Again model, which will be for sale during the evening. A generous portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, who will also be on hand with a table of information and other items for sale.
Representatives of the US Trotting Association and the Harness Racing Fan Zone will be available to meet up with fans during the evening.
Racing fans are encouraged to bring their appetites because there will be outstanding selections from food trucks What The Fork; Big Belly’s BBQ; Wandering Chef; Doc Popcorn; and Johnny Rockets.
Post Time for this tremendous night of racing gets underway at 6:30pm.
Jun 30, 2015 | 50th anniversary of racing, Breakers, Entertainment, Gaming, Holiday, Hot Summer Fun, Party on the Patio, Racing, Special Events, Terrace
Enjoy live music, thrilling gaming promotions, exhilarating horse racing and a celebrity appearance
WILKES-BARRE, PA (June 30, 2015) – It’s nearly time to celebrate Independence Day, and there’s no better way to spend the holiday than with Mohegan Sun Pocono! Join Mohegan Sun Pocono from Wednesday, July 1st through Sunday, July 5th for a fun-filled weekend, including live entertainment, exhilarating horse racing, a sizzling fireworks display and more.
The fun begins on Wednesday, July 1st when Mohegan Sun Pocono kicks off summer with their annual Hot Summer Fun celebration. This year is hotter than ever, with new chances to win every day through August 31st, including thousands in cash prizes, Free Slot Play, two cars, a VIP experience at all three luxurious Mohegan Sun properties and more! Full details on how to play every day can be found at mohegansunpocono.com/HSF.
Start your weekend on Thursday, July 2nd when Mohegan Sun Pocono kicks off NEPA’s version of the wildly successful TV show Lip Sync Battle. Kicking off at 6:00pm at Party on the Patio, six performances will heat up the stage. Local judges will narrow things down to the final two contestants and crowd feedback will determine the weekly winner, so bring your loudest friends and cheer on your favorite “singer!”
Parrotheads unite! At 7:30pm, Mohegan Sun Pocono welcomes ParrotBeach, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, to Party on the Patio for a free concert*. Get ready to kick up your heels, grab a refreshing cocktail and sing along to your favorite tunes with thousands of other Parrotheads on the track apron. After the show, step inside to the After Party in Breakers and enjoy the music of Gas Station Disco, known for igniting dance floors with their high energy stage show.
Unwind and have a drink at the Terrace with live music from Eddie Appnel on Friday, July 3rd at 6:00pm and Battle of the Bands finalist Nowhere Slow on Saturday, July 4th at 6:00pm. Also on Friday and Saturday night, enjoy a fun night of laughs with Louis Ramey, Mike Spiers and Scott Bruce at Wise Crackers Comedy Club starting at 9:00pm, or dance to live entertainment at Bar Louie and Breakers at 9:30pm.
If it’s harness racing that you’re after, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono is the place to be this weekend. Starting at 6:30pm on Friday, July 3rd, cheer for your favorite horse from the outdoor grandstand, or enjoy the outstanding view of the track and surrounding mountains while dining at Pacer’s Clubhouse. To commemorate 50 years of harness racing, grab a “Decades of the Downs” tee shirt starting at 8:00pm, then wear your shirt to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono any Friday in July and get a $10.00 live racing voucher!
Get to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono early on Saturday, July 4th, as former Buffalo Bills Quarterback Jim Kelly will be signing autographs and taking photos on the Sky Bridge from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Kelly, known as the greatest quarterback in Buffalo Bills history, led his team to four consecutive Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in his first year of eligibility. Bracelets will be distributed starting at 1:00pm; only authorized photos will be signed and distributed at the event.
The $2 Million Sun Stakes Saturday Championship is set for Saturday, July 4th starting at 6:30pm, with the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot, the Ben Franklin Free-For-All Pace, the Max Hempt Memorial Pace and the James Lynch Memorial Pace being contested on this prestigious night of harness racing. Then at 8:00pm, pick up your complimentary Earl Beal Jr. official hat in the Lower Grandstand.
Finally, on Sunday, July 5th, end your holiday weekend with a bang, with a fireworks extravaganza scheduled for approximately 9:30pm**. Free and open to all ages, the fireworks will immediately follow an action-packed night of harness racing which starts at 6:30pm.
For more information on happenings at Mohegan Sun Pocono over Independence Day weekend and beyond, visit their website.
Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER.
*In inclement weather the ParrotBeach show may be moved indoors. ** Fireworks rain date is Monday, July 6th.
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, download our app and view us on YouTube.
