May 3, 2017 | Racing
All eyes are on Churchill Downs this week, and the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono’s party for Kentucky Derby 143 will be the biggest and the best, but plans are already taking shape for the second jewel of the prestigious Triple Crown. Preakness weekend will be full of excitement!
The betting windows will open bright and early at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 20th with Post Time for Pimlico at 10:30 a.m. Pacer’s Clubhouse will open at 4:00 p.m., by reservation only, 1-888-WIN-IN-PA.
Outside on the apron, the Black-Eyed Susans and other beverages will be flowing, and fans can enjoy a free concert featuring Encorz and The Fellas with a Tribute to Soultown. The concert is from 4:00PM to 6:00PM.
Fans can watch the Preakness on the jumbo screen or in simulcast, and live harness racing action starts at 7:30PM.
Sunday, May 21st will be exciting for football fans! Former San Francisco 49ers and Notre Dame QB Joe Montana stops by for a meet and greet in the racing lobby from 5:00PM to 6:30PM. This is a wristband-only event, and they will be distributed at 1:00PM, while they last. Only authorized photos will be signed and will be distributed at the event, as well. A professional photographer will be on hand and photos will be posted on the Facebook page of Mohegan Sun Pocono.
For all racing events, follow us on Twitter @DownsATMSP.
Racing continues Sunday with a Post Time of 7:30PM; and Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday with Post Time 6:30PM.
Aug 19, 2015 | 50th anniversary of racing, Racing
The 50th Anniversary festivities continue at Pocono Downs, with everyone looking forward to an exciting weekend of tremendous racing and events.
Friday, August 21, racing will kick off with a special Post Time of 5:30pm, and the “Legends Race” will start off the night. The race will feature familiar names such as Bill Popfinger; Don Wiest; Jim Williard; Bill Mullin, Syl King Jr.; Eddie Nickle; and Joe Antonelli. There will also be a special Winner’s Circle trophy presention by Pocono’s first leading driver, J.D. Dennis, Sr., and Gene Daisey, who drove in 1965 as well. Horsemen from the past to the present are all invited into the Circle for the presentation and a group photo. After the 10th race, Wilkes Barre Mayor Thomas M. Leighton will present a proclamation honoring the track for their 50th anniversary and their contribution to the community.
Immediately following the races on Friday night, there will be a free concert on the apron with a Tribute to Motown featuring The Fellas; and a Tribute to the Supremes, featuring Encorz. The time for the concert will be approximately 9:30pm. A $1 Coors Light draft drink special will be at the track apron bars only for the concert fans. After the concert, fans with the coupon from the live racing program can grab their “Decades of the Downs” 1965 t-shirts on the apron, while supplies last.
Saturday afternoon, August 22, former manager and Major League baseball player Pete Rose drops in for pictures and autographs in the racing lobby from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. This is a wristband-only event, and wristbands are available starting at 1:00pm in the lobby. Authorized photos will be signed, and are available at the event.
Then the action shifts to the famous 5/8 mile oval with the $2.3 million Super Stakes Saturday. Representative Eddie Day Pashinski of the 121st Legislative District in Luzerne County will perform the National Anthem to kick off this tremendous night of racing, featuring the Battle of the Brandywine; the Colonial Trot; and the Valley Forge Pace, plus two consolations of each. Also featured on this prestigious night of racing is the Sebastian K Invitational Trot, named after the fastest trotter of all time. The famed trotter will also be honored with a special retirement ceremony after the 4th race on the card, featuring owner Michael Knuttson; driver/trainer, Ake Svanstedt and Bernie Noren; along with James Simpson from Hanover Shoe Farms. Special collectible Sebastian K color photos will be available for fans after the ceremony. A special 50th Anniversary souvenir beer mug will be given away to fans with the coupon from the live racing program starting at 9:00pm at the Trackside Concession area on the apron. Programs are on sale starting at 5:00pm.
The Hanover Shoe Farms Mares Invitational Pace and the USTA Invitational Pace have also been added to this stellar card of racing, with a purse of $50,000 to each.
Immediately following the races, at approximately 10:30pm, will be a spectacular fireworks display featuring music of all five decades from 1960’s to the present. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a good spot on the apron.
Plenty of food will be available on the apron both Friday and Saturday with food trucks Dominic’s; Big Belly BBQ; Johnny Rockets; and Doc Popcorn ready to go with something for everyone’s appetite. The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame will be on hand with items for sale as well.
In the racing lobby both Friday and Saturday will be a special display of memorabilia from the past 50 years for fans to enjoy. Included are old photos; trophies; programs, and more.
As always, parking and admission are free at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and valet parking is also free.
Aug 13, 2015 | 50th anniversary of racing, Hot Summer Fun, Racing
On Friday, August 14th, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono kicks off a week-long celebration of its Golden Anniversary. Events include:
Friday, August 14th
Live harness racing at 6:30pm, with a special appearance by the world-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales.
Saturday, August 15th
Meet and have your photo taken with the Budweiser Clydesdales from 6:00pm – 7:30pm*, then an action-packed night of live harness racing kicks off at 6:30pm.
*This is a wristband-only event. Wristbands will be distributed at 4:00pm on the Sky Bridge. Photos are a $5 donation to Marley’s Mission, an organization that provides free equine-based therapy to children and their families that have experienced trauma.
Sunday, August 16th
Live harness racing begins at 6:30pm
Tuesday, August 18th and Wednesday, August 19th
We’re rolling back the prices on hot dogs, popcorn, soda and programs! Pick up a copy of The Golden Era of Pocono Downs souvenir book for only $3.00 and relive the glory of our last fifty years, including exclusive photos, statistics, special events and more. Then kick back and enjoy a breathtaking view of NEPA scenery and a night of exciting racing with a post time of 6:30pm.
Friday, August 21st
The night begins with a special post time of 5:30pm with the Legends Race, featuring drivers from the past fifty years in a thrilling competition, with a percentage of their purse donated to their favorite charity. Immediately after live racing, enjoy a free concert on the track apron featuring The Fellas, a tribute to Motown, and Encorz, a tribute to The Supremes. Stay cool with $1.00 Coors Light drafts from 9:00pm to 11:00pm at the trackside concession bar. Don’t forget to pick up a live racing program for your coupon for a free Decades of the Downs tee shirt, available after the concerts.
Saturday, August 22nd
Kick off your night with special guest Pete Rose, who will be dropping by from 4:00pm to 6:00pm to sign autographs and take photos with the crowd in the racing lobby*. Starting at 5:00pm, pick up your copy of the racing program for a coupon for a commemorative 50th Anniversary beer mug. Then at 5:30pm, the action shifts back to the track for the return of the $2.3 Million Super Stakes Saturday, with nearly $2.1 million in purses featuring the Colonial and the Battle of the Brandywine and Valley Forge, along with two consolations for each. Immediately following the stellar racing card at approximately 10:45pm, enjoy a spectacular fireworks display to cap a tremendous week of events.
*Wristbands will be distributed at 1:00pm. Only authorized photos will be signed and will be distributed.
For more details, visit mohegansunpocono.com/racing/50th-anniversary.
For questions or media coverage, please contact Jennifer Starr, Racing Marketing Manager, at [email protected] or 570.831.2195.
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 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.
