Return-Path: X-Original-To: oneoff21@metrocast.net Delivered-To: oneoff21@mail.metrocast.net Received: from proofpoint-cluster.metrocast.net (proofpoint-cluster.metrocast.net [65.175.128.136]) by mail.metrocast.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8DCF35D6902 for ; Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:17:50 +0000 (GMT) Received: from mail8.hsphere.cc (mail8.hsphere.cc [216.157.145.28]) by plum.metrocast.net (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id n6RHHkqk028275 for ; Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:17:48 GMT Received: (qmail 94170 invoked by uid 89); 27 Jul 2009 17:16:05 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO PublicityXP) (lynnes@rockinghampark.com@64.179.118.3) by mail8.hsphere.cc with SMTP; 27 Jul 2009 17:16:05 -0000 Message-ID: <43A67B13659F4248B5710082BDE5C2BC@PublicityXP> From: "Lynne S" To: "stephen pierce" , "new salem paper" , "Scarborough Publicity" , "Susan Higgins" , "Worcester Telegram" , "us trotting" , "trot canada" , "stan bergstein" , "salem observer" , "Providence Journal Bulletin" , "portland press herald" , "Paul Estok" , "Paul Daley" , "Patriot Ledger" , "Nashua Telegraph" , "Michael Mutnansky" , "mark blaudschun" , "Manchester Union Leader" , "Harnesslink News Desk" , "harness racing editorial" , "Ed Gray" , "Eagle Tribune" , "dick lutsk" , , "Derrick Giwner" , "dennis whitton" , "Central Maine Newspaper" , "boston herald" , "boston globe" , , "Bob Temple" , "christine heiser" , , "Jason King" , "Jamie Staton" Subject: Harness Racing on the Grass to Debut at 103- year- old Rockingham Park Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:16:43 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_003A_01CA0EBC.7C898BF0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5512 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=fsecure engine=1.12.8161:2.4.5,1.2.40,4.0.166 definitions=2009-07-27_06:2009-07-24,2009-07-27,2009-07-27 signatures=0 X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=notspam policy=default score=0 spamscore=0 ipscore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx engine=5.0.0-0811170000 definitions=main-0907270118 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003A_01CA0EBC.7C898BF0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Contact: Lynne Snierson 603-898-2311 ext. 292 lynne@rockinghampark.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2009 HARNESS RACING ON THE TURF TO DEBUT AT 103-YEAR-OLD ROCKINGHAM PARK ON = SATURDAY SALEM, NH-- Rockingham Park has recorded an amazing history over the = past 103 years, and now standardbred racing on the grass will be added = to the racetrack's long legend. On Saturday (August 1) the track will present one or two harness races = for trotters on Rockingham Park's renowned turf course, which until this = point had always been reserved exclusively for Thoroughbreds because the = normal racing surface for standardbreds is the main track comprised of = crushed limestone. On the following Saturday (August 8), one or two = grass races for pacers will be part of the Rockingham card.=20 The plan is innovative as only two other racetracks in North America, = the Meadowlands in New Jersey in 2009 and Indiana Downs in Indiana in = 2005 and 2006, have ever offered harness races on the grass and the two = tracks in combination have only carded a total of four races. While = standardbred racing on the turf is not unusual in other countries such = as New Zealand or France, it is highly unusual in the Unites States and = Canada. The grass races will be held at the typical harness racing distance of = one mile, weather permitting. Saturday's races will mark the first time = Rockingham's turf course will be used since September 5, 2004 when the = track offered a mixed card of three Thoroughbred races on the grass = following eight harness races on the main track.=20 Although Rockingham Park conducted harness racing in 1912 and 1918, and = then again from 1958 to 1980 along with Thoroughbred racing, the turf = course was not installed until 1986. After the track lay idle from 1980 = to 1984 following a devastating fire, Rockingham returned as a = Thoroughbred only facility from 1984 to 2002. In 2003, Rockingham = switched to a standardbred only track. The fields for Saturday's races will be drawn on Wednesday. Also on Saturday's live racing card, the track will host the Mildred = Williams Driving Series, which is an annual event for lady drivers who = compete at harness tracks across North America to earn points and raise = money for worthwhile charities. This year's designated charity is the = Standardbred Retirement Foundation, which works to facilitate adoption = for horses after their careers on the racetrack have ended and rescue = horses in need. Simulcast players will want to be on track this weekend as Saturday is = the date of the eliminations for this year's edition of the = Hambletonian, which is the most coveted event for = three-year-old-trotters in North America and the most prestigious race = in the trotting Triple Crown. Moreover, Thoroughbred fans can watch and = wager on all three of their 2009 Triple Crown winners at Rockingham. The = $750,00 West Virginia Derby featuring Kentucky Derby Winner Mine That = Bird will be run on Saturday, and on Sunday, Preakness Winner Rachel = Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird headline the $1.25 = million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Post time for the first race at Rockingham on Saturday and Sunday is = 1:05 PM. ------=_NextPart_000_003A_01CA0EBC.7C898BF0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Contact: Lynne Snierson
603-898-2311 ext. 292
lynne@rockinghampark.com
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
July 27, 2009
 
HARNESS RACING ON THE TURF = TO DEBUT AT=20 103-YEAR-OLD ROCKINGHAM PARK ON SATURDAY
 
SALEM, NH-- Rockingham Park has = recorded an amazing=20 history over the past 103 years, and now standardbred racing on the = grass will=20 be added to the racetrack's long legend.
 
On Saturday (August 1) the track will=20 present one or two harness races for trotters on Rockingham = Park's=20 renowned turf course, which until this point had always been = reserved=20 exclusively for Thoroughbreds because the normal racing surface for = standardbreds is the main track comprised of crushed = limestone. On the following Saturday (August 8), one or two grass races = for=20 pacers will be part of the Rockingham card.
 
The plan is innovative as only two = other=20 racetracks in North America, the Meadowlands in New Jersey in = 2009 and=20 Indiana Downs in Indiana in 2005 and 2006, have ever offered harness = races on=20 the grass and the two tracks in combination have only carded a total of = four=20 races. While standardbred racing on the turf is not unusual in other = countries=20 such as New Zealand or France, it is highly unusual in the = Unites=20 States and Canada.
 
The grass races will be held at the=20 typical harness racing distance of one mile, weather permitting. = Saturday's=20 races will mark the first time Rockingham's turf course will be = used since=20 September 5, 2004 when the track offered a mixed card of three = Thoroughbred=20 races on the grass following eight harness races on the main=20 track. 
 
Although Rockingham Park conducted = harness racing=20 in 1912 and 1918, and then again from 1958 to 1980 along with = Thoroughbred=20 racing, the turf course was not installed until 1986. After the track = lay idle=20 from 1980 to 1984 following a devastating fire, Rockingham returned as a = Thoroughbred only facility from 1984 to 2002. In 2003, Rockingham = switched to a=20 standardbred only track.
 
The fields for Saturday's races will be = drawn on=20 Wednesday.
 
Also on Saturday's live racing card, = the track will=20 host the Mildred Williams Driving Series, which is an annual event for = lady=20 drivers who compete at harness tracks across North America to = earn=20 points and raise money for worthwhile charities. This year's designated = charity=20 is the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, which works to facilitate = adoption=20 for horses after their careers on the racetrack have ended and rescue = horses in=20 need.
 
Simulcast players will want to be on = track this=20 weekend as Saturday is the date of the eliminations for this year's = edition of=20 the Hambletonian, which is the most coveted event for = three-year-old-trotters in=20 North America and the most prestigious race in the trotting Triple = Crown.=20 Moreover, Thoroughbred fans can watch and wager on all three of their = 2009=20 Triple Crown winners at Rockingham. The $750,00 West Virginia Derby = featuring=20 Kentucky Derby Winner Mine That Bird will be run on Saturday, and on=20 Sunday,  Preakness Winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes = winner Summer=20 Bird headline the $1.25 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth = Park.
 
Post time for the first race at = Rockingham on=20 Saturday and Sunday is 1:05 PM.
 
 
 
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