BERLIN – The cheering fans and thundering hooves of live harness racing action return to Ocean Downs next week as the track opens for the summer.
Ocean Downs, located on Route 589, launches its 66th season of harness racing Thursday, June 11.
“We’re excited,” said Crystal Layton, director of marketing at Ocean Downs. “It should be a good time. We’re trying to make it the place to be.”
The racetrack hosted qualifying races June 4 and will kick off its regular racing schedule June 11 at 7:20 p.m. Though the track offers simulcast racing daily, live harness racing will take place Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday each week. Horses from throughout the mid-Atlantic area are expected to compete at the half-mile racetrack during its 48-day meet. Local horsemen, who spend much of the year racing on the other side of the state and sometimes as far away as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, are eager to compete at their home track.
Area resident B.J. Truitt grew up racing at Ocean Downs and looks forward to returning every summer. He says what he likes about competing there–and what makes the track unique—is the fact that on any given night there are hundreds of fans standing alongside the track cheering the horses and drivers on.
“I enjoy seeing a full grandstand,” Truitt said.
In addition to offering live harness racing, Ocean Downs will be hosting several special events this summer to keep patrons entertained. As it has for years, the track will give away free t-shirts on opening night. The following night, June 12, fans will be treated to free carriage rides around the track. Layton said those proved popular with attendees last year.
“They absolutely loved them,” she said. “We’ll be doing those two to three times a month.”
On June 13, there is no live racing but Ocean Downs will offer a special salute to the country’s armed forces in conjunction with the Ocean City Airshow. Parachute jumpers will be present along with an American Legion color guard. Layton says there will be demos and patriotic giveaways. A fireworks display will top off the evening’s festivities.
Racing will resume the following Sunday, when fans will have the opportunity to meet and talk with several of the track’s regular drivers.
Layton says the facility has a number of other special events planned throughout the summer, including a Racing Under Saddle exhibition, a fashion show, mascot races and a demonstration by a trick rider. The track will also host a children’s camp in conjunction with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and an exhibition by the Starting Gaits Standardbred Transition Program. In addition, some of the state’s best young racehorses will be featured in Maryland Sire Stakes and Maryland Standardbred Race Fund events in July and August.
Clarissa Coughlin, a racehorse owner who created the advocacy group Friends of Maryland Standardbreds, says she’s thrilled with the array of activities taking place at the track this year. She hopes they’ll generate interest in the unique sport of harness racing.
“It’ll be a great opportunity for people to see what Standardbreds can do,” she said.