Chester adds new stakes

The Battle of the Brandywine, last raced at the now-defunct Brandywine Raceway in 1989, is being brought back in 2007 by Harrah’s Chester Downs, with the $200,000(est.) race for 3-year-old pacers scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 19. A $500 nomination fee will be due March 15, 2007, with a $1,000 declaration fee.

First raced in 1960, some of the greatest pacers of all-time have won the Battle of the Brandywine, including Albatross, Silent Majority, Nero, Sonsam and Niatross. The race was contested for a previous high purse of $100,000 from 1977 through 1989.

Harrah’s Chester Downs is also bringing back the Betsy Ross Free-For-All Pace for fillies and mares. Eliminations are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 15, with the $100,000(est.) final scheduled for Monday, Oct. 22. The Betsy Ross was last raced at Brandywine in 1984. Some of the best fillies won the Betsy Ross over its run from 1962-84, including Tarport Hap and Silk Stockings, who won their respective divisions in 1975.

Harrah’s Chester has also added several new stakes events, including the $300,000(est.) Ben Franklin Free-For-All Pace, with eliminations Sunday, Oct. 14, and final Sunday, Oct. 21. A $500 nomination fee is due March 15, 2007, with $1,000 sustaining payments due April 15 and May 15. A $2,500 declaration fee will be due for the eliminations.

Also on the Harrah’s Chester schedule is the $200,000 (est.) Colonial 3-Year-Old Open Trot (Sunday, Aug. 12), the $150,000(est.) Valley Forge 3-Year-Old Filly Pace (Thursday, July 12) and the $100,000(est.) Marquis De Lafayette Free-For-All Trot (eliminations Thursday, Oct. 18, and final Thursday, Oct. 25).

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