Wilmington, Del., May 2, 2024— Trainer McLean Robertson has pretty much been a Delaware Park summer staple for almost two decades and the reason he will be back when the 87th live racing season opens on May 15th, is straight forward.
“Good horse people bring good horses to Delaware Park to develop really nice race horses. That is no secret when you look at the people and horses that have gone through Delaware Park,” said trainer McLean Robertson, who like past summers will be splitting his operation between Delaware Park and Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. “The open areas with grass and trees and the pride the people bring to maintaining the racing program makes it a great place to develop horses. That is as true today as it was 60, 20 or ten years ago. I appreciate that continuity and reliability which is the reason I have not really changed my summer racing destinations.”
Robertson is best known for developing the upset winner of the 2009 Grade II Rebel Stakes Win Willy. While the son of Monarchos made history at Oaklawn Park by also winning the 2011 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap, the Kentucky-bred left a similar mark at Delaware Park. During a seven-year race career which saw him win 11 times from 37 starts, he notched five of those wins including four stakes at Delaware Park. His final career victory was in the Joseph French Memorial at Delaware Park which also put him over $1 million lifetime earnings mark in 2013.
“Not sure we are going to have one like Win Willy in our barn, but we are going to have a good mix of claiming and allowance/stake type of horses at Delaware Park similar to last year,” Robertson said. “We got an eye on a few stakes. We are just hoping everything falls into place for a few of our horses so they get that opportunity. I got about 20 horses at Delaware now and I am expecting 20 to 30 more within the next week or so.”
Last year, Robertson finished tied for sixth in the standings with 17 wins and those wins were pretty much split down the middle with nine coming in the maiden/claiming ranks and eight in the allowance/handicap category. His average $2-win payoff was $10.40 in 2023. Expect the return Xtreme Racing Stable’s Sir Wellington. The 6-year-old sprint specialist owns a career record of six wins, five seconds and five thirds from 29 starts with two wins, a second and a third at Delaware Park. Last year, the Louisiana-bred won an allowance before finishing second in the $100,000 Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware Park. This winter at Oaklawn Park, he has posted three thirds from five starts.
Live Racing Season Opening Day Notes – A commemorative cap sporting the new Delaware Park racing logo will be given away while supplies last with purchase of official track program on the opening day of the live racing season on May 15th.
2024 LIVE RACING DATES— Live racing will be conducted on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday each week. Nine Friday cards will be added to the schedule on the following dates: June 7th, June 14th, August 2nd, August 9th, September 13th, September 20th, September 27th, October 4th and October 11th. Live racing is not scheduled on Thursday, July 11th. The 75-day meet is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, October 12th. Daily first race post time is set for 12:30 p.m.
A special Weekend Festival with multiple stakes will be highlighted by the $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks on Saturday, July 6th and the $500,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap on Sunday, July 7th.
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