Wilmington, Del., May 20, 2026— Record setting Delaware Park leading trainer Jamie Ness notched career victory 5,000 at Delaware Park today. The milestone win came in the sixth race when Chelsea Wall posted a 3 1/2-length triumph in a starter optional claiming race. The 8-year-old Pennsylvania-bred-daughter of Sky Kingdom was ridden by Paco Lopez, who recently won the Preakness Stakes.
Ness entered the day five wins away with seven starters – four at Parx and three at Delaware Park. He recorded career win 4,997 at Delaware Park and seconds later followed by notching his 4,998 victories at Parx Racing. Twenty-five minutes later, he notched career win 4,999 at Parx Racing and seconds later recorded the milestone victory at Delaware Park.
Ness, a native of Heron, South Dakota is currently the leading trainer at Delaware Park with seven wins from eleven starters through May 20.
Last year, he recorded his eleventh consecutive leading trainer championship and his thirteenth overall. Both are Delaware Park records.
Ness notched his 1,000th win at Presque Isle in 2010, his 2,000th at Laurel Park in 2013, his 3,000th at Parx in 2020 and 4000th at Laurel in 2023. He recorded his first career victory at Canterbury Park in 1999.
2026 LIVE RACING DATES – In May and June racing will be conducted three days a week on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday with two exceptions – no racing on Thursday, May 14th and a special card will be run on Friday, May 29th. In July racing will be conducted four days a week on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. From August through October the schedule shifts back to three days a week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with three exceptions – no racing is scheduled for Friday, September 4th and special cards are slated for Wednesday, September 9th and Wednesday, October 14th.
