‘birdie’ Is The Man

Church on Square delivers message to downtown

Pocono Downs will hold a Derby Day race honoring the late Times Leader reporter.



 

 
Rose
 

 

WILKES-BARRE &mdash; Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is making final preparations for its upcoming season and the racetrack has some new events on tap for the 2012 race season.
One of the biggest additions to the card will be the Van Rose Memorial, a race named in tribute for the former Times Leader sportswriter, who died in December.
Clarence Van Rose II covered events and handicapped races at Pocono Downs during his nearly 30 years on the staff of The Times Leader. Born and raised in Kentucky, Rose grew up with a love of horses and the sport of kings.
The Van Rose Memorial Pace will be part of the biggest day of racing at the track. The race will be held Saturday, May 5 &ndash; Kentucky Derby day. Pocono Downs will hold two live racing cards, with the first going off at 11 a.m. Then, after the Derby is run, an evening slate of races is set for the Downs. The Van Rose Memorial will run during the night session of races.
&ldquo;It will be very big and will become a yearly event,&rdquo; said Jennifer Starr, racing marketing manager for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. &ldquo;There will be a $50,000 purse.&rdquo;
Overall, the track will feature 135 days of live racing this season, starting with its opening day on Tuesday. Live racing will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. During July and August, there will be Sunday events as well, and there will be racing on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 3).
Pocono Downs will have more than $1.5 million on the line during races on Saturday, June 30, when the Ben Franklin for Aged Pacers, the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot, the James Lynch Memorial and the Max Hempt Memorial will all be staged.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will hold a press conference today to announce the other big events at the track.

‘van Rose Memorial’ On For May