Cody Autrey, Delaware Park’s leading trainer in 2009, will return to the Wilmington oval to defend his title during the racetrack’s upcoming 73rd racing season. The 116-day meeting is set to start on Saturday, May 1.

Last year, after a full season of racing, the race for leading trainer was still up in the air until the final day of the meeting. When the dust cleared, Autrey finished with three more victories than seven-time defending leading trainer Scott Lake. Lake was seeking his eighth consecutive title, which would have broken the record set by Delaware Park legendary trainer, Grover “Buddy” Delp, from 1963 through 1969.

Last year, Autrey compiled a record of 58 wins, 23 seconds, 32 thirds from 192 starters with earnings of $1,064,540 at Delaware Park. The 30-year-old native of Waxahachie, Texas is coming off a solid 2009-10 Fair Grounds meet in which he finished seventh with a record of 21 wins, nine seconds, and ten thirds from 87 starters with earnings of $352,637.

While not making any predictions for the upcoming season, Autrey has prepared and targeted Delaware Park and is confident of a strong showing from his barn.

“We are going to be at our full capacity here with 40 horses,” Autrey said. “We also rented some stalls to keep some overflow horses. I think we have a lot of live horses that are fresh. That is the main thing. They are fresh and we have a better idea of what horses to bring since we had the benefit of being here last year, so I think they should all be ready run.”

In previous years, Autrey, who saddled his first career winner in 1999, has had some good meets at tracks throughout the Midwest finishing near the top of the standings many times. However, he had never won the leading trainer title until last year at Delaware Park.

“We have tried to win training titles before and have come close, but we have always run against Steve Asmussen and trainers like that,” Autrey said. “I guess it was finally my turn and I am glad I notched my first title at Delaware Park because last year I was one of the new guys in town and I had a lot of fun being here.”

With his success at Delaware Park last year and his bright prospects for the 2010 season, Autrey and his family are moving closer to making Delaware a second home.

“We rented a house here,” he said. “Last year, while we were in town, we basically stayed at a hotel. I really like it here. Fair Grounds is good from late November through March so it only seems a natural to come here from May through early November.”