Delaware Park is gearing up for the start of an action-packed live racing season with the announcement of its 2011 stakes schedule. Two premier races, the $750,000-guaranteed Grade II Delaware Handicap and the $300,000-guaranteed Grade II Delaware Oaks, will highlight the 22-race, $3.175 million stakes schedule this year.

The 74th renewal of the Delaware Handicap will be run on Saturday, July 16. The 1 1/4-mile classic for fillies and mares is the highlight of the Delaware Handicap Day card, which will also include the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial Stakes and the $100,000 Sussex Stakes.

Last year, Todd Pletcher won the Delaware Handicap with Life at Ten and tied for most career Delaware Handicap wins with Henry Clark, who won the race with Endine in 1958 and 1959 and Obeah in 1969 and 1970. Both Endine and Obeah were locally owned by Christiana Stables. Pletcher won his first Delaware Handicap in 2001 with Irving’s Baby. He followed by winning in 2006 with Fleet Indian and in 2007 with Unbridled Belle.

Additionally this season, the fillies will take center stage in the 60^th renewal of the 1 1/16-mile $300,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks. The supporting features on the Delaware Oaks Day card are the $200,000 Grade III Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes and the $100,000 Barbaro Stakes.

Last season for the second time in three years, the winner of the Delaware Oaks went on to win the Eclipse Award for outstanding 3-year-old filly. Last year, Blind Luck won the Delaware Oaks as part of her 3-year-old filly championship campaign. In 2008, Proud Spell followed the same course. After winning the Delaware Oaks, both Blind Luck and Proud Spell went on to win the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. In 1997, Runup the Colors captured the Delaware Oaks before winning the Grade I Alabama. Others to win the Delaware Oaks and Alabama double since were Careless Jewel in 2009 and Island Fashion in 2003. In 2002, Allamerican Bertie won the Delaware Oaks and finished second in the Alabama. A total of 18 fillies have placed in the Delaware Oaks and followed by capturing year-end honors for top filly.

The projected average daily overnight purse distribution is $200,000 for the 106-day season, which opens on Saturday, April 30, and is slated to close on Saturday, November 5.

Beginning on May 7, live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.