Lexington, KY --- The Red Mile will open later and push a shortened Grand Circuit meet back two weeks under a 2010 dates schedule approved Oct. 27 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

In all, three harness tracks were awarded 71 dates, down slightly from 2009. The schedule is similar to that of this year with the exception of the later start and end for The Red Mile meet.

The Red Mile in Lexington was awarded 32 racing days from Aug. 15-Oct. 23. Racing will be held Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays through Oct. 7. The Grand Circuit meet begins Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 23, with racing four days a week instead of five (Wednesdays through Saturdays).

The track requested the shift because the World Equestrian Games will be held in Lexington. The entire Grand Circuit meet overlaps with the Keeneland Thoroughbred meet.

The Red Mile traditionally holds the early part of its meet in the evening and Grand Circuit racing in the afternoon.

In an oddity, the Breeders Crown, to be held at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania in 2010, will now be held before the Grand Circuit meet. It originally was planned for Nov. 6, second day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, but was rescheduled for Oct. 9.

Players Bluegrass Downs in Paducah will kick off the Kentucky harness season April 29 and race 15 days -- three fewer than this year -- through May 29.

Thunder Ridge Raceway near Prestonsburg was awarded 24 dates, from June 10-July 31. There is a two-week gap between the Thunder Ridge and Red Mile meets, though the final county fairs are usually held in late July and early August.

The Red Mile also was approved for a two-day Quarter Horse meet July 16-17.