For the first time in years, the Meadowlands Pace, the flagship race for the Meadowlands for over 35 years, seems to be on the upswing. Nominations for the marquee event, along with a pair of 2-year-old stakes—Merrie Annabelle and Peter Haughton Memorial—saw a sharp uptick over 2013. Of the 16 stakes races with nominating fees due February 15, none of the numbers jumped off the page quite as much as the 58 total horses which made the $500 payment to remain eligible for the July 12 Pace. That total nearly doubled the mere 30 which elected to pony up the $1,000 required to nominate last year and nearly 40 percent more than the 42 which made the initial payment in 2012. Along with nominations, starters for the Meadowlands Pace have been on the decline for years. In 2011, 19 horses entered the eliminations for a chance at the then $1,000,000 final pot. In 2012, only 16 took the plunge for a chance at winning $600,000 in the final. The race hit bottom in 2013, when only 10 hopefuls enlisted and no eliminations were needed, causing a one dash for the $635,750 total purse. [DRF HARNESS: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter Today!] Two major changes in the landscape certainly contributed to the increased attendance this year. The track altered nominating and sustaining payments to make it more economical to keep horses eligible earlier in the year. Also, the replacement of the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine in Pennsylvania on a five-eighths track for the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial on a half-mile oval left fewer stakes opportunities for 3-year-old pacers on bigger tracks. In addition, for the first time in recent memory, there were no dominating 2-year-old pacing colts last year. “The obvious answer is the reduction in the nomination fee to $500,” said Darin Zoccali, Meadowlands Director of Racing Operations, on the sharp increase in nominations. “I think that number is likely to entice people to take a shot. But that was only a small part of our plan. We staggered the starting fees in 2014. It will cost $5,000 less than last year to put your nose on the gate in a Pace elimination. I think that also looks more attractive. We think the changes coming for the 2015 and 2016 Pace will continue to grow the number of horses nominated and will also help the purse of the race.” While it is impossible to calculate the actual final purse for the 2014 Meadowlands Pace, some quick math that assumes a 20 percent drop off in each of the remaining four payments leading up to the eliminations would result in three elimination races and a final purse of $607,000. Of course if only 20 instead of 24 horses enter the elimination, the final would quickly jump to a more robust $647,000. One thing is certain, $600,000 will be the absolute bottom for the race. “The purse will go for at least $600,000,” said Zoccali. “We saw a bump last year and I would like to see it get to $650,000 this year. Our goal with the plan we have implemented is to get the race up to $750,000 in the next two years. I think it's important to find ways to make sure the Meadowlands Pace remains the 3-year-old pacing event with the highest purse in the United States without costing the horsemen more money.” Perhaps the most promising numbers for the future of harness racing occurred in the 2-year-old events. The Peter Haughton Memorial for trotting colts saw a 26 percent increase in nominations from 98 in 2013 to 124 this year. Its companion race for fillies, the Merrie Annabelle, got a 12 percent bump from 106 to 119. These higher numbers were no doubt the result of strong yearling results from Lexington and Harrisburg in the fall of last year. While across-the-board nominations were up nearly seven percent, the older pacing and trotting divisional races both took a hit. The TVG Free For All Pacing Championship (36 to 28), William Haughton Memorial (42 to 30), Arthur J. Cutler Memorial (35 to 28) and U.S. Pacing Championship (45 to 36) saw nominations drops a combined 22 percent. The Del Miller Memorial for 3-year-old filly trotters actually saw the biggest decline, with only 33 nominations, down from 50 the previous year. Perhaps the dominance of Shake It Cerry last year scared off some of the competition. [DRF HARNESS: LIKE us on Facebook and get timely updates on the latest harness news] Facts, figures and assumptions aside, the best of the best in the standardbred world will be racing at the Meadowlands in 2014. Top older pacers Foiled Again and Captaintreacherous will certainly renew their annual Pacer of the Year battle throughout the year at the East Rutherford track. Reigning older Trotter of the Year Market Share will have to test his mettle versus the two best mares in training—Maven and Bee A Magician—in races like the TVG series and Cashman Memorial. And of course, the Meadowlands Pace could pit the currently undefeated He’s Watching against the likes of Western Vintage, Luck Be Withyou, JK Endofanera and others.