Meadowlands: Earlier post time, Hambo and Oaks elims on tap
With just nine days remaining until the 101st edition of the Winning Key Farms Hambletonian, The Meadowlands will continue to make changes designed to make the track experience better for the bettor as well as the horsemen and horsewomen who compete on a consistent basis at The Big M.
First and foremost, management at the mile oval has decided that an earlier start would be a good move, so, effective immediately, post time will be 15 minutes earlier than what it has been for some time, with the first race now scheduled to go at 6:20 p.m.
Racing will be conducted this weekend on the usual Friday (July 31)-Saturday (Aug. 1) basis.
“We have been trying to finish earlier by decreasing the time between races,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “And for the last several weeks, we have had an entry box that’s been supporting 15-race programs.
“At the end of the day, we have decided on the earlier post time in an effort to complete our race cards before midnight. We also will eventually go back to 14-race programs on a consistent basis, but if we have enough horses to go with 15 races, we will then offer our horsemen and women the opportunity to race.”
The new post time goes into effect just in time for the third leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes. There will be nine leg three divisions for 2-year-olds contested on the 15-race Friday card, with an additional pair of non-betting events that will take place during the live simulcast show (at 6 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.).
Only one horse on the betting program is two-for-two in the NJSS. The Julie Miller-trained Wall Of Fame has won her two dashes by a combined 7½ lengths facing Platinum level filly trotters. Miller’s husband, Andy, will be in the bike.
There is also a horse in the second non-bettor who has two wins in as many NJSS tries. The Megan Scran-schooled Aintmyfirstro Deo, who has been competing in the Platinum level colt and gelding pacing division, is a gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions who will be driven by Scran’s significant other, Scott Zeron.
DOUBLE ELIMINATION: There will be three eliminations conducted Saturday night for the Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old trotting fillies. From those three contests, which are carded as the first, fourth and sixth races, the top three finishers from each seven-horse field plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest career earnings will advance to the $500,000 final.
If all goes as expected, the top two horses in the division will collide in the Aug. 8 final. Jailbird Jog (race one) has been beyond impressive in taking the July 11 Del Miller and July 25 Tompkins-Geers, both from well off the pace.
The daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S is trained by Jason McGinnis and driven by five-time defending O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top pilot, James MacDonald. They have drawn post four.
Marcus Melander trains Nezuko Kamado S (race four), the filly who, as of now, is the Oaks favorite. Nezuko Kamado S defeated Jailbird Jog when the two met in the July 4 Reynolds. The Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos IT product is a perfect four-for-four this year and will be driven by Zeron from post five.
With two elims, the $1-million Winning Key Farms Hambletonian will see the top five from each dash advance to the final. A total of 19 horses dropped into the entry box.
Unlike the Oaks, this division’s big two will face each other in their elimination.
Apex, the winter book favorite who was the divisional champion from last year, has won two of three starts this season. The first was the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Platinum division final, the other, a $145,650 division of the Stanley Dancer.
Trainer Melander’s colt by Walner-Mission Brief is driven by Dexter Dunn. The pair will depart from post seven in race seven.
Endurance went a brutal first-over trip when he provided cover for eventual winner Spencer Hanover in the May 16 Oak Grove Derby. That is the only loss of the season in five tries for the colt by Captain Corey-Love Session, who is trained by Chris Beaver and driven by Andy McCarthy. They have drawn post nine.
THE SCHEDULE: Live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis through Sept. 12 with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.
There are some exceptions to those rules.
The 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on Saturday, Aug. 8, and that card begins at noon.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, racing will begin at 7 p.m.
In addition, there is a Thursday program scheduled. It will take place on Aug. 6.
Finally, there will be no live racing at The Meadowlands on Friday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 28, due to preseason football at MetLife Stadium.
GET YOUR HAMBO MERCH: Be ready for the 101st edition of The Hambletonian by getting some great Hambletonian merchandise.
The 2026 collection is now available, so check out some great hats, hoodies, tees and other apparel at www.hamboshop.com.
Any item you purchase comes with free shipping, so get busy, and get your Hambletonian merchandise before the big day!
If you prefer to buy your items in person, the merchandise will be available for purchase at The Meadowlands when the Hambletonian eliminations (Aug. 1) and final (Aug. 8) take place.
COME TO THE DRAW: Head for the Chateau Grande in East Brunswick, NJ, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and catch a special event on the harness racing calendar when the post position draws for the $1-million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks are conducted, and while you are there, enjoy some great food.
The luncheon begins at 2 p.m., with the draws for the Hambo and Oaks kicking off at 3 p.m.
The Big M’s TV production team will be there, with a special appearance by former Big M simulcast show personality – and current FOX Sports harness racing analyst – Jessica Otten serving as host with Ken Warkentin assisting providing interviews.
The post draw can be viewed live on The Meadowlands Facebook page as well as The Meadowlands YouTube Channel for those who cannot attend.
The event is open to the public, but please RSVP here.
-edited release (Dave Little for The Meadowlands)