Meadowlands: MLK race highlights Friday card
Friday (Jan. 24) night’s fifth race might look ordinary to those who follow racing at The Meadowlands on a regular basis, but the man it honors was anything but ordinary.
The $10,000 claiming pace pays tribute to slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who undoubtedly would have loved the fact that the mile dash in his honor is a mixed-race event that will feature five African-American drivers. The MLK Day holiday was Jan. 20, five days after what would have been King’s 96th birthday.
King wanted a world where people of all races would get along, and one of the many of his quotes that carried enormous impact was: “We must learn to live together as brothers or we will die together as fools.”
The African-American quintet of Jim King Solomon, DeShawn Sample, Yogi Sheridan, William Carter and Brandon Cruse will take on Bradley Chisholm, Justin Irvine, Justin Huckabone, Tyler Miller and Braxten Boyd in the $11,000 race that has been dubbed the “Martin Luther King Remembrance Race”.
“All of us at The Meadowlands are so pleased to be having this event that recognizes one of the most important figures in American history,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Dr. King’s beliefs, along with his ability to motivate people to protest peacefully, went a long way toward advancing the rights of African-Americans both back in the 1960s, as well as today, when his legacy continues to live on.”
IT FINALLY HAPPENED: Something took place at The Meadowlands Saturday (Jan. 18) night that had never happened before.
In the second race, Stone Cold Savage ($5.40 to win), Woodrow F Call ($4.40) and Spirit Of Truth ($42.60) hit the wire together in 1:54 in the TrackMaster 74.5 for pacers, and when the judges could not separate the trio, the result was the first triple dead heat for win in Meadowlands history.
It was nearly a quadruple dead heat as a fast-closing Urban Renewal finished just 21/100ths of a second behind the three winners.
It was a long time coming. The Meadowlands opened for business in September of 1976.
A GRAND NIGHT: Nick Montemurro and Gary Scogna were the big winners in the first of The Big M’s monthly $1,000 Handicapping Contests on Friday (Jan. 17).
Montemurro and Scogna actually took the top four spots. Montemurro was first and third, finishing with $361 and $247, respectively, while Scogna ended up with $284.36 and $241.05, respectively.
By finishing in the top two, the duo qualified for the $10,000 contest that will be held in December.
The next $1,000 contest takes place on Friday, Feb. 14.
For more information, and to enter, go here.
-edited release (Meadowlands)