Meadowlands: Monster numbers possible for 2020 Meadowlands Pace

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the Grand Circuit landscape in Harness Racing. While the impact will clearly be a net loss for the industry given the number of stakes races that have already been canceled, or may still be in the future, it seems to be a lock that The Meadowlands Pace will be a winner.

Typically third on the docket after the North America Cup and Max Hempt Memorial in terms of major stakes for 3-year-old male pacers, The Meadowlands Pace moves up to hit leadoff in 2020 due to postponements and cancellations. Woodbine Mohawk Park pushed the June 20 NA Cup to August 29 and The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono eliminated Sun Stakes night, scheduled for July 4, which included the Hempt and three other major stakes.

The schedule alterations switches The Meadowlands Pace, with eliminations on July 11 and the final set for July 18, from a potential skip as the third cog in a string of six consecutive stakes for the division between mid-June and mid-August, to a must-race event.

For the first time in a decade, the possibility exists for three eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace. The average number of entrants in the last five years has been just 13.6 and the last time more than 20 horses signed on for the summer classic was 2010, when 23 were separated over three eliminations to pare the group down to 10 for the final.

A total of 38 horses have made all sustaining payments for the Pace. As the only opportunity to race for a pot of more than $75,000 until August 1 in the Adios at The Meadows, logic would state that a large portion of the 38, who are already invested to the tune of $5,350 in payments, will be willing to pony up the $2,500 declaration fee for the chance to win a purse of at least $600,000, assuming the track doesn’t reduce the $300,000 in added money promised for the race. With the conditions also providing a 1% payment to horses who finish sixth through last, there is virtually no risk of losing money on the $5,000 declaration fee into the final should you advance to that 10-horse field.

Given the circumstances, a twist to the race could be the potential supplement of a horse who is sharp but not eligible to the Pace. For $62,830, any horse can buy his way into the race and have a shot at the winner's share of the purse. That horse would have to finish third or better in the final to make their money back.

Interestingly, according to the rules, if more than 13 horses enter the eliminations, The Meadowlands can determine how the fields are divvied up. So, if 23 enter, we could have three horses with byes into the final and two fields of 10 where only the top three (and one fourth-place finisher) would make the final. In an age when elimination races have become unbettable and boring due to the low number of horses who end up being eliminated, this could be the year where they mean something.

With most of the current Pace eligibles having qualified already or even started in a pari-mutuel race, it's time to start getting excited about the July 11 eliminations.

This year's Meadowlands Pace could be the wildest yet. It will certainly be interesting to see how many enter and whether the top dogs in the division - Tall Dark Stranger and Papi Rob Hanover - can start the stakes year on the right foot.