Meadowlands: Pace Night provides stakes racing and much more

(Following is an edited release from The Meadowlands)

Meadowlands Pace Night is known as “The Biggest Party in Harness Racing”.

And the facts back that up.

The eyes of the entire racing world will be focused on the mile oval on Saturday (July 13) as The Meadowlands plays host to harness racing’s greatest night. The Pace Night card – which can be seen live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for those who can’t make it to the track – has a laundry list of stakes events.

A total of $2,403,000 will be doled out over eight stakes. They are:

· $650,000 Meadowlands Pace (3YO OPEN PACE)

· $428,000 William R. Haughton Memorial (OLDER PACE)

· $425,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity (4YO OPEN TROT – 1 1/8 miles)

· $270,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial (3YOC&G TROT)

· $250,000 Del Miller Memorial (3YOF TROT)

· $200,000 Jerry Silverman Memorial (3YOF PACE)

· $140,000 Dorothy Haughton Memorial (OPEN MARE PACE)

· $40,000 Miss Versatility (OPEN MARE TROT – LEG 4)

PACE PREVIEW: On Thursday (July 11), check out The Big M’s Facebook page for a Meadowlands Pace preview show at 6 p.m.

Join Jessica Otten and Greg Blanchard as they review last week’s Pace eliminations and talk in detail about the field.

Otten and Blanchard will also discuss the other races on the star-studded program, give out all kinds of stats and facts, and also cover what is an attractive beefed-up wagering menu.

BE FESTIVE: The track’s signature event features the following festivities:

· “Pace Be With You” T-Shirt Giveaway – Begins 5 p.m. for the first 5,000 guests

· DJ in the Backyard – DJ ALX

· Carnival rides and games – Including mechanical shark, toxic moonwalk, 3-in-1 sports game, toxic obstacle course, axe throwing and two carnival games

· Win free $500 Win Bets – Five winners will have a chance to place a $500 win bet on a designated race. Entry in the live racing program

· Meadowlands Burger Battle

· Food Trucks

· Dining

· You can guarantee a spot to dine and watch all of the races in The Lounge, which is the center of the action with front-row seats to Victory’s giant screens. There are two- and four-top tables and bar seats available. Ticket purchase acts as food and beverage credit for Victory Sports Bar menu

For complete information, and to make reservations, go here

A TASTY PACE MENU: A great night of racing deserves a great wagering menu. Meadowlands Pace Night checks all the boxes for horseplayers around the world.

Here is the lineup of nine wagers that will offer a low 15 percent takeout, featuring three 50-cent Pick-4 wagers:

· Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

· Races 3-9: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7

· Races 4-7: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

· Races 6-11: 20-cent Pick-6*

· Race 7: 10-cent Hi-5

· Races 8-11: 50-cent Pick-4* ($100,000 guaranteed pool)

· Races 10-14: 20-cent Pick-5*

· Races 11-14: 50-cent Pick-4*

· Race 11: 10-cent Hi-5*

* -- includes the Meadowlands Pace

Some of the featured performers on a night with a big handful of big races include:

Meadowlands Pace (3YO OPEN PACE) – North America Cup winner and top-ranked Standardbred in North America Nijinsky looks to complete the first NA Cup/Pace double since Tall Dark Stranger turned the trick in 2020. Canadian-based trainer Tony Beaton not only schools 2-1 morning-line favorite Nijinsky, who won one of two eliminations a week ago, but also 3-1 second choice Legendary Hanover, who won the other elim.

William R. Haughton Memorial (OLDER PACE) – Abuckabett Hanover looks for a second straight score after his sparkling 1:47.3 win in the Dave Brower Memorial. He takes on Graduate champion Voukefalas, who bumps up in class off a lifetime-best 1:47 3/5 clocking.

E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity (4YO OPEN TROT – 1 1/8 miles) – Winner’s Bet completed a three-race sweep of the Graduate one week ago, and will try and stay unbeaten in four seasonal tries as he attempts to overcome a second-tier starting berth.

Stanley Dancer Memorial (3YOC&G TROT) – Harness racing’s undefeated darling Karl, the presumptive Hambletonian favorite, seeks his fifth win in as many 2024 starts in the first division, while division two features T C I, who went off stride in his last start after starting the year three-for-three, and Goodtimes winner Highland Kismet. The Dancer serves as the last major prep for the Aug. 3 Hambletonian, which will be televised on FOX Sports (FOX 5 New York locally).

Del Miller Memorial (3YOF TROT) – Warrawee Michelle, the 2023 Breeders Crown champion, is the one to watch in the first division while Date Night Hanover, the Zweig winner, and Allegiant, who was victorious in the Moni Maker, top the second split.

Jerry Silverman Memorial (3YOF PACE) – The first division features Pass Line and Caviart, who have combined earnings of over $1.1 million, while the second split has Fan Hanover winner Its A Love Thing taking on My Girl E J, a lifetime earner of over $800,000.

Dorothy Haughton Memorial (OPEN MARE PACE) – Division standout Twin B Joe Fresh, who has already won the 2024 editions of the Perfect Sting, Roses Are Red and Betsy Ross, takes on her arch-rival – and 2023 divisional champion – Sylvia Hanover.

Miss Versatility (OPEN MARE TROT – LEG 4) – M-M’s Dream, second in the Six Pack and Armbro Flight in her last two starts, looks like a short price as she looks to add to her gawdy $1.55 million lifetime bank account.