While the action on the track Saturday night at the Meadowlands will be hot, with nearly $3 million in purses, headlined by the $738,550 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace, there will be plenty of action off the track as well.

Live racing will begin at an earlier post time of 6:30 p.m.

A large and varied silent auction will take place on the main grandstand level of the Meadowlands from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Some of the items up for auction include sports memorabilia from legends such as Muhammad Ali, Derek Jeter, and Jack Nicklaus, as well as vacation packages and unique sports experiences.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. The SRF is a 28-year-old non-profit that provides new careers, through re-training and adoption, for trotters and pacers that are no longer successful on the track.

Beginning at 6:00 p.m., fans will receive a Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace beach towel, while supplies last. A TapSnap Photo Booth will be set up in the Clubhouse Lobby for fans to take commemorative photos and share on social media using the event’s official hashtag, #Pace17.

The Meadowlands Backyard area will feature rides and attractions, including a mechanical shark and obstacle course from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Live music by rock band Spectrum will take place on the Backyard stage.

Fans can also register to win one of six $500 win wagers to be placed on one of the designated contest races. Entry forms will be available at the Players Club desk.

“As usual, Pace Night provides some of the very best racing our sport has to offer,” said Meadowlands GM/COO Jason Settlemoir. “We also think we are offering our fans some exciting entertainment and promotions to give them even more reason to get a front-row seat to the event. I can’t wait for Saturday night to get here.”

(Meadowlands Racetrack)