The holidays will be merrier at The Meadows this year, as the track will offer six series for $10,000 and $20,000 claimers, each with two preliminary legs and a final. Purses for preliminary legs range from $8,000 to $16,000 while championships will be worth $15,000 ($10,000 claimers) and $25,000 ($20,000 claimers).

All championship legs are set for Monday, Dec. 31, when the track will host a special New Year’s Eve twilight card that gets underway at 5:30 p.m. That program also is expected to feature the final race of Foiled Again, the richest Standardbred ever with more than $7.5 million in earnings, who faces mandatory Jan. 1 retirement when he turns 15. A ceremony and festivities to honour Foiled Again are in the works.

Nominations and fees — $100 for $10,000 claiming series, $150 for $20,000 claiming series — are due by Dec. 1. Nomination forms are available at www.meadowsgaming.com and through the office of the race secretary via phone at 724.225.9897. The six series, along with opening-leg dates, are:

• $10,000 Claiming Pace, fillies and mares, Dec.11
• $10,000 Claiming Pace, colts, horses and geldings, Dec. 15
• $10,000 Claiming Trot, open, Dec. 12
• $20,000 Claiming Pace, fillies and mares, Dec. 11
• $20,000 Claiming Pace, colts, horses and geldings, Dec. 15
• $20,000 Claiming Trot, open, Dec. 12

(The Meadows)