It’s fitting that Saturday, July 6 is Fan Appreciation Night at The Meadowlands, because the track will have a special 11-race program on an evening when the patron is king.

And for those who can’t make it out to the mile oval, they can watch all of the action – and more – on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), beginning at 8 p.m. EDT.

Not only will there be a pair of $50,000 USD eliminations for the track’s signature event, the $650,000 USD Meadowlands Pace, but the card will also feature two $230,000 USD Graduate Series finals, one on the pace and the other on the trot.

The program will be three races shorter than usual so that The Big M can give back to its faithful fans in the form of a spectacular fireworks show that will begin at 11 p.m.

In addition, Fan Appreciation Night will feature discount concessions for those who come out on what is forecast to be a steamy summer evening. The Cafe, Rooftop Terrace and Backyard will offer hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda (limit five of each item per transaction) for $1 USD. Available for $2 USD will be Bud and Bud Light drafts (for those 21 years of age and older). The discount prices are available from 6-11 p.m.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer all that we offer on Fan Appreciation Night,” said Jason Settlemoir, Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “The Meadowlands Pace shapes up as one of the more competitive we’ve had in years. Both Graduates look wide open as well, and after enjoying some discount concessions all night long, everybody can then enjoy a spectacular fireworks show and not have to worry about getting home too late.”

This Saturday will mark the first of two back-to-back weeks that FOX Sports will present live broadcasts of championship harness racing. A total of 12 races will be telecast from The Big M and Ohio’s Scioto Downs as part of another edition of "America’s Day at the Races." The three-hour show kicks off on Saturday at 8 p.m. EDT on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) and during the evening, the best that Standardbred racing has to offer will be on display. 

Headlining the Meadowlands program will be eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace. Along with the North America Cup, Little Brown Jug and Breeders Crown, the Pace is among the most prestigious races in the world for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The fields are listed below in post position order, with final driver changes.

$50,000 USD Meadowlands Pace Elimination 1 (Race 7)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Mirage Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Jake Leamon - 7-2
2. Gem Quality - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder - 6-1
3. Legendary Hanover - James MacDonald - Tony Beaton - 3-1
4. Captains Quarters - Jody Jamieson - Herb Holland - 5-2
5. Number Cruncher - Scott Zeron - Erv Miller - 12-1
6. Ivy Park - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter - 15-1
7. Better Is Nice - Andrew McCarthy - Tony Alagna - 8-1
8. Miki Ray - Louis-Philippe Roy - Andrew Harris -20-1
9. Remember The Alamo - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna - 10-1

$50,000 USD Meadowlands Pace Elimination 2 (Race 8)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Nuclear - Andy Miller - Joe Holloway - 10-1
2. McCrunch - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter - 8-1
3. Its Saturday Night - Andrew McCarthy - Richard 'Nifty' Norman - 12-1
4. Captain Albano - Todd McCarthy - Noel Daley - 7-2
5. Nijinsky - Louis-Philippe Roy - Tony Beaton - 5-2
6. Funtime Bayama - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris - 3-1
7. Huntingforchrome - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander -15-1
8. Captain Luke - Scott Zeron - Tony Alagna - 6-1

The Graduate finals will also be contested this Saturday as part of the FOX Sports broadcast. The series, which is restricted to four-year-olds, plays a major role in keeping our equine stars on the racetrack. The fields are listed below in post position order with final driver changes.

$230,000 USD Graduate Series Trot Final (Race 9)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Kierkegaard K - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt - 12-1
2. Chapercraz - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 10-1
3. Hasty Bid - James MacDonald - Nancy Takter - 3-1
4. Ghostly Caper - Louis-Philippe Roy - Ben Baillargeon - 12-1
5. Winners Bet - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter - 2-1
6. Black Magic - Scott Zeron - Linda Toscano - 15-1
7. Khaosan Road - Jason Bartlett - Ake Svanstedt - 20-1
8. Oh Well - Todd McCarthy - Marcus Melander - 8-1
9. Special Way - Tim Tetrick - Ake Svanstedt - 9-2
10. Ponda Jet - David Miller - Jay Hochstetler - 6-1

$230,000 USD Graduate Series Pace Final (Race 10)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Huntinthelastdolar - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom - 3-1
2. Redwood Hanover - Andrew McCarthy - Tony Beaton - 10-1
3. Seven Colors - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris - 8-1
4. Seafire - Scott Zeron - Brian Brown - 12-1
5. Coach Stefanos - James MacDonald - Erv Miller - 7-2
6. Voukefalas - Jordan Stratton - Michael Russo - 9-2
7. No Control - Jody Jamieson - Tan Micallef - 10-1
8. Act Fast - Todd McCarthy - Ron Burke - 15-1
9. Ken Hanover - David Miller - Roland Mallar - 5-2
10. Christchurch - Jason Bartlett - Todd Luther - 15-1

Of course, The Big M will also have a Friday, July 5 race card this week, and that 15-dash program features seven divisions of the second leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds of each sex and gait. Many of the newcomers fans will see have been showing off on Saturday mornings at Breakfast with the Babies at The Meadowlands, where players who want to get a leg up can view the action live at playmeadowlands.com.

Live racing takes place every Friday and Saturday at The Meadowlands with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m. The Big M’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show begins every racing night at 5:45 p.m.

Past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available on playmeadowlands.com.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack; Photo of Meadowlands Pace contender Nijinsky winning the North America Cup)