The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association hosted a well-received Back To The Track Night at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino on July 11.

In addition to great racing action featuring seven Pennsylvania Sire Stake races on a 15-race card, there were plenty of activities for everyone.

For the kids, there was a bounce house, slide and obstacle course, a balloon and airbrush artist, a juggler on stilts and a petting zoo.

Free racing programs were available courtesy of the MSOA, along with free hot dogs, ice cream and more giveaways with the MSOA’s ‘Spin To Win’ wheel.

After each race, the winning driver tossed USTA Back To The Track t-shirts to fans along the apron level.

The USTA’s Harness Racing Bingo was a big hit among race fans, as were jog cart rides, paddock tours and starting gate rides.

New Vocations Horse Adoption was on hand as well, showing fans what retired Standardbreds can do as pleasure horses.

Potential new horse owners were given a unique chance to get an inside view of the sport thanks to a special promotion that left one lucky fan the honourary owner of pacer Sam Hill for the next few weeks. Trained by John Sullivan for owner Don Tiger, Sam Hill has been one of the top horses at the Meadows for the past two seasons, winning multiple Preferred events and setting a track record. The new ‘owner’ will get to visit the horse in the barn, get weekly updates from trainer Sullivan, and have special ‘owners-only’ access on Adios Day, July 26.

The night was a total success for both the MSOA and the track, resulting in one of the highest on-track handles of the season.

(MSOA)