A blend of familiar names along with some new ideas will comprise the 2015 Winter Late Closer Program at the Meadowlands Racetrack, with finals combining to an estimated $600,000.

Races like the Super Bowl, Charles Singer Memorial, Buddy Gilmour and Clyde Hirt all return, but this year they are joined by five new events for trotters and pacers alike.

There are three events for trotters, the Super Bowl, Charles Singer Memorial, and a new series, the Shiaway St Pat, which will replace the Horse and Groom series.

There are three events for male pacers (the Escort, Sonsam and Clyde Hirt), as well as a pair of late closers for filly and mare pacers, the Worldly Beauty and Burning Point. The Buddy Gilmour returns for the three-year-old pacers as well.

“The late closer program this winter has been designed so that horses can essentially find a home at the Meadowlands for three months in the winter,” said Darin Zoccali, the Meadowlands’ director of racing operations. “The conditions of the late closers for each group of horses ramp up throughout the winter meet with the hope to have horses competing in these events throughout the winter, making for some great racing, potential rivalries, all the while giving our horsemen plenty of opportunities to race for good money.”

The Meadowlands winter late closer program may also be a focal point for those looking for race horses at the Harrisburg Mixed Sale. “As of the time of this press release, there are nearly 300 horses that will go through the sales ring at Harrisburg that fit at least one of our late closer events this winter,” Zoccali added. “We envision that many of these horses will be targeted with some of our winter events in mind.”

The nominating form for all races that comprise the winter late closer program at the Meadowlands can be found here.

Anyone with questions regarding the winter late closer program at the Meadowlands can contact Zoccali at 201-460-4041 or [email protected].

(Meadowlands)