Live racing will return to the Meadowlands Racetrack this Friday (January 15) at 6:35 p.m. Fourteen races that are comprised largely of full, competitive fields of trotters and pacers are again the order of the day.

The top trotters have been split into a pair of Opens. The tougher group has been spotted in Race 2 where a field of seven will face the gate in an Open I Handicap for a purse of $25,000. The logical favourite is likely last week’s winner, Uva Hanover, who is blossoming into a splendid performer for his connections at age five. The altered son of Cantab Hall has quietly amassed lifetime earnings of nearly $350,000 for owners Stake Your Claim Stable and Martin Sternberg. His most recent effort was a career-best 1:52.2 score in last week’s feature with driver Tim Tetrick motionless in the sulky. It looks as though Uva Hanover may be on course to perpetuate trainer Linda Toscano’s enduring production of top trotters.

Solid campaigner March Awareness will move up to the Open I level off a hard-fought 1:55 win against the Open II trotters last week for the meet's leading trainer, Ron Burke. Yannick Gingras drives the winner of over $114,000 last season for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi on Friday.

March Awareness, or any of a number of overnight warriors, is scheduled to be on the market on Monday, January 18, as he is one of 30 horses racing at the Meadowlands this weekend that will go through the sales ring on that day in the January Select Mixed Sale.

Gambling-wise, the races are again deep and competitive, the guaranteed pools are in place, and the last-race Jackpot Hi-5 total is up to $56,645 on a 20-cent base wager. The Meadowlands will make free program pages for the Late Pick 4 wager – with the total pool guaranteed at $50,000 – available when they are ready.

On the promotion schedule this winter is the exciting opportunity for several lucky fans to ‘Own A Horse,’ where they can experience the thrill of ownership and share in up to 10 per cent the purse if they are present for the race. A few of the January winners were present for Winner's Circle photos with their steeds last weekend and sign-ups are now underway for Round Two in February.

Horseplayers are reminded that the popular $50,000 World Harness Handicapping Championship (WHHC) will get underway with the first of four qualifying rounds held at the Meadowlands next Saturday (January 23).

Friday’s card will kick off at 6:35 p.m.

(Meadowlands)