Family and friends of the late Dave Brower were on hand at The Meadowlands Saturday night (Nov. 12) to give the longtime lead TV personality, morning-line odds maker and program analyst a final sendoff with a huge throng that gathered in the winner’s circle before the racing program began.
“We continue to mourn the loss of Dave Brower,” said Meadowlands’ Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But the outpouring of love that came Dave’s way showed what a popular figure he was and went a long way toward easing our sorrow, if only for one night. He meant an awful lot to us at The Meadowlands, and to the entire harness racing industry as well.”
“I’d like to thank Jeff Gural, Jason Settlemoir and everybody at The Meadowlands for what they did for Dave tonight,” said Brower’s sister, Laura. “As a family, we are close, but tonight made me realize that Dave had a family at The Meadowlands as well.”
Bob “Hollywood” Heyden, Gabe Prewitt, Settlemoir, Les Stark, Nick Salvi, Brower's cousin Gary Nikorak and Brower’s seventh-grade teacher Jim Shoop were the speakers who shared stories about Brower during the evening.
“I have lost my TV partner, but much more importantly, I have lost a great friend,” said Brower’s Big M broadcast partner for the last five years, Dave Little. “And given how good Brower was at what he did, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see anyone like him again. Rest in peace, my friend.”
(The Meadowlands)