The last of six Thursday race cards take place at The Meadowlands this week on Dec. 18, and while much wasn’t expected at the start from these programs since the Big M was increasing its race week by 50 per cent — from two cards to three — the Exit 16W Series has impressed, bringing plenty of good, competitive action to racing fans.
This Thursday’s card is big on talent, with four Exit 16W Pop-Up Series finals.
The first of four Exit 16W finals takes place in the third race, with $32,500 USD up for grabs in a division for two- and three-year-old pacing fillies. She Stings is the 9-5 second choice from post one for the Big M’s red-hot leading driver Brett Beckwith. The rookie is coming off a wire-to-wire win in 1:52.3 in the series’ final preliminary round last week. Luisa Hanover scored in her career debut in 1:53.3 two weeks ago for trainer Tony Alagna and has been installed as the 8-5 favourite with driver Jason Bartlett at the controls. The two-year-old has drawn post five in what promises to be a great matchup.
Trotters who are winners of two but not more than four races lifetime take to the track in the fifth race for $35,000 USD. The field is headed by Clear For Landing (PP3, Beckwith, 5-2), Benny J (PP4, Bartlett, 3-1) and Bourbonista S (PP7, Johnathan Ahle, 7-2). Bourbonista S won one of the two final-leg splits a week ago in 1:54, taking down 4-5 favourite Benny J, while Clear For Landing won the other dash in 1:54.2.
The sixth race is set up as another three-way melee, with Big Ego (PP4, Braxten Boyd, 9-5), Rider Hanover (PP6, Bartlett, 2-1) and Doctor Arroganto (PP8, Beckwith, 4-1) hooking up in the $32,500 USD pace for two- and three-year-old colts and geldings. Big Ego is after a three-race series sweep after taking each of the first two legs, in 1:55.3 and 1:52.2, respectively, with the first of the two a head win over Doctor Arroganto. Rider Hanover was second-best in the 1:52.2 mile as the 3-5 public choice.
Finally, in the trot for winners of four but not more than seven races lifetime, arch-rivals A Real Legend and Hey Porter will go head-to-head in a series rubber match. A Real Legend (Bartlett, 9-5), who was the winner of leg one in 1:53.4, will depart from post five, while Hey Porter (Beckwith, 8-5), the winner of leg two in 1:52.4, has the six-hole in the $37,500 USD dash. The duo were the first two under the wire in both prelims.
This weekend, there will be a different look and sound to the Big M’s live simulcast presentation. On Thursday, Ken Warkentin will call the races as usual, but Harrah’s Philadelphia’s Mike Bozich will serve as host of the show that is seen nightly from the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set. His co-host will be Tioga Downs’ Andrew "Shades" Demsky. Peter Kleinhans, who has served as the track announcer at numerous tracks throughout his career in racing, will be on the microphone Friday night, while Warkentin plays host on set with Demsky in the co-host’s seat. On Saturday, Bozich will be in the spot racing regulars know him for, calling the action, while Warkentin (host) and Demsky (co-host) will once again be on the desk. Joe Romanelli will serve in his usual capacity for all three race cards, as back paddock interviewer and handicapper/analyst on the FanDuel television feed.
This weekend will be the last with Thursday racing, with live action taking place on Dec. 18, 19 and 20 with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m. each night. During the final weekend of 2025, racing will be conducted on Friday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Dec. 27.
The Meadowlands' 2026 calendar giveaway takes place on Saturday, Dec. 20. The first 500 guests, beginning at 6 p.m., will receive a commemorative desk calendar featuring images of the sport’s greatest horses and drivers in action from the 2025 racing season.
On Saturday, Dec. 27, the track closes out the year with Fan Appreciation Night. Guests can enjoy $1 USD hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels and soda, and $2 USD Bud and Bud Light from 6-11 p.m., available at the Cafe.
(With files from The Meadowlands; photo of Hey Porter winning on Dec. 11)