With a national television audience completely to themselves, The Meadowlands put on quite a show last Saturday night,May 18 when FOX Sports – along with the TV department at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) – displayed a two-hour broadcast with live racing and features that undoubtedly captivated racing viewers from coast-to-coast.
“What a tremendous start that was to our year on FOX Sports,” said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands' Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “The show had a great pace to it, and it had great talent as well, with NYRA’s Acacia Clement serving as host and [Hambletonian Society President and Chief Executive Officer] John Campbell co-hosting, that duo anchoring the broadcast from NYRA’s headquarters at Aqueduct brought something special to the table. Acacia is great, and, as any harness fan knows, John was one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history. His insights always hit the bullseye.”
The show provided a highlight reel’s worth of action, starting with the featured Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, which was won by Jiggy Jog S, who extended her win streak to five in her 2024 debut.
Also in the spotlight was the Nancy Takter-trained superstar three-year-old colt trotter Karl, who once again crushed his foes in a New Jersey Sire Stakes dash to remain the early favourite for this year’s Hambletonian, which will also be shown on the networks of FOX.
“The 2024 harness racing series on America’s Day at the Races couldn’t have kicked off in finer fashion,” said Eric Donovan, the Sr. Director of TV Broadcast Operations at the NYRA. “The outstanding performances of champions Karl and Jiggy Jog, in addition to many excellent in-show elements, helped make the broadcast a tremendous success.
“As usual, the pre-eminent on-track duo of Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt were spot-on with their commentary, analysis and interviews. I’d like to thank the whole team, led by producer Bobby Klatt, for a great start to the season.”
While there will be Thoroughbred racing shown on some of the FOX Meadowlands’ shows to come, Donovan does like it when things are narrowed down.
“Focusing on one track, we feel like we were able to keep the viewers’ interest piqued by concentrating on all the great stories that were in play at The Meadowlands Saturday night,” he said.
Here is the schedule for the remaining eight Big M broadcasts with the marquee event that will be shown. Where not listed, specific networks – FOX, FS1 or FS2 – will be determined:
- July 6: Graduate finals/Meadowlands Pace eliminations, 8-11 p.m. (FS2)
- July 13: Meadowlands Pace final, 8-11 p.m. (TBD)
- Aug. 3: Hambletonian, 1-7 p.m. (TBD)
- Oct. 18: Breeders Crown eliminations, 1-6 p.m. (TBD)
- Oct. 19: Breeders Crown eliminations, 8-11 p.m. (TBD)
- Oct. 25: Breeders Crown finals, 8-11 p.m. (TBD)
- Oct. 26: Breeders Crown finals, 8-11 p.m. (TBD)
- Nov. 30: Fall Final Four, 8-11 p.m. (TBD)
(Meadowlands Racetrack)