A 40-minute delay before the start of the program due to intense thunderstorms, another 40-minute delay due to an inquiry involving several horses, and, finally, a power outage that knocked out a portion of the lights as a result of all of the rain that fell just as the 10th race was heading to the gate, made for a tough Friday night at The Meadowlands.
Management decided just after 11:30 p.m. it was best for the horsepeople, patrons and employees to pull the plug and end the scheduled 14-race program after just nine dashes were complete.
“It was a tough night from start to finish,” said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands' Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “We felt it was best for everyone, especially with our huge Hambletonian Day card set to begin at noon on Saturday, that we call off the rest of the card when we did.”
One of two New Jersey Sire Stakes finals was contested on the program, with the Brett Pelling-trained Reckless Abandon taking the $266,667 event for two-year-old filly pacers in a lifetime-best 1:51.3.
The daughter of Cattlewash-Reclamation followed a live cover trip for a third straight start, and delivered an easy victory for a third straight start, this one by 4-1/4 lengths to lift her lifetime record to three wins from four outings, good for earnings of $176,141. Worklifebalance was second with Beach Babe third.
Driver Todd McCarthy guided Reckless Abandon, who returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favourite.
The New Jersey Sire Stakes final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings will be rescheduled.
A $55,556 consolation for New Jersey Sire Stakes two-year-old trotting fillies was won by Tony Alagna trainee Time For Landing, driven by Andy McCarthy, in 1:55.3.
The Ray Schnittker-trained three-year-old trotting colt Victor Laszlo and driver Mark MacDonald won the $69,444 Muscle Hill Trot in 1:53.4 by a neck over Thinker Monkey.
Driver Scott Zeron won two of the Kindergarten Series events that were contested, taking $27,778 third leg divisions with two-year-old trotting fillies Margareta Hanover in 1:56 and Delaney Hanover in 1:55.1. The former is trained by Marcus Melander and the latter by Lucas Wallin.
Porrobarosso As NL won a two-year-old trotting colt division in 1:54.4 for Team Miller -- driver Andy and trainer Julie -- while Captain Optimistic took a two-year-old pacing colt division in 1:51.2 with Yannick Gingras in the bike for trainer Nancy Takter.
The 2024 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge kicked off on Friday, with a live draw to determine the challenge teams consisting of a driver, an influencer, a trainer and an owner.
The teams are as follows:
- Yannick Gingras, Jenna Otten, Tony Alagna, Burke Racing/Weaver Bruscemi
- Dexter Dunn, Jessica Otten, Nancy Takter, Courant
- Tim Tetrick, Mary McDermott, Ake Svanstedt, Bill Pollock
- David Miller, Dawnelle Mock, Marcus Melander, Brad Grant
The charities will be paired with their team on Friday, Aug. 30 and include SBH Health System, Bronx, NY; enCourage Kids, NY; New Jersey YMCA State Alliance; and Friends of Union County.
All-source handle on the nine races totalled $2,013,875 USD.
Racing resumes on Saturday at noon, when a spectacular 16-race card, featuring the $1.05 million USD Hambletonian, brings down the curtain on the Championship Meet.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)