Still basking in the glow of a highly successful Hambletonian Day, The Meadowlands returns from a three-week hiatus with a power-packed two-week “Mini Meet” that kicks off on Friday, Sept. 1 and features the New Jersey Classic Series, with estimated purses totalling $2 million.
Racing will be conducted on Sept. 1, 2, 8 and 9 with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.
“The ‘Mini Meet’ provides us an opportunity to showcase the state of racing in New Jersey,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track's Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “The New Jersey Classic Series is another way – in addition to the resurgent New Jersey Sire Stakes program – for owners and horsemen to thrive while keeping their operations in the Garden State.”
The series – which is for two- and three-year-olds of each sex and gait – will have 11 eliminations on Friday and two more on Saturday before all eight divisions contest their respective finals next week. The New Jersey Classic Series finals will be in the national spotlight with a live telecast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) at 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8.
A great example of how racing – and breeding – in New Jersey continues to flourish is the great mare trotter Fashion Schooner. During 2022, the daughter of Walner-Broadway Schooner, in addition to the Hambletonian Oaks, also won the $275,000 New Jersey Classic final and $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final. Thus, the Garden State races accounted for nearly 40 per cent of her total earnings that season of $689,486.
“The proof is there,” said Settlemoir. “The breeding industry in the State of New Jersey is back, and all of us at The Meadowlands couldn’t be happier about it.”
The Meadowlands has been knocking it out of the park all year long from a business perspective. The Meadowlands has reported that a total of $203,794,252 has been wagered on its races this season, good for an average per card of $3,234,829, a little more than $200,000 better than 2021, when average wagering topped $3 million for the first time during the “Jeff Gural Era,” which had its first full year in 2012.
Hambletonian Day handle established a new record in the 10-year history of the new grandstand at The Big M, as a total of $7,805,779 was pushed through the windows on the 16-race program, by far the biggest number on any North American harness program during 2023. After betting from international outlets was added to the North American total, wagering on the Hambletonian Day card exceeded the $8-million mark. Betting on The Hambletonian itself was up considerably from a year ago, as $1,099,034 was put in play on “America’s Classic Trotting Race.” a 12 per cent increase over 2022.
Every live racing night, fans can check out the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show. This weekend, join host Dave Little and co-host Gabe Prewitt at 5:45 p.m. for a look back at Hambletonian Day, some news and notes and some in-depth analysis of the evening’s featured events. Shortly before post time, U.S. Hall of Fame track announcer Ken Warkentin and Big M TV’s national television commentator (and usual on-set presence) Jessica Otten will join in with best bets and value plays.
Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.
Back for a second tour of duty on what is a demanding task, James Witherite was recently named The Big M’s morning line odds maker and program analyst.
“Things have a serendipitous way of coming full circle,” said Witherite, 37. “I enjoyed the challenge of setting the morning line at the Big M in 2016 and I very much look forward to getting that iron back in the fire. It's a puzzle – it keeps me sharp.”
Witherite, the editor of the United States Trotting Association's Hoof Beats magazine, is best known as a race caller, having served in that capacity at several tracks, including Harrah’s Philadelphia, Tioga Downs, Rosecroft Raceway and Beulah Park.
Witherite’s race reviews and selections are available 48 hours before a given race card. Head to The Meadowlands’ website (playmeadowlands.com), go to the “Handicapping” tab, then click “Race Reviews.”
To add to this weekend's excitement, this Saturday night is the track’s first ever mini pony race. Fans are encouraged to come out to the track’s Backyard and meet ponies Odin, Solstice, Stormy and Angel. The ponies will be available for photos, pets and scratches from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
After race six, the ponies will enter the track – each paired with a driver for our mini pony charity race. The four drivers with pony and their respective charities are: Andy Miller/Stormy/Charity TBD; Scott Zeron/Solstice/Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Foundation; Andy McCarthy/Odin/New Vocations; and Corey Callahan/Angel/Harness Horse Youth Foundation.
The winning driver will receive $500 for his charity and the other three drivers will receive a $250 charity donation.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)