Meadowlands Racetrack's racing analyst Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden has compiled a list of interesting statistics to note heading into Saturday's action-packed Hambletonian Day of harness racing at the Big M
.
Art Official will try and become the fifth Meadowlands Pace winner to take the US Pacing Championship. On The Road Again 1985, Matts Scooter 1989, Real Desire 2002 and Holborn Hanover 2006 (1:46.4).
All three horses who have beaten Mister Big this year are on the card Saturday. With a first or a second place finish, Mister Big will become the second richest pacer ever.
Tuff Choice won 13 straight (here) in 1985 to establish a Meadowlands track record. Lucky Jim looks to tie that mark on Saturday in the Nat Ray.
Arch Madness: If he finishes in the top four in the Nat Ray, he will surpass $2 million, the 44th trotter to do so. If he wins, he becomes the richest trotter ever trained by Trond Smedshammer ($2,130,870 to Sand Vics $2,117,382). Arch Madness is the only trotter to finish in front of both Donato Hanover and Lucky Jim
The three fastest trotting miles in Meadowlands history have all come in the Nat Ray. 1:50.4 Victory Tilly 2002, 1:51 flat Hellava Hush 2005 and 1:51 flat Misterizi 2008.
Four 2008 divisional champions, a Meadowlands Pace winner and a Breeders Crown winner are on Saturdays card with $4,859,525 on the line total.
Seven drivers have won $1 million the same day. Del Insko, Bill O'Donnell, John Campbell, Mike Lachance, Brian Sears, Paul MacDonnell and Trevor Ritchie.
The $783g purse for the Oaks is the richest ever for three-year-old trotting fillies.
The last trainer to have a million dollar day??? Brett Pelling August 10, 1996. He did it without winning a million dollar race. Afternoon at the Meadows-Electric Yankee in The Adios & nighttime at the Meadowlands-Jeremys Gambit in the Wilson, Mystical Maddy in the Shalee and a few seconds and thirds.
Julie Miller is the only American Born trainer in the Oaks!
Only one Mistletoe Shalee in the last 11 years has gone for more than this year's pot.
Only one Merrie Annabelle in the last 23 years has gone for more than this year's pot.
This is the richest Peter Haughton final in 15 years
The Hambletonian ($1,520,333) is the richest race in 23 years! 1986 Wilson $1,561,000 won by Cullin Hanover was the last million dollar race ever won by Buddy Gilmour, who was 54 at the time (the same age as Campbell today).
John Kopas trains Raising Rachel. He's the bottom part answer to the trivia question of which father-son tandem won the richest pacing event ever-1-2-as drivers? 1977 Cane Pace Jade Prince (Jack Kopas) over Nat Lobell (John Kopas) for $286g.
Brian Sears has never hit the board in the Hambletonian! 10-6-4-10-4-4
The Hambletonian is the final Meadowlands career start for Muscle Hill.
No driver has ever won two $1,500,000 races in the same season (Pierce-$1,500,000 NA Cup-Well Said).
Honorable Daughter looks to become the third Annabelle-Oaks winner. Dance Spell in 1981-1982 and Armbro Fling in 1986-1987.
Sears/Pierce have never finished on the board together in the Hambletonian. This year they have the two favourites and the two inside posts.
Tim Tetrick (11/22/81) was born three months after the Hambletonian came here for the first time in 1981.
Mike Lachance will appear in the Merrie Annabelle again. In 1988 he won it for the first time with Peace Corps and he never drove her again (one drive, one win).
John Campbell has a record 18 combined wins in the Trotting Big Four. Merrie Annabelle 6, Hambletonian Oaks 2, Hambletonians 6, Peter Haughtons 4.