With the groundhog’s weather report due in nine days, some of the Meadowlands Racetrack’s most recognizable names will be seen popping up more in the program in the coming weeks, as winter’s chill will begin to slowly melt into spring.
First up is Yannick Gingras.
‘The Green Hornet’ won 395 times a year ago, which ended his streak of 400 or more annual driving victories at eight, but things went well, nonetheless. The 38-year-old was voted the 2017 US Driver of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association after leading the sport in money earned ($12.9 million) while guiding horses such as Hannelore Hanover, Ariana G and Manchego, all of whom are in the Horse of the Year conversation.
Gingras will be at the Big M this Friday (January 26) and Saturday (January 27), and will be seen on Fridays regularly from this point forward.
Tim Tetrick, who won his fifth Meadowlands Pace in 2017 with Huntsville, is getting ready for his return to the East Rutherford, NJ track.
The 36-year-old ‘Bionic Man’ had another big year in 2017, as horses he drove earned at least $11 million for an 11th consecutive year. His Meadowlands return is slated for Friday, February 2, at which time he will drive regularly at the mile oval where he’s been so successful over the last decade.
Corey Callahan is coming to Friday nights at the ‘Big M’ and his opponents can’t be too happy about that. The eight-time leading driver at Dover Downs has been a Saturday night terror at the Meadowlands of late, as he won six races on December 23, three on December 30 and four more on January 20.
The 39-year-old, known as ‘The Captain,’ is as consistent as they come, as he has won at least 400 races and earned at least $5 million for 10 straight years. Callahan’s schedule calls for him to be a Big M regular (drive both on Fridays and Saturdays), effective February 9.
LIVE RACING SCHEDULE: The Meadowlands will race on Fridays and Saturdays through August 4. Post time currently is 6:35 p.m. On Friday, March 23, post time will move to 7:15 p.m. until Hambletonian Day (Saturday, August 4), when there is a special early post time of noon.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)