With the Harrisburg Mixed Sale coming up this week, Meadowlands Racetrack would like to advise horsemen of new series and racing opportunities available this winter and spring at the East Rutherford oval.
In addition to the previously released January and February late closing program and returning regulars, Meadowlands Racetrack has tentatively scheduled a new Claiming Survivor Series for starters in a $15,000 claimer or less in February.
Other new events include the All Sires for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers who have started in any sire stake race (any state or province), scheduled for April, and the Meadowlands Maturity, a $100,000 (estimated) event for four-year-old trotters on May 4.
The overwhelmingly popular Rags To Riches for $10,000 claimers, introduced in 2012, will return in March.
The Meadowlands 2013 harness meet begins Friday, December 28, 2012 with racing three nights a week, Thursday through Saturday, through March 16. The schedule then reverts to Friday and Saturday until the Championship Meet finale on Hambletonian Day, August 3.
Fall harness racing will return to the Meadowlands in 2013 and the track plans to emphasize racing for older pacers and trotters with major stakes planned when the track re-opens Thanksgiving weekend.
The following is a tentative list of winter and spring series and their purses (information is subject to change). The 2012/2013 application to race at the Meadowlands will be available on MeadowlandsRacetrack.com later this week. A complete stakes schedule will be released in December.
2013 Meadowlands Winter/Spring Series
Claiming Survivor Series - starters in a $15,000 claimer
February 7 ($12,500); February 14 ($15,000); February 23 ($100,000 est. final)
Horse & Groom - trotters, non-winners of 4 pari-mutuel races or $175,000 lifetime
March 1 ($18,000); March 8 ($18,000); March 16 ($82,000 est. final)
Overbid – free-for-all pacing mares
March 1 ($40,000); March 8 ($40,000); March 16 ($102,000 est. final)
Aquarius - 4yo open pacers
March 2 ($35,000); March 9 ($35,000); March 16 ($57,600 est. final)
Rags To Riches - $10,000 claimers or less
March 5 ($10,000); March 14 ($12,500); March 23 ($15,000); March 30 ($127,950 est. final)
Night Styles - 4yo pacing mares, non-winners of 3 pari-mutuel races or $50,000 lifetime
April 5 ($15,000); April 12 ($15,000); April 20 ($46,000 est. final)
All Sires - 3yo colts and gelding pacers who have started in any sire stake race (any state or province) in 2012 and are non-winners of $100,000 in 2012
April 6 ($15,000); April 13 ($15,000); April 20 ($60,000 est. final)
Meadowlands Maturity - 4yo trotters
May 4 ($100,000 est.)
Summers Survivor Series (Trotters) - 3yo non-winners of 2 pari-mutuel races or $30,000 lifetime; fillies and mares, non-winners of 3 races or $40,000
June 7 ($12,500); June 14 ($12,500); June 21 ($15,000); June 29 ($100,000 est. final)
Summer Survivor Series (Pacers) - 3yo open, non-winners of 2 pari-mutuel races or $30,000 lifetime
June 8 ($12,500); June 15 ($12,500); June 22 ($15,000); June 29 ($100,000 est. final)
(Meadowlands Racetrack)