The Kindergarten Classic series for 2-year-old trotters has risen steadily in popularity over its five year history. Conceived by Jeff Gural with the idea of offering races for 2 year olds to gain racing experience and as an alternative to the major stakes, the series has seen both nominations and the final purse increase each year. In 2011, the colt final went for $200,500 and the fillies $182,500.

For 2012, the Kindergarten expands from four to five legs and returns to the Meadowlands for the first two. The $10,000G series legs begin on Thursday, July 26, and come right back the next Thursday at the Big M. Observing the busy schedule for various sires stakes programs through the month of August and early... more...

Itrustyou kept his winning streak alive with a commanding victory in a division of the Exit 16W Series Friday night at the Meadowlands. Other Exit 16W splits were won by Whogoesfirst (1:50.3), Fearless Diablo (1:50.2) and Sonic Dancer (1:51.3).

With regular driver Yannick Gingras in the sulky, Itrustyou took control of the race before the half, was challenged by Clyde Hirt Series winner Special T Rocks in the third quarter, but rebuffed his rival and won in 1:51.2.

While Itrustyou won for the fourth time this season and kept his winning streak alive at 11, the outcome might have been different if Stonebridge Rocket had found racing room.... more...

Published reports in Ohio indicate that Penn National Gaming Inc. has changed plans on relocating Raceway Park to Youngstown and will now seek approval to move to Dayton instead. As a result of that scenario, Penn National has changed its plans to move Beulah Park Thoroughbred track to Dayton and move that site to Youngstown.

"The State of Ohio has approved the placement of VLTs at the state’s seven racetracks and while we await the final regulatory framework, we are actively pursuing the relocation of our existing racetracks in Toledo and Grove City to Dayton and Youngstown, respectively, subject to the satisfaction of regulatory and other... more...

While there were four divisions of the first leg of the Exit 16W Series at the Meadowlands Friday night, the Cape & Cutter, a winter classic for pacing mares, needed only two opening splits.

The first went to Higher And Higher, who prevailed by nose over Oceans Motion in 1:52.1. There were just seven horses in the field, with a two-horse Burke Stable entry. Daryl Bier owns, trains and drives Higher And Higher, a 5-year-old mare by Western Terror who has now won all three of her Meadowlands starts this season.

The Burke Stable got its Cape & Cutter victory in the second split As veteran Ginger And Fred coasted across the wire 1 1/4... more...

Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) was farthest out and fastest home Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $33,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Leaving from post position two, she watched the early action, which began with Delightful Diva (Jim Pantaleano) stuffing Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) in behind before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. Ride Jumper (George Brennan), the 11-10 choice from the pole, then worked her way to the lead before a :56.1 intermission.

Breakheart Pass, out and moving from third, offered a stiff test to the favorite... more...

A well-managed sophomore campaign has Townslight Hanover heading into the Aquarius Series in peak form this weekend at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The son of Bettor’s Delight, trained by Aaron Lambert is rated as the 4-1 second choice in the $35,000 first leg of the Aquarius for four-year-old pacers, carded as Saturday’s fifth race. Hall of Famer John Campbell gets the assignment from post two in a field of 12.

Townslight Hanover was a New York Sires Stakes champion as a freshman, winning the final in a Yonkers Raceway track record for geldings of 1:54. Last... more...

Driver Doug McNair made the most of his trip to Woodbine Racetrack on Friday evening as the young reinsman captured two of four divisions of the opening leg of the $20,000 HorsePlayer Interactive Series (HPI). He won with Do Me Honor (1:55) and Synergy Seelster (1:52.1) while the other splits went to You Thrill Me and Day To Ponder.

McNair wasted little time on the program as he took the opening division in race two with Do Me Honor.

Sent off at odds of 10-1, the four-year-old miss was in no hurry as the gates folded with Icey Breeze (Garrett Whelan) striking... more...

In this week’s HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, a pair of streaking pacers meet up in the opening round of the Exit 16W Series at the Meadowlands, and the drivers of the pair of hot horses give their take on the much anticipated showdown.

One of those drivers is Yannick Gingras, and he is off to one of the fastest starts at the Big M in recent memory. Teamed with trainer Ron Burke, the duo has combined for 20 winners so far. One of those winners is Ginger And Fred, who Gingras talks about in the Weekend Preview.

HarnessRacing Weekend Preview is FREE and this week’s edition also includes a look at a pacer purchased via the internet who has... more...