Bigger purses at Big M

Bolstered by the second purse increase in three months, the entry box for opening weekend of the Meadowlands' 2005 harness meet received a strong response from horsemen. When racing resumes on Friday night, it will be with the second purse increase since November, and will lift the overnight purse distribution to an average of $200,000 per program.



This is a 10 percent increase on top of the five percent added when the fall 2004 meet opened on Nov. 19. Under the 2005 purse structure, the range will be from a bottom of $10,000 for $15,000 claimers to $47,500 for opens that draw more than eight starters.



Live racing returns to the Meadowlands this weekend with a 13-race program on Friday night and 14 races on Saturday.



The featured fifth race on the opening night card is a $42,500 event for open mares, featuring (from the rail out) Jet Lag N with Cat Manzi driving; Feathery Fame, David Miller; Artbitration, Brian Sears; Odds ON Charmaine, David Miller; Stonebridge Kisses, Yannick Gingras, and Maybe A Rita, Jim Morrill Jr.



Saturday night's 14-race card features a $47,500 open pace with a field that includes world record holders Eaton Road Kill and Life Source, along with Canyon Wind, Daylon Trooper, Make It Brief, Sagebrush, Whispers Spy and Whosurboy.

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