Big purses for Final Four

The purses for this year’s Fall Final Four, the focus of a $2 million stakes schedule for the 21-date holiday harness meet at the Meadowlands, are expected to surpass their estimates. Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Tad Stockman reports that the finals of the quartet of 2-year-old stakes on Dec. 2 will surpass the $300,000 to $375,000 originally announced.

“Due to the number of horses still eligible to the Final Four, all the finals will exceed the estimates,” Stockman said. “All should go for more than $400,000 with the Governor’s Cup leading the way with a possibility at reaching $450,000.”

The Governor’s Cup for two-year-old pacing colts has 159 eligibles, the Three Diamonds for two-year-old pacing fillies has 148, the Valley Victory for two-year-old trotting colts has 142 and the Goldsmith Maid for two-year-old trotting fillies also has 142.

The four stakes, originally raced at Garden State Park, have been hosted by the Meadowlands since 2001, with a shift to Mohawk in alternate years since 2003.

The meet, which opens on Friday, Nov. 17, with the opening leg of the Charles Singer Memorial Trot, also includes two other late closing series for 3 year olds, the Oil Burner for pacing colts and the Snow Angel for pacing fillies.

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