Meadowlands announces 2008 stakes dates

December 20, 2007

The $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday, Aug. 2, and $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday, July 19, headline more than $14 million in stakes scheduled for the 2008 harness meet at the Meadowlands.

"From our popular Winter Series to the rich Championship Meet stakes of the summer, the Meadowlands continues to set the stage for the sport's brightest stars," said director of racing and racing secretary Tad Stockman. "We are committed to holding the premier events in harness racing and look forward to another spectacular season of racing."

The Hambletonian, paired with the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for fillies, is the sport's premier event for 3-year-old trotters on Aug. 2. Sophomore colts also have the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 19, while the fillies have the $350,000 Delvin Miller Memorial on July 18.

In addition to the track's signature event, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, on July 19, 3-year-old pacing colts are showcased in the $225,000 Berry's Creek on May 10, $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on May 31, $62,000 Jersey Cup on June 28 and $275,000 Oliver Wendell Holmes on Aug. 2.

The top older trotters and pacers have plenty of rich stakes opportunities before them. The season for veteran trotters begins with the three-week Su Mac Lad Series (April 18, 25 and $100,000 final on May 2), followed by the $180,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial on May 17, the $200,000 Titan Cup on June 28 and $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational on Aug. 2.

The lengthy stakes season for older pacers begins with the three-week Presidential Series (Jan. 12, 19 and $100,000 final Jan. 26) and continues with the $225,000 Graduate on May 17, $625,000 William R. Haughton Memorial on July 12 and $350,000 U.S. Pacing Championship on Aug. 2.

Pacing mares have a variety of Winter Series engagements, as well as the $50,000 Strada Memorial on April 25, the $100,000 Matriarch on May 11, the $200,000 Lady Liberty on June 13 and the $175,000 Golden Girls on Aug. 2.

Their trotting counterparts have the $100,000 Perretti Matchmaker on July 12, as well as the first leg of the Miss Versatility on May 11. (The two subsequent legs of the Miss Versatility will be raced at Vernon and Tioga Downs, while the final will be contested at Delaware, Ohio during Little Brown Jug Week].

The premier events for 3-year-old pacing fillies are the $200,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey on May 31, the $85,000 Ladyship on June 27, the $150,000 Tarport Hap on July 18 and the $350,000 Mistletoe Shalee on Aug. 2.

The 2-year-old features begin with the Historic Series the week of June 25, the Countess Adios and Niatross the week of July 16 and the quartet of meet-ending stakes: $400,000 Merrie Annabelle (trotting fillies) and $400,000 Peter Haughton Memorial (trotting colts) on July 31, and $425,000 Sweetheart (pacing fillies) and $400,000 Woodrow Wilson (pacing colts) on Aug. 1.

The 133-date meet runs Jan. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 2 with live racing four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday, at 7 p.m. A limited engagement of Sunday matinees will be added Feb. 10-March 16, with a 1:10 p.m. post time. Special matinee cards will be run on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11; Memorial Day, Monday, May 26; Father's Day, Sunday, June 15; and Hambletonian Day, Saturday, Aug. 2. (Meadowlands)

« Back