M1 - MEADOWLANDS TO OFFER THOROUGHBRED TURF RACING MAY 4-5

OCEANPORT, N.J. – As a prelude to the May 12 opening of the 2012 racing season at Monmouth Park, two days of Thoroughbred turf racing will be conducted at the Meadowlands on Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5.

Four races on the Meadowlands grass course will be run each day, with the first race going off at 3:30 p.m. The second event will be run at 4 p.m., the third at 4:30 and the fourth and final race each day will go at 5 p.m.

The fields for the turf races will be drawn at the Monmouth racing office on Tuesday, May 1 and Wednesday, May 2.  Entries, results and analysis for the races will be available at MonmouthPark.com.  Monmouth Park will open for its 67^th season of racing on Saturday, May 12, with a first post time of 12:50 p.m.

Meadowlands Racetrack will kick off its 2012 Championship Meet with live harness racing at 7 p.m. on May 4 and 5.  Opening night festivities include free admission, program and a concert by acoustic duo C.O.A.L.G. at the Don Q Wedge outdoor bar.  The night also marks the debut of the Beat The Bird contest in which Big M Club members are invited to out-pick Lola the parrot for the chance to win a betting voucher.  Lola will make her picks live every Friday night on the Paddock Level.  See Guest Services for contest rules and details.

The Meadowlands will host a day-night Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 5.  The first 10,000 fans will receive a “Talk Derby To Me” t-shirt.  Gates open at 9:30 a.m.  Pegasus Restaurant will offer an all-day brunch buffet for $34.95 per person.  Reservations can be made by calling 201-THE-BIGM. 

Ladies are encouraged to wear their finest hats for the chance to win nearly $1,000 in cash prizes in the Derby hat contest.  Top prize is $500 and the contest is free to enter.  Girls Night Out at the Derby also features a culinary demo hosted by celebrity chef Ariane Duarte, a Top Chef contestant and owner of CulinAriane restaurant in Montclair, NJ.  Tickets are $45 per person and include a cooking demo and tasting, cocktail in souvenir mint julep glass, Derby t-shirt, Pegasus admission and Derby program, a $5 betting voucher and handicapping help from racing analyst Barbara Luna.  Tickets may be purchased in advance at MeadowlandsRacetrack.com.

The party continues into the night with Cinco de Mayo drink and food specials and music at the Don Q Wedge.  Go to MeadowlandsRacetrack.com for more information.