Cal Expo Announces Driver Guarantee

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

 

The California Harness Horseman's Association in partnership with Watch and Wager LLC are pleased to announce a drivers guarantee program aimed at retention and recruitment of drivers.

 

The program will guarantee all drivers with a minimum of ten starts over the two-day week a minimum paycheck of $750. In a related action, the minimum driving fee has been raised from $20 to $30 irrespective of number of starts.

 

Cal Expo begins its 46-night meeting Friday November 18. Racing will be conducted on a Friday and Sunday night schedule.

 

For more information, please go to calxharness.com

 

An Activity Packed November at the Meadowlands Racetrack

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ - The world’s greatest harness racing returns to the Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday, November 4^th.  Racing happens every Friday and Saturday night with a 6:20pm post time.

Join the GSY Racing Club as they pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth and her love of horses on November 4^th.  Her horses won all the British classics: Ascot’s Gold Cup, Epsom’s Derby, the lot, and she’s been inducted into the British racing hall of fame. The American GSY drivers will race against UK drivers Lee Morris, Jaimie Neil Davies, Marc Thomas Jones, Richard Haythornwaite, Grant Keith Cullen in two Meadowlands races. The Pink Buffet will include UK favorites Fish & Chips & Shepard’s Pie and Gin & Tonics will be the special cocktail of the evening.

The Meadowlands Racetrack is keeping things spicy this fall with the Fall Chili Cook-Off scheduled for Saturday, November 5^th.  The competition features homestyle, chili verde and salsa categories and offers over $4,500 in prizes. Racetrack guests are also welcome to be part of the fun.  They are encouraged to sample the chili and vote for their favorite.  For complete chili event details visit https://playmeadowlands.com/event/2022-meadowlands-fall-chili-cook-off/

The top two-year-old trotters and pacers take center stage on Saturday, November 12 for the Kindergarten Finals worth over $1 million. There will also be a Celebration of Life ceremony for Dave Brower. Brower, who passed away at age 53 of natural causes while on assignment in Lexington (KY) on Oct. 7, was the longtime lead TV personality, oddsmaker and program analyst at The Big M.

Also on the 12^th, the Elton & Elvis Tribute Show makes a stop at the racetrack. Guests will be taken on a three-act tour – set one features solo Elvis, set two solo Elton John and set three features Elvis and Elton together singing each other’s hits. The cost for the dinner and show is $72, inclusive of tax and gratuity, and includes a delectable dinner menu. Tickets to just the show are $22.

Purchase tickets at https://meadowlandsracetrack.ticketleap.com/elvis-and-elton-tribute-show/

 

Its holiday shopping time and the Meadowlands Racetrack wants to give you a head start! Enter the Black Friday Gift Card Sweepstakes on Saturday, November 19^th for a chance to win a $50, $100, $250 or $500 gift card! Enter online via – https://www.cognitoforms.com/MeadowlandsRacetrack1/_2022GiftCardSweepstakes

Harness racing’s biggest stars will battle it out on the track on Saturday, November 26^th in the TVG & Fall Final Four Finals at the Meadowlands Racetrack.  This year will be extra special with trotting queen Atlanta retiring from racing after banking more than $3.4 million in her career. The great Atlanta’s retirement ceremony will be held following the final start of her career – the TVG Mares Final. Guests will also have a chance to cash in big by entering to win one of eight $5,000 win wagers! Guests 18+ can register at https://www.cognitoforms.com/MeadowlandsRacetrack1/TVGFallFinalFourNight2022

 

America’s #1 sportsbook is the FanDuel Sportsbook located inside the Meadowlands Racetrack. It is open seven days a week and parking is free.  Numerous HD TVs are spread throughout the sportsbook along with self-service & teller operated wagering machines so guests do not miss a moment of the action.  It is the perfect place to watch and wager on all the sports action!

 

Join us for Sunday football complete with a $12 all you can eat wing bar and trivia with prizes hosted by Marc Malusis. Guests must be 21+ to wager. For more information visit https://playmeadowlands.com/handicapping/fanduel/  Gambling problem call 1-800-Gambler.

All racing, event and dining details are available at https://playmeadowlands.com/

Adam Moeykens Notches First Driving W in

 

Monticello, N.Y. – Adam Moeykens earned his first Pari Mutual win on Tuesday, October 11 at Monticello Raceway, driving The Gogester in 2:04.3. That’s a new lifetime mark for the three-year-old son of Sebastian K, who is trained by Moeykens’ father, Joseph. 

The 19-year-old Moeykens is a native of Honesdale, PA. He was enamored with harness racing early in life. A fourth-generation horseman, he was exposed to the sport by his father and spent a lot of time in the backstretch of the Honesdale Fairgrounds, Pocono Downs and Monticello Raceway.

When asked about the milestone, Moeykens said, “It was a cool moment. I have been dreaming about it since I was a kid. It was a perfect day. Everyone was here. My mom came up and all of my family and friends were here.”

Moeykens has been paying his dues this year at the Mighty M. He’s been there every Tuesday for the past year, getting his qualifying drives from his own stock and receiving mounts from fellow horsemen who were helpful along the way. He was recently given his Provisional License.

“He has a bright future ahead of him,” said Shawn Wiles, General Manager of Monticello Raceway. “Many young horsemen have used Monticello Raceway as a proving ground, such as Jordan and Cory Stratton, Patrick Lachance, Austin Siegelman, Jimmy Marohn Jr., and the next generation of younger drivers following in their footsteps such as Brandon Parker, McGwire Sowers, and Joe Chindano Jr. Hopefully Adam can follow in their paths.”

A bevy of well-wishers, including his proud sister, Maggie, greeted him in the winner’s circle after he reached this important milestone.

DAVE BROWER DEAD AT 53

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Dave Brower, the longtime lead TV host, morning-line oddsmaker and program analyst at The Meadowlands, passed away unexpectedly Thursday night while away on assignment at The Red Mile. He was 53.

Brower, who recently completed a week-long stint doing TV at the Delaware (OH) Fairgrounds for the Little Brown Jug, was preparing for a huge weekend of racing at Lexington but was found unresponsive in his hotel room after no one had heard from him Friday morning.

“Dave Brower’s level of expertise and professionalism was unmatched in the sport of harness racing, and all of us at The Meadowlands were in complete shock when we heard of his passing,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “While we grieve his passing, we also want to send our condolences to his family and many, many industry friends.”

In addition to multiple TV credentials, Brower was a published author, penning “Harnessing Winners” in 2009. A native of Passaic, NJ, Brower also did many national TV broadcasts, which included this year’s Hambletonian, seen on the CBS Sports Network.

“Sitting next to Dave Brower for the last five years has been the greatest pleasure of my entire career,” said Dave Little, Brower’s TV partner since 2017. “He and I got to be friends in the mid-1990s when I was in my first go-round in the Big M’s TV department. We have spent so much time together over the years and know just about everything there is to know about the other. I cannot imagine going on camera in a few weeks and not having him beside me.”