Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The end of the
calendar year is less than two months away, and harness racing’s biggest equine
prize, Horse of the Year, is still up for grabs.
Shartin N got nosed out by Mcwicked
for the honor a year ago, and Joann Looney-King, who along with her husband Jim
King, Jr., trains the 6-year-old daughter of Tintin In America-Bagdarin, is
hoping to end the season on a high note at the Meadowlands on Nov. 23 and take
home the trophy.
“We plan on being there for the TVG
Mare Pace,” said Joann. “We are going to prep at Dover on Nov. 13 if the race
fills. I want (Horse of the Year) so bad, but she has to win. That’s what the
voters want.”
Shartin N’s main HOTY foe is the
talented sophomore trotting colt Greenshoe, who, like Shartin N, tasted
Breeders Crown defeat. Will Greenshoe be there on TVG Night? It doesn’t look
that way.
“He probably won’t race anymore,”
said trainer Marcus Melander. “He will go to Hanover now to stand stud.”
Breeders Crown winners Warrawee Ubeat
and Manchego (who will be at the Big M Nov. 8), as well as Bettor’s Wish, who
leads all harness horses in 2019 earnings with just over $1.4 million, may have
a puncher’s chance at HOTY. It was announced yesterday by trainer Chris Ryder
that Bettor’s Wish will be back on the track next year at age 4.
THE GREAT EIGHT: There will
be eight huge stakes events at the Meadowlands on TVG/Fall Final 4 Night on
Nov. 23. Two-year-olds will be in the spotlight in the $470,000
Goldsmith Maid (filly trot), $400,000 Three Diamonds (filly pace), $400,000
Valley Victory (colt trot) and $490,000 Governor’s Cup (colt pace) before some
of the biggest equine stars in the game will be in action in the TVG Mare Trot
(for a purse of $175,000), TVG Mare Pace ($175,000), TVG Open Trot ($350,000)
and TVG Open Pace ($350,000).
SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALL RIGHT: The action on the track was hot last
Saturday at the Big M, as El Ideal (male trot, 1:53.1), Senorita Rita (filly
trot, 1:53.2), Marloe Hanover (filly pace, 1:50.3) and Force N Fury (male pace,
1:50.2) were the winners in the four Kindergarten Classic Finals for
2-year-olds.
It was also a big night at the
windows, as a meet bests were reached in total handle ($2,730,886) as well as
the 50-cent Pick-4 pool total ($93,922). A carryover of $19,326 led to a total
pool of $127,120 in the 50-cent Pick-5.
As always, free program pages for
this weekend’s $50,000 guaranteed 50-cent Pick-4 are available at playmeadowlands.com and ustrotting.com. The wager has a low 15 percent
takeout.
HAPPY DAYS: Not only are things well at the
Meadowlands, but in the entire harness racing industry as well:
·
The Big M is enjoying
the benefits of a purse supplement with increased handle
·
A huge Hambletonian Day,
where all-source wagering topped $8 million
·
Two weeks ago, Breeders
Crown weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park saw wagering that exceeded $6.6 million
·
The Standardbred Horse
Sale (at Harrisburg, PA) saw two yearlings go for $1 million, and the opening
session (on Nov. 4) set a record for average price and saw its gross increase
by more then $3 million as compared to last year.
AT THE TRACK: DerbyWars will host regular online
qualifiers for the World Harness Handicapping Championship every Saturday
night. Players can qualify for as little as $22. Complete information is
available at DerbyWars.com. … Every week, card players can get in on the action
on “Free Poker Fridays” in the Gallery. Games begin at 7 p.m. … “Hockey Night”
is this Saturday (Nov. 9). Come on out and get an autograph and take photos
(starting at 6:30 p.m.) with former players Brian Propp (of the Philadelphia
Flyers), Bruce Driver (New Jersey Devils) and Nick Fotiu (New York Rangers). In
addition, you could walk away with some great memorabilia.
