To honor a man who dedicated his life to the sport and whose face and voice were the most recognized in the history of harness racing, The Meadowlands has seen fit to add his name to the featured events taking place this Saturday (July 5) night at The Big M, as the Stan Bergstein Graduate finals take place with a pair of $230,000 events for 4-year-olds, one for pacers and one for trotters.
Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night at the mile oval, and has a special later-than-usual post time of 7 p.m., on an evening when on-track patrons will have plenty to enjoy.
The Meadowlands Pace was scheduled to have had eliminations Saturday, but with only 10 horses having dropped into the entry box Tuesday (July 1) morning, the one-dash-for-the-cash final will go on Saturday, July 12.
For those who want to see how some of the contenders are coming along, the eighth race on Saturday will be a 3-year-old Open, which will feature a half-dozen of the horses who will go in the Pace.
What else is happening Saturday?
• At 6 p.m., the post-position draw for the Meadowlands Pace will take place in the winner’s circle (Jessica Otten will host)
• Face painters will be in the Backyard from 6:30-9 p.m.
• Fan Appreciation specials will be offered from 6-11 p.m., with $1 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda, as well as $2 Bud and Bud Lite. These cost-friendly concessions will be available at the Café, Terrace, Café Apron Window and Backyard only
• After Race 6, Horseplay. You could win a 2025 Toyota GR86
• Fireworks! Approximately 10 minutes after the last race, there will be a fantastic fireworks show. Anywhere in the Meadowlands grandstand, outside on the standee level, or up on the roof will all be the best place to watch from
“Giving back to our loyal fan base is something all of us at The Meadowlands can get behind,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Fan Appreciation Night is one way we can do that. Our on-track patrons will be treated to a pair of races named for Stan Bergstein, a man who is synonymous with harness racing, and during the night, can enjoy some low-cost concessions before a great fireworks show lights up the sky at the conclusion of racing. It’s a great way to spend a warm summer night.”
GOING NATIONAL: There will be live harness racing broadcast to a national television audience this Saturday (July 5) night, with the spotlight shining on The Meadowlands and Ohio’s Scioto Downs during the three-hour presentation.
For a fifth consecutive year, the TV teams at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Meadowlands are combining forces to bring high-caliber harness racing stakes events to a coast-to-coast audience over the networks of FOX Sports as part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” telecasts.
This Saturday’s show can be seen on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) and will begin at 8 p.m. Anchoring the broadcast will be Chris Griffin and Gabe Prewitt from NYRA’s showcase track, Saratoga Race Course, with on-the-scene commentary being provided by Jessica Otten at The Meadowlands and Jenna Otten at Scioto Downs.
Featured action at The Big M includes the two Bergstein Graduate finals. The matchup in the pace pits Nijinsky against Captain Albano, who hit the wire a nose apart first and second, respectively, in the final preliminary two weeks ago.
Private Access looks to stay perfect in four seasonal starts in the trot. Amazing Catch, Sir Pinocchio and Gruesome Twosome look like the most likely to pull off an upset.
The Next Generation for 2-year-old filly trotters and 2-year-old colt pacers and trotters sit atop the Scioto marquee. Ohio Sire Stakes dashes will also be shown.
-edited release (Meadowlands)