Since the tragic event that took the life of 27-year-old Hunter Myers in a race at The Meadows (Pa.) on March 19, it seems like just about everybody from every facet of the harness racing industry has pitched in to support Hunter’s fiancé, Chloe Fisher, and young son, Hayden Myers.
On Saturday (March 29) night, everyone who likes betting on Meadowlands races has a chance to help out as well. The fourth dash is the “Hunter Myers Memorial Race”, and all proceeds from the one-mile event will be donated to help Chloe and Hayden.
In addition, Big M Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gural has pledged to match all monies raised.
“What an amazing young man, gone far too soon,” said Meadowlands Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir on his Facebook page. “This breaks my heart! Every time I saw Hunter it was ‘Hey boss or Mr. Settlemoir’. Last year at the Delaware County Fair, we settled on just calling me Jason.
“Hunter sure did love our sport and we sure did love Hunter. His energy, his passion, his smile, his genuine and spirited attitude towards life. He was a great young man and a talented young driver. Pray for his family and pray for our sport. This certainly hurts and puts everything in perspective. Fly high, young man, fly where only angels soar. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. This is tragic.”
The race that honors the fallen driver who amassed 2,450 lifetime victories is one that should attract a lot of attention from bettors. It’s a TrackMaster 83.5 pace with a full field of 10 where half of the field shows at least one win in their last five starts.
“We urge our fans, whether they come to the track once a week or once a month or bet us on their favorite ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) site to bet on the fourth race Saturday,” said Settlemoir. “Small bettors, big bettors, we urge them to get involved and be a part of helping Chloe and Hayden.”
QUALIFIER REPORT: In the first of six qualifiers that take place Saturday afternoon, trainer Marcus Melander sends out a pair of intriguing Swedish shippers.
Aetos Kronos S qualified third at The Big M a week ago. The 9-year-old son of Bold Eagle-Will Of A Woman, a lifetime earner of $1.3 million, raced in the $1-million Prix d’Amerique in January of 2024.
His stablemate, S I P, is a 6-year-old son of Bar Hopping-Barbara Brooks, who hasn’t raced since October of last year. Melander is likely hoping the potent pair will be able to race in the upper-echelon events for older trotters this year.
A horse well known by Meadowlands regulars will also be qualifying in the opener. The Ron Burke-trained Lexus Kody, the Big M track-record holder for an older gelding of 1:49 4/5, won eight of 20 starts a year ago and banked over $200,000.
In the second qualifier, Burke’s Cheers Hanover, who earned $108,250 a year ago, and Nifty Norman’s Yannick G Kemp, $85,870, will get their 3-year-old colt trotting seasons underway, while the fifth qualifier finds three lifetime earners of $500,000: Robert Cleary’s Soaring Now, Jeff Cullipher’s Sonny Weaver N and Shane Tritton’s Springsteen.
The qualifiers begin at 4 p.m., and can be seen live on The Meadowlands website (playmeadowlands.com) or rtn.tv (Racing Television Network). To see the entries, go here.
A GRAND NIGHT: The fourth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping contest takes place on Saturday, April 19. The event goes for prize money totaling $1,000.
For those interested in taking part, these are the details:
· There is a $1,000 prize pool and the top two finishers earn entry into a December invitation-only tournament that will go for $10,000 in prize money.
· Contestants must be on-site to participate.
· For complete information, and to enter, go here.
-edited release (Meadowlands)