Meadowlands Saturday Card Live on Fox Sports Network
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
The Meadowlands is pleased and excited to again showcase Harness Racing’s greatest horses and events on the Fox Sports network via the popular television series America’s Day at the Races this season. The opportunity to join this initiative comes via an association with the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
The first of eight broadcasts will take place this Saturday, April 29 with the entire card televised alongside the opening night of Thoroughbred racing for the spring meet at Churchill Downs. The placement is ideal, exposing Harness Racing to a large Thoroughbred audience that is focusing on Churchill with the Kentucky Derby just a week away.
Saturday’s Meadowlands card offers 14 races of largely full and competitive fields which has been the catalyst for unprecedented handle thus far in 2023, averaging well over $3 million per card. With stakes season on the horizon, the sport’s best horses are filtering back. Saturday’s feature pits last season’s Dan Patch award winning 3-year-old filly pacer Treacherous Dragon against her rival Niki Hill in a $30,000 NJ Maturity face-off.
“We are beyond thrilled to have this opportunity through NYRA to be a part of the top television live broadcast of horse racing,” said Meadowlands General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Jeff Gural (Meadowlands President and CEO) and I have long held the belief that we need to have a presence on TV to survive and thrive. This is the third year that we are taking part and it is beginning to yield tangible benefits. We will take part in eight shows this year that will highlight some of the greatest stakes and horses in our business, including the Meadowlands Pace on July 15 and Hambletonian Day, August 6.”
The Meadowlands on-air talent will feature Jessica Otten, who played the lead so effectively last season, and Gabe Prewitt with his spot-on race analysis.
“We had a great time last year and got to cover a lot of seasonal highlights, including the story of Beach Glass winning the only race his dad didn’t for the same connections,” was Jessica’s take on the broadcasts. “Seeing Bulldog Hanover set a new world record and Jim Campbell’s sweep of the Oaks and Hambo presented the best we have to offer to a brand-new audience. I’m looking forward to another great season and working with Fox and NYRA showcasing our sport.”
Here is a list of dates and feature stakes that are subject to additions and revision:
Saturday, April 29 (6:00 – 11:00pm)
Friday, May 19 (9:00 – 11:30pm)
Saturday, May 20 (8:00 – 11:00pm) Cutler Memorial FFA Trot
Saturday, July 1 (9:00 – 11:00pm) Crawford Farms & Six Pack FFA Trots/Dave Brower Memorial/Perfect Sting FFA Paces
Saturday, July 8 (9:00 – 11:00pm) Meadowlands Pace eliminations and Graduate Finals
Saturday, July 15 (10:00 – 12:00pm) Meadowlands Pace Final and supporting card with purses of $2.5 million
Saturday, August 5 (1:00 – 5:00 then 6:00 – 7:00) Hambletonian and supporting card with purses of $3.5 million
Friday, September 8 (9:00 – 11:00pm) New Jersey Classic Series Finals
Free programs are available as well.