COUNTDOWN TO THE 2024 MEADOWLANDS PACE IS ON
Thursday, June 20, 2024
The Meadowlands has hosted the greatest races in the Standardbred sport for almost 50 years now, and that tradition will continue with the most-anticipated dashes of the year coming up at The Big M over the next several weeks as the track’s Championship Meet winds its way toward the finish line, culminating with Hambletonian Day on August 3.
The countdown to the mile oval’s signature event – The Meadowlands Pace – stands at 24 days, with eliminations seven days prior to that. The date for The Pace is July 13.
The Pace Night card has a laundry list of stakes. They are (with estimated purses):
- $700,000 Meadowlands Pace
- $450,000 William R. Haughton Open Pace
- $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity
- $250,000 Stanley Dancer
- $225,000 Del Miller Memorial
- $200,000 Mistletoe Shalee
- $175,000 Dorothy Haughton Open Mare Pace
- $40,000 Miss Versatility Mare Trot (Leg 4)
“All of us at The Meadowlands love the big race cards,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But I’d also like to talk about all of the other things we offer every weekend here in East Rutherford, counting down to the greatest night in harness racing.
“As you may know, The Meadowlands has morphed into one of the most popular and safe outdoor and indoor entertainment venues in the metropolitan area. Within the perimeter lies the premiere sports betting facility of its type in the country, The FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the destination of many sports enthusiasts in the area.”
Golf fans watched and wagered as Bryson DeChambeau sank a challenging putt on the 18th hole Sunday (June 16) to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. The next day, it was hoops lovers taking in all the action as the Boston Celtics won the NBA title for a record 18th time, as they completed a four-games-to-one series win over the Dallas Mavericks.
“The Meadowlands has been getting very nice crowds outside as the weather has been getting warmer,” said Settlemoir. “The crowds provide a great backdrop to the competitive racing we offer. That racing affords our players a chance to make big hits. Last Saturday (June 15), one lucky bettor took down the entire Pick-6 pool – which, helped by a carryover, totaled $26,880 – on a 20-cent bet.”