New Jersey’s horse racing industry will receive a $20 million appropriation for purses as part of the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget signed recently by Gov. Phil Murphy. The appropriation will be divided equally between Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds. Funds allocated for Standardbred racing include money for overnight purses at the Meadowlands and Freehold, as well as for the New Jersey Sire Stakes and breeder awards.
Month: July 2024
OHHA Freshman Focus to feature Brian Brown
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will feature the 2-year-olds in training from the Brian Brown Stable in a special Tuesday edition of Freshman Focus.
50th Zweig Memorial on Independence Day at Vernon
The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial, a Grand Circuit trotting stake “Open to the World,” will celebrate its 50th anniversary with top fields of 3-year-old colts and fillies competing for more than $500,000 in purses on the Independence Day holiday evening (July 4) at Vernon Downs.
USHDC feature to Country Squire at Oak Grove
Country Squire (Keystone Velocity) took top honors in the United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) event on Monday (July 1) at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming.
Cowgirl Hanover scores in NYSS at Monticello
On paper it looked like a contest between the unbeaten Cowgirl Hanover, winner of last week’s New York Sire Stake race at Buffalo and All Hail The Queen, who was making her pari-mutuel debut after a pair of strong winning qualifier performances at Monticello. However, when the dust settled Cowgirl Hanover was clearly the best Monday afternoon (July 1) and extended her winning streak.
Update: Fields drawn for Meadowlands Pace elims
The entries are in for the $700,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace and with 17 declared, there will be two $50,000 eliminations on Saturday (July 6).
Brittany yearling roster now available
In what will be the final consignment from one of the world’s greatest breeding farms, the roster of Brittany Farms’ 2024 sale yearlings is now available on the farm’s website, britfarms.com.
NAADA Makes Donations Totaling $5,000
America’s premier amateur harness driving series, the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA), has once again donated to important charitable causes.
Aiello and Prewitt: Round Two; Harness Match Race for Charity July 4
Gulfstream Park announcer Pete Aiello will be spending part of his July 4 weekend in a sulky at Horseshoe Indianapolis when he takes on The Red Mile’s VP of Racing and Sports Wagering Operations Gabe Prewitt in a harness match race for charity.
Fourever Boy wins fourth, Ranger wins five at Plainridge
Summer in Massachusetts has been very good to the connections of Fourever Boy this year, who won his fourth race of the meet by taking the $20,000 Open Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 1) afternoon.