4th Quarter Marketing hired to market “Season of Champions”

East Rutherford, NJ — Harness racing’s two biggest events — the Hambletonian and Breeders Crown — are both at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment this August and October, extending a potent championship season that will feature the sport’s biggest stars and largest audience.

“The Meadowlands Sports Complex, overlooking the New York City skyline, is the leading sports destination in the world and the ideal location to host a concentration of major racing events this fall,” said John Campbell, president of the Hambletonian Society and the all-time leading money-winning driver.

The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and the Hambletonian Society have hired 4th Quarter Marketing to help secure broadcast rights and coordinate sponsorship activations.

4th Quarter Marketing is a newly formed, community-based venture headed by Frank Vuono, partner in Rutherford based 16W Marketing, LLC. Vuono is a former NFL marketing executive and former principal of Integrated Sports International and SFX Sports. He will be collaborating with Jim Kirkos, President and CEO for the Meadowlands Chamber and Meadowlands Live CVB which has played an instrumental role in securing and marketing internationally-known sporting and entertainment events including Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, several WrestleMania events, and the upcoming FIFA World Cup final match. The Chamber currently represents more than 1,000 local businesses.

Axiom Communications, which produced many of the regional events and programs as the region’s Marketing Liaison to Super Bowl 48, will be performing a similar role here, and has envisioned several major activations that will invite racing devotees and casual fans to be part of the event series.

“Pairing harness racing’s national championship, the Breeders Crown, with its signature race, the Hambletonian, is a rare occurrence and the perfect opportunity to once again demonstrate that the Meadowlands region and the state of New Jersey know how to host and promote premier sports events,” said Vuono. “Meadowlands Racing is the leading venue for harness racing in North America, and being able to showcase the Hambletonian and the Breeders Crown back-to-back is the ultimate engagement opportunity for fans and sponsors.”

“This is like the Olympics of harness racing because you’re getting all the best athletes in the sport in one place and it only happens every four years,” said Kirkos. “We’re thrilled to roll out the red carpet and offer a Meadowlands warm welcome to all the drivers, trainers and fans of the sport. We will show them a great time while they’re here with the diverse array of entertainment, dining and hospitality options that the Meadowlands region has to offer.”

Hambletonian Day 2021 is on Saturday (Aug. 7) and the Breeders Crown elimination events are on Friday (Oct. 22) and Saturday (Oct. 23) and the final races are on Friday (Oct. 29) and Saturday (Oct. 30).

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