from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — When racing resumes on Friday night (Dec. 22), there will be only four programs remaining in the Meadowlands Fall Meet.

The track will offer live harness racing this Friday and Saturday nights and then again on December 29 and 30. Post time is 7:30 p.m.

Brian Sears has locked up the Fall Meet driving title for the third straight year. Through December 21, he has 42 victories from 168 drives, a 25 percent winning clip. Ron Pierce and Yannick Gingras are tied in second place with 24 wins each.

Sears has already eclipsed his totals from 2004 (35 wins) and 2005 (29 wins) for the seven-week meet that concludes on December 30.

The trainers’ race may go down to the final night as Mickey Burke (11 wins), Mark Silva (10 wins) and Nat Varty (nine wins) are all contenders.

Both Varty and Burke can thank one horse — Extender N — for some of their success. The 9-year-old gelding has won all five of his starts since November 18, the first two for Burke and the last three since he was claimed on November 25 for $40,000 and moved into Varty’s barn.

Extender, who has a career record of 29 wins, 26 seconds and 13 thirds from 133 starts and earnings of $422,073, makes his next appearance on Saturday night in the third race at the Meadowlands. The New Zealand-bred is rated the 7-5 morning line favorite in a $50,000 to $60,000 claimer. Currently campaigned in the name of Odds On Racing of Crete, Illinois, the pacer has changed hands 10 times since 2002.

In the battle for top owner honors, Odds On Racing leads with six wins from nine starts. Carl Cito, Jr. is in second place with five wins. None of Cito’s eight starters have been worse than second.

Top 10 meet in amateur driving finale on Friday

By day, they are a university dean, a human resources vice president, chiropractor and business consultant, but on Friday night 10 members of the American Harness Drivers Club will don their driving colors to compete in their $5,000 Fall Pacing Final at the Meadowlands.

The one mile pace will take place before the card at 7:00 p.m. This is a non-wagering event.

Dr. Karyn Malinowski is director of the Equine Science Center at the Cook College division of Rutgers University and will be driving BJ’s Zephyr in the competition. John Regina of Bedminster, New Jersey, who will drive his own horse, Rock On Holmes N, is senior vice president for human resources for Robert Wood University Hospital. Dr. Sam Sbarra, a chiropractor from Middletown, New Jersey, will guide Shoot The Artist. Business consultant Neil Goldstein of East Brunswick, New Jersey, will pilot Great Escape. He currently leads the point standings from among the 16 amateur drivers who competed in five preliminary legs to determine who earned a spot in Friday night’s final.

The competitors also include Israel Galarza of Hoboken, New Jersey, driving Antique Collector; John Dahlgren of Howell, New Jersey, driving Poker Oak; Joseph Froelich of Maplewood, New Jersey, driving Greenmeansgo; Bernie Boland of Middletown, New Jersey, driving Know Stones; Carmen Ciccone of South Salem, New York, driving Emissary N and Bob Hechkoff of Manhattan, driving Conquiestdonor.