from Meadowlands Media Relations

Entries for the 2005 Big M Championship Meet Harness Handicapping Challenge will be taken through 10 p.m. Friday, July 22.

The first Meadowlands qualifying tournament for the 2006 National Harness Handicapping Championship will take place on Saturday, July 23 in the Raceworld Teletheater.

The cost to enter the tournament is $300 [$100 non-refundable entry fee and $200 required bankroll, both due with entry form]. The format will consist of the player’s choice of five live Meadowlands races. Wagers must be $40 per race, and can be win and/or place bets on one horse per race. Players keep their pari-mutuel winnings and payouts are to the Top 10 finishers. The winner earns a spot in the 2006 NHHC Final on April 22, 2006 at the Meadowlands.

To download a brochure and entry form for the Meadowlands qualifying tournament, visit http://www.thebigm.com/sharedimages/July_23.pdf. Brochures are also available at Guest Service Central on the Paddock Level or the Media Relations Office located on the ground floor. To register, contact Amy Silver [201-842-5014] or Rachel Ryan [201-842-5015].

A list of partner outlets and qualifying tournaments will be continuously updated on the NHHC home page at www.thebigm.com/nhhc.asp.

Bally’s Las Vegas will host a NHHC qualifier on Saturday, August 20.

For information regarding that tournament, contact AvelloJ@ballyslv.com.

HORSE SALE SUNDAY IN MEADOWLANDS PADDOCK

Restive Hanover, winner of the Breeders Crown, Three Diamonds and American-National at two, will be among those selling at the Tattersalls July Mixed Sale on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

More than 130 racehorses, two-year-olds and broodmares are schedule to go under the hammer, starting at 1 p.m. in the Back Paddock at the Meadowlands.

Owned by Starmaker Farm and Anthony McEldowney, Restive Hanover earned more than $590,000 at two, winning nine of 14 starts in the hands of trainer Erv Miller and driver Andy Miller.

For more information on the sale, visit:

http://www.tattersallsredmile.com/tsalls/mixed/saleroster.html

COUNTESS ADIOS & NJSS FINAL FEATURED WEDNESDAY

Two-year-olds will be on display Wednesday night at the Meadowlands in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for trotting colts and geldings and two divisions of the Countess Adios for pacing fillies.

Finnish-owned Blue Mac Lad, who won his New Jersey Sire Stakes leg last week in 1:58.1, drawing off by seven lengths, will have to overcome post 10 in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final, carded as the fifth race. The Muscles Yankee colt, trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer, has a win and a third in two starts.

Johnny Muscles, another son of Muscles Yankee, will leave from post three with Jeff Gregory at the lines for trainer Jan Johnson. He rebounded from a miscue in his first pari-mutuel start to win last week in 1:59.3. Jimmy Takter sends out a pair of Yankee Glide colts – Smart Again and Global Glide – each with a one victory in two New Jersey Sire Stakes prelims.

The Countess Adios is a showcase for freshman pacing fillies and nine will compete for $66,950 in the first division, the third race, and 10 are in the $67,950 second division, the sixth race.

Mattios, who won the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for two-year-old pacing fillies on July 13 in 1:54.3 and a $46,705 Debutante division on June 29, will look to add to her $118,977 bankroll in the first division. Owned by Dee Tighe of Naples, Florida and trained by James Tolson, Mattios will be driven by George Brennan and leave from post seven. Her competition includes a pair of Reynolds Stakes winners, Darlin’s Delight and July Hot Mindale, as well as a Debutante divisional winner, She’s Game.

Xhilaration, out of the prolific mare Motivation, races for owner-trainer Kathleen LaMontagne of Bordentown, New Jersey, in the second division. She won her Reynolds division in 1:56.3 at Pocono Downs on July 12 and drew post two in the Countess Adios. Broken equipment spoiled Taxi Hanover’s Reynolds start but the filly has four wins in six starts, including a 1:55.1 mile in her debut on June 23 at the Meadowlands. The Mickey Burke trainee leaves from post seven.