James MacDonald, who won the 2017 World Driving Championship on his home turf in Canada, on Wednesday (Nov. 5) took the lead at this year’s event in New Zealand thanks to a performance that included two wins and a second in five third-round races.
Author: by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Double carryovers Wednesday night at MGM Northfield Park
A 99-1 winner in the middle of the card Tuesday (Nov. 4) wreaked havoc on both the Pick-5 and Pick-6 wagers sending a pair of sizeable carryover opportunities rolling over to the Wednesday night (Nov. 5) program.
Success at FFA Convention for harness racing industry
A record-breaking 73,000 people were in attendance at the 98th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis during the week of Oct. 27. The harness racing booth was one of 300 exhibitors present at the FFA Convention Expo to meet the future of agriculture, educate them on our sport and provide materials for FFA advisors.
Meadows Monday Memo
Following is The Meadows Monday Memo for Nov. 3, 2025.
Bangor Raceway achieves record handle in 2025
Bangor Raceway continued to buck nationwide pari-mutuel trends in 2025, reporting record handle numbers at the end of its recently concluded meet, while far surpassing record business numbers obtained during the 2024 season.
Hall remains on top at WDC; Beckwith tied for sixth
Australia’s Gary Hall Jr. maintained his spot at the top of the standings at the World Driving Championship in New Zealand after Monday’s (Nov. 3) second round, with Canada’s James MacDonald moving up from sixth to second. Brett Beckwith, representing the U.S., was equal on points with sixth-place Santtu Raitala from Finland.
Switzer Jr. secures seven scores at Cumberland
Leading reinsmen Kevin Switzer Jr. put on a driving clinic on opening day of the Winter Festival at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 2), winning seven of the nine races he drove in.
Beltrami coasts in AHDC Trot; Baker, Burt bag AHDC Paces
Tony Beltrami scored an easy victory in the lone $10,000 division of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Nov. 1) while Bruce Baker and Raymond Burt took their respective $7,500 dashes of the AHDC Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 2).
2025 MSOA Annual Auction for Charity to be held Dec. 7
On behalf of the “Auction for Charity” Committee of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA), we are very pleased to announce that the upcoming 36th Annual Auction for Charity will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe.