Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
Author: by Jeff Zidek, for Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
Dexter Cup signals start of Road to the Hambletonian; Entries due Tuesday, April 29
The Road to the 100th edition of the Hambletonian begins with the Dexter Cup (G3) and filly division Lady Suffolk, slated for Saturday (May 3), at the new host track of The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ.
Dinner Party feasts at Cumberland
Driver Drew Campbell needed no RSVP as he sent Dinner Party to a wire-to-wire romp in the featured $5,500 conditioned pace on Saturday (April 26) on a damp and foggy afternoon at Cumberland Raceway.
Meadowlands qualifiers on Friday this week
The Meadowlands will move the qualifying races to Friday ((May 2) for this week only due to the Kentucky Derby being raced on Saturday (May 3). The box is open and closes…
‘Gem’ shines in Big M feature
Gem Quality began his season a week ago with a dead heat win in the weekly pacing feature at The Meadowlands. On Saturday night (April 26), the Chris Ryder trainee shared his winner’s circle photo with no one else at the conclusion of the $22,500 marquee high-end conditioned pace.
Mask On Mask Off wins feature at Vernon
Mask On Mask Off (Jimmy Whittemore) captured the featured $7,500 pace on Saturday (April 26) at Vernon Downs.
Front end was place to be at Buffalo Raceway
The front end was definitely the place to be at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday afternoon (April 26) as Panettone Hanover ($5.40) captured the $14,500 Open Pace going coast to coast while Vel Mr Nice Guy ($9.30) led every step of the way in taking the sub-featured $12,500 event.
Strutsville sweeps Bobby Weiss prelims
Strutsville became the only 3-year-old pacing filly to win all three of her preliminary legs of her Bobby Weiss Series grouping after she won her $20,000 division in 1:54 on a Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Empereurthebest rules at Cumberland
Empereurthebest FR ruled the featured $5,500 conditioned trot on Friday (April 25) at Cumberland Raceway, and is now two-for-two on the season.
Cal Expo Board votes to end harness racing lease agreement
The California Exposition & State Fair Board has voted to accept the staff recommendation to exercise the option to terminate the lease agreement with Watch and Wager, LLC, officially bringing harness racing operations at Cal Expo to a close at the end of this current season on May 2, 2025.