from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — During the course of the live program at the Meadowlands Friday night (May 18), the five eliminations for the $500,000 Empire Breeders Classic for both male and female 3-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs will be shown live on the Big M feed, weaved in between Meadowlands events.

“Many top trotters will be racing,” said Jason Settlemoir, the Big M’s chief operating officer and general manager who also serves as Vernon’s regional vice-president, racing and simulcast. “Including a pair of top fillies. One being Plunge Blue Chip, who went nine-for-10 last year and won the Goldsmith Maid. Another is Atlanta, who won last week at the Meadowlands, beating older males and females in 1:52.”

The first EBC elimination is set to be shown at 7:34 p.m., soon after the first Meadowlands race replay is concluded. Thereafter, the elims will be shown after each Meadowlands replay of races two through five.

The Empire Breeders Classic finals are set for Memorial Day (Monday, May 28) at Vernon Downs.

Free program pages for Vernon’s all-EBC Pick-4 (races six through nine, guaranteed pool of $2,500) as well as the Meadowlands’ Pick-4 (races seven through 10, guaranteed $50,000), courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the handicapping section at www.ustrotting.com.

The Meadowlands’ live racing programs this Friday and Saturday get underway at 7:15 p.m.

Super Carryover: Harness racing’s biggest pot of gold will be up for grabs in the Friday finale at the Big M, as the carryover for the Late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five has now grown to $221,892.

Meadowlands chairman Jeff Gural will answer questions about the recent green light for sports betting on Friday night’s “Racing from the Meadowlands” pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

Preakness Day: Come on out to the Meadowlands Saturday and see if the Bob Baffert-trained Justify can take the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown when he tries his luck at a mile and 3/16ths in the 143rd running of the Preakness at Pimlico.

Gates at the Big M will open at 9:30 a.m. The first race at Pimlico is slated for 10:30 a.m. while post time for the Preakness is 6:48 p.m.