from Meadowlands Media Relations

It will be a battle to the finish for cash, trips and other prizes in the Meadowlands Survival Challenge 2008 powered by 123Racing, an online handicapping competition that begins May 31.

Enrollment for the game, which has a fresh, new look this season, opens May 17.

The game covers the Meadowlands’ Championship Meet, featuring more than $12 million in stakes races and the best pacers and trotters in training. It concludes on Hambletonian Day, August 2, 2008.

The winner is determined by the highest total bankroll at the end of the Challenge based on a $2 “across the board” wager [win, place and show] on selections for three designated races each program.

However, to continue in the game, entrants have to “survive” by finishing in-the-money [first through third] with at least one of their selections each day. Failing to do so, or not making selections, knocks the player out of the game. A new addition to the game is the “lucky horseshoe.” The lucky horseshoe is a “free pass” given to all Challenge participants that allows the player to survive if he does not make selections for a race card or all three of his selections fail to hit the board. If a player survives until June 30, he earns an additional lucky horseshoe.

The grand prize is $2,000, plus entry into the 2009 National Harness Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands [includes airfare and hotel accommodations].

The second-place prize is $1,000 and a Meadowlands IPOD Shuffleâ.

The third-place prize is $500 and a Meadowlands IPOD Shuffleâ.

There is also a bonus award of $500 for Most Number of Winners.

The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and Canada, and all selections must be made through the format provided on the Survival Challenge website page. No selections will be accepted by phone, fax, e-mail or any other means. Past performances for the three designated races will be provided through the game board.

The deadline for selections each day is 30 minutes before first race post time [7 p.m.]. Post time exceptions include Father’s Day, June 15 [1:10 p.m.], and Hambletonian Day [11:30 a.m.]. After 30 minutes to post, all selections are final.

To set up a username and password, and for more of the contest rules, visit www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/survival.