from The Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The opening night card features a trio of open events for older horses as harness racing returns to Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday, January 1.

Post time is 7 p.m. for the 13-race card, which features a pair of $32,000 invitationals for trotters and mare pacers and a special $25,000 event for 10 years old and up. Hall of Fame driver John Campbell will be the featured guest on the opening night television broadcast that begins at 6:40 p.m. Fans can e-mail questions for Campbell to answer on-air to racing@thebigm.com.

At age 13, Extender N is the veteran in the field for the “We’re Not So Young Anymore” pace. Trained by Nat Varty, Extender N enters the race off a five-month layoff after winning his last two starts at Pocono Downs this summer. Millionaires Image Of Dawn (11-years-old) and Quality Western (10-years-old) are also among the competitors in the sixth race feature.

The field for the seventh race open trot includes the Trond Smedshammer-trained Likeabatoutahell, who counts a $50,000 Su Mac Lad Series division among his six wins in 2009, and Lavec Dream, whose victory in the $441,844 Armbro Flight propelled her to a career best season in earnings for owner-trainer Peter Kleinhans.

A prolific bunch of mares will assemble in the tenth race open, including Native Bride, Chancey Lady, Ramona Disomma and Western Graduate.