by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — The Meadowlands has asked the New Jersey Racing Commission to approve harness racing dates for 2009 that would eliminate the winter meet and extend the summer schedule to mid-August.

Also, as part of the plan, the Hambletonian would move from August 1 to August 8 to accommodate the national television broadcast on NBC.

Currently, the track hosts harness racing from mid-November through December following the completion of the Championship Meet on the first Saturday in August. Under the new plan, the track would host racing from January 1 through the third weekend of August and eliminate the winter meet. The Breeders Crown finals for older horses would be held on the final weekend and other stakes events, such as the Woodrow Wilson and Sweetheart, could be moved into August.

The Meadowlands issued a statement that the structure of the overall racing calendar was done at the request of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey.