Washington, PA — Here is this week’s Meadows Monday Memo.
DERBY DAY SCHEDULE CHANGE
The Meadows will continue its Spring schedule this week, with racing Wednesday through Saturday. Wednesday through Friday, post time will be 12:45 p.m. However, on Saturday (Kentucky Derby Day), post time will shift to 11:30 a.m. There will be plenty of Derby Day activities on-track, including the annual Hat Contest, sponsored by the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association.
17 FOR PALONE
Dave Palone, the perennial dash-winning driver at The Meadows, had one of the best two-day stretches of his career last week. On Wednesday, Palone won five races in a row, part of a nine-win day. Some 24 hours later, he won six consecutive races, en route to eight wins on the afternoon.
STAKE ACTION GETS UNDERWAY
Saturday’s card will feature the first stake races of the 2025 season. Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers will be in action in Pennsylvania Sire Stake and Stallion Series events. The entry box will close on Wednesday morning with posts drawn Wednesday afternoon.
THE NEXT GENERATION
The last name Burke has been associated with The Meadows for decades, from Mickey Sr., to sons Ron and Mickey Jr. Tuesday (April 29), another generation of the Burke family will put his name into the racing program. Ron’s son Bradley, 23, is listed to make a pair of qualifying drives, behind pacers Robins Torch and Get Answers.