by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — In the fertile imagination of Li’l Abner creator Al Capp, Sadie Hawkins Day was a once-a-year occasion when a woman could marry a man of her choosing — if she could catch him and drag him across the finish line. Capp’s 1937 invention spawned Sadie Hawkins Day races across the country.

On leap year night, Wednesday (Feb. 29), The Meadows and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association will stage Sadie Hawkins races with a twist. Ten female drivers will participate, and each has invited a male reinsman to compete with her. The Sadie Hawkins races are a pair of trotting events, each with a field of 10, so that all participants will get a chance to drive (barring scratches).

While nuptials are not expected — Marryin’ Sam can rest easy — there is a strong incentive to win, as each Sadie Hawkins race carries a $10,000 purse.

Luck of the draw has produced some interesting rivalries. In the first Sadie Hawkins event, Danita Harvey will face both her son (and invitee) Daren Harvey and her daughter, Nicki Harvey, who has invited Dick Stillings.

Bragging rights also are at stake in the Zendt family. Leslie Zendt and her invitee, her husband Bill Zendt, will skirmish in the second Sadie Hawkins race while Bill’s son Brian Zendt, invited by Jamie Coffy, also is in the field.

The races have an added attraction in the form of Stiletto, a 12-year-old gelding owned by Trudy Hite who has been inching to $1 million in career earnings and now stands at $996,841. With Wednesday’s enhanced purse, Stiletto can vault over $1 million with a victory. Mike Wilder will guide him from post four in the first event.

First post Wednesday is 6:55 p.m., with the Sadie Hawkins events as Race 3 and Race 5. Below are the lists of drivers and invitees and the fields in post position order for the Sadie Hawkins races.

Driver–Invitee
Lisa Beinhauer–Tony Hall
Jamie Coffy–Brian Zendt
Sharon Donella–Dave Palone
Kim Good–Wilbur Yoder
Danita Harvey–Daren Harvey
Nicki Harvey–Dick Stillings
Rachel Kaneoka–Aaron Merriman
Devan Miller–Brett Miller
Terry Millhoan–Mike Wilder
Leslie Zendt–Bill Zendt

Sadie Hawkins Event–Race 3 (1-1/4 Miles)
Horse–Driver
1. Valley Of Vice–Danita Harvey
2. Tweedle Dum–Aaron Merriman
3. Buy Caviar–Nicki Harvey
4. Stiletto–Mike Wilder
5. Uline Hanover–Devan Miller
6. Monsieur De Vie–Daren Harvey
7. Pegasus Supreme–Terry Millhoan
8. Pembroke Marvel–Dick Stillings
9. Dice Control–Rachel Kaneoka
10. Sweet Elly Mae–Brett Miller

Sadie Hawkins Event– Race 5 (1 Mile)
1. Caviar Crown–Tony Hall
2. Keystone Fling–Jamie Coffy
3. Gone Pecan–Bill Zendt
4. Basic Common Sense–Kim Good
5. RT Picaadilly–Brian Zendt
6. Ashlee’s Dream–Sharon Donella
7. Red Victor–Dave Palone
8. TSM Meadow Miss–Lisa Beinhauer
9. Parris Island–Wilbur Yoder
10. Must Be Psychic–Leslie Zendt