by Nick Salvi, for the Meadowlands
East Rutherford, NJ — Monday evening’s qualifiers served as a dress rehearsal for Saturday night’s grand opening of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment’s brand new grandstand.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/56702-Meadowlands111813.jpg)
Meadowlands photo
Race Secretary Pete Koch, his wife, Cindy Chapman Koch and Stakes Coordinator Andrea Hanley and friends enjoy the fare in Pink.
Meadowlands employees and their families were invited to Pink, the terraced dining room in the new building, for a complimentary tasting of the new menu which also gave the servers a test run of the facility.
The races began at 6 p.m. with the accomplished older trotter Mister Herbie cruising around the oval in 1:53 for driver Tim Tetrick. After a :57 half, Mister Herbie turned on the jets and won by many lengths. Trainer Jeff Gillis shares ownership of the $1.7 million winning son of Here Comes Herbie with Mac Nichol and Gerald Stay.
So Surreal (Somebeachsomewhere) won easily in 1:53.4 (final half in :55) for trainer/driver Ray Schnittker, prepping for this week’s Governor’s Cup eliminations. Ted Gewertz, Jonathan Kurnit and Steven Arnold are partners with Schnittker on the colt.
Don’t Blame Her, long a favorite of the Bongiorno family, sharpened up with an eye catching 1:54.2/:27.1 effort in the third. Barbara and Bobby Bongiorno own the mare, driven by their son, Joe. Brad Irvine trains.
Another preview night of qualifiers comes along this Thursday at 6 p.m. Horsemen have been invited to attend on that occasion to sample the fare in Pink. Then the house opens for real on Saturday with a stakes laden card of racing. Stay informed with a visit to the Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment website.