The second edition of Dave Little’s Road to The Meadowlands Pace saw a Tony Alagna trainee leap from obscurity all the way to No. 7 in the weekly poll.
Countdown to Hambletonian 100 at Big M is on
There are just 86 days to go. Harness racing’s most-storied event is celebrating a remarkable milestone this year at the industry’s top venue as the 100th edition of the Hambletonian will take place in just under three months at The Meadowlands, on Saturday (Aug. 2).
Pandy’s Meadowlands selections for May 9
Handicapper Bob Pandolfo offers his selections for the full card at The Meadowlands on Friday night (May 9).
Scioto Downs opens Thursday
Eldorado Scioto Downs kicks off the 2025 race season with 16 races on opening night, Thursday (May 8), and full cards will continue throughout opening weekend (Friday-Saturday).
Brooksforreal wins 11th straight in Maryland stakes
Following his 1:53.1 first-round victory last week, Lucky Lilly Belle Stable’s Brooksforreal extended his win streak to 11 with a 1:54.2 score in his $10,000 second-round Maryland Sire Stakes preliminary division on Wednesday (May 7) at Rosecroft Raceway.
Mary Kat was ‘cat’s meow’ at Buffalo
Mary Kat ($8.80) was the “cat’s meow” in Buffalo Raceway’s $11,000 pace for fillies and mares on Wednesday afternoon (May 7) as she beat American Jazz by 2-1/2 lengths in a season’s best of 1:55.4 over a fast track.
Freshman Focus to feature Jeff Smith
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will feature Jeff Smith and his Ohio 2-year-olds in training in this week’s edition of Freshman Focus.
‘Curdy’ aims to make some cheddar in Matchmaker final
Talk Curdy To Me needed a win in the last preliminary round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series to qualify for the final, and the 5-year-old mare delivered. Now, she will attempt to cash in on that performance in Friday’s (May 9) Grade 1 final, which goes for a purse of $490,000 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Buter wins five qualifiers at Pocono
Tyler Buter, who has been the leading driver at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania during the afternoon and evening pari-mutuel racing, decided to extend his dominance to the mornings as well, as he won five qualifying races at the northeast Pennsylvania oval on Wednesday (May 7), guiding three of trainer Hunter Oakes’ four victorious charges and also doubling for trainer John Butenschoen.
SOA of NY Empire Terrace dinner promotion for owners in Matchmaker and Borgata finals and consolations
The SOA of NY will pay for a buffet dinner only (no alcohol) for up to four people per horse who is racing in the finals or consolations, where an owner is present and is a SOA of NY member.