from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — While the world’s top athletes in 28 sports prepare to meet this summer in the Beijing Olympic Games, harness racing hosts its own international driving competition this week.

The best amateur drivers from 12 different countries will converge at the Meadowlands on Wednesday, May 21 to contest the final of the 2008 World Cup of Amateur Racing. It marks the first time in 20 years the event has been held in the United States.

Organized by the North American Amateur Drivers Association, the 2008 competition is held over six days [May 16 – 21] at six different racetracks, including Maywood Park, Balmoral Park, Monticello Raceway, Yonkers Raceway and Freehold. The points-based competition wraps up at the Meadowlands, where the 12 drivers will meet in a $25,000 trotting event, set at 1 1/16 miles, to decide the overall winner.

The talented dozen includes a police officer, financial advisor, furnishings salesman and banker, all of whom share a love of harness racing and are recognized as top amateur drivers in their homelands. The United States representative is David Siegel, president of TrackMaster and Equibase Company, which provide electronic handicapping information for harness, thoroughbred and quarter horse racing. Besides the United States, the countries represented are: Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway and Spain.

The draw for the 2008 World Cup of Amateur Racing Final:

Race 3 – Wednesday, May 21 – Meadowlands Racetrack
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer
1, Double Tax Jack, Bjorn Steinseth (Norway), Louis Paulucci
2, Armbro Doug, Fred Handelaar (Netherlands), Carmine Fusco
3, Quantum King Leo, Alle Loman (Czech Republic), Dorothy Morone
4, Libra Vita, Hans Jurgen von Holdt (Germany), Chris Ryder
5, Little Wendy, David Siegel (USA), Floyd Hardiman
6, Near The Limit, Robert Mellsop (Australia), Donald Maiorano
7, Kinetic Kid, Gavin Cook (New Zealand), Robert Naginewicz
8, Wildfire Bo, Tamas Kelemen (Hungary), Joe Vance
9, Crown Candle, Andreu Oliva Suau (Spain), Ross Croghan
10, Punk Man, Teddy Wang (Denmark), Paul Wojtowicz
11, Streetwise Hall, Antonio Valente (Canada), Kelly Stackowicz
12, Prank Player, Christian Mayr (Austria), Ned Urbanski

UPSETS PREVAIL IN OPENING ROUND OF NJSS FOR PACING FILLIES

Lisa Photo

Knock Three Times won the first of two New Jersey Sire Stakes legs for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

The closing kick of Knock Three Times was heard the loudest as she thundered down the stretch to win the first of two New Jersey Sire Stakes legs for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by David Miller, Knock Three Times closed from seventh at the top of the lane to take the $38,900 event in 1:52.1. Best Place was second best. Cartniverous faded to third after locking up with the favorite Ideal Newton early.

Sent off at 9-1, Knock Three Times paid $21.60 as she picked up her second career win. Ross Croghan trains the daughter of Western Ideal for the Florida-based Mentally Stable of Delray Beach and Robert Cooper Stables of Boca Raton.

In the $39,500 second division, 11-1 shot Cheyenne Trish rallied off a third-over trip to narrowly best Erma La Em in 1:53.4. George Brennan steered the daughter of Artiscape to her sixth win in 20 career starts. She returned $24. Cheyenne Trish is trained by Robbie Siegelman and leased by The Cheyenne Gang of Port Washington, New York.