by Amy Silver, publicity director, Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ — Brian Sears will sit In The Sulky to talk about Auckland Reactor, his Berry’s Creek elimination drives and more on Meadowlands Racetrack’s Friday pre-card show.

The broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. Fans may e-mail questions for Sears to answer on air to racing@thebigm.com.

Backstretch Buzz

In his latest blog, Meadowlands track announcer Ken Warkentin reports on the North American debut of New Zealand star Auckland Reactor in Thursday morning’s qualifiers.

Read his report by clicking this link.

Meadowlands Racetrack is best bet for Derby Day fun

If a trip to Churchill Downs is not in the cards, being at Meadowlands Racetrack on Kentucky Derby Day is the next best thing.

With hundreds of television screens and plenty of dining options, the Meadowlands is the tri-state area’s best bet for watching and wagering on the most exciting two minutes in sports on Saturday, May 1. For a gourmet dining experience, the track’s penthouse-level Pegasus Restaurant is offering an afternoon brunch package for $42, which includes admission and Derby program (excludes tax and gratuity). A la carte dining is also available both day and night in Terraces Restaurant on the Clubhouse Level.

Meadowlands gates open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:24 p.m. and a live Meadowlands card gets underway at 7 p.m. Featured on the card are a pair of elimination races for the $225,000 (est.) Berry’s Creek, the first major stakes event for harness racing’s budding 3-year-old stars.

Rock N Roll Heaven, a standout in the freshman class of 2009, is the 2-1 morning line favorite from post four in the first of the two $25,000 eliminations. The Bruce Saunders trainee made a sizzling season’s debut with a wire-to-wire romp in 1:51.1 on April 24 at the Meadowlands. The son of Rocknroll Hanover, owned by Frank Bellino, has finished first or second in nine of 10 career starts toward earnings of $602,626.

Meadowlands general admission is only $1, day and night, on Saturday. For more information and dining reservations, call 201.THE.BIGM or visit the Meadowlands’ website at www.meadowlandsracetrack.com.

Due to the Bamboozle concert at New Meadowlands Stadium, guests are advised to allow extra travel time into the sports complex on Saturday. Parking refunds will be available to racetrack guests at entrance gates.

Kentucky Derby wagering is also available at Favorites at Woodbridge, Monmouth Park and online through New Jersey Account Wagering at www.4njbets.com.