December 4, 2000
The signature event for the Meadowlands Racetrack, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, headlines a schedule of 200 standardbred stakes worth more than $20 million which will be contested in 2001.
The Meadowlands Pace, arguably the most important event for three-year-old pacers, will take place on July 14, 2001. It marks the 25th anniversary of the Pace. Last year, with its elimination races, the Pace was worth $1.4 million, making it the sport's richest event since 1987.
Three-year-old trotters will once again be showcased in the $1 million Hambletonian, which concludes the meet on August 4, 2001. A trio of Breeders Crown events - the $800,000 open trot, the $500,000 open pace and the $300,000 open mare pace - is slotted for Saturday, July 28.
Harness racing returns to the Meadowlands on the last weekend in December [Friday, December 29 and Saturday, December 30] with 2000 Meadowlands Pace winner Gallo Blue Chip expected to highlight the $100,000 Rambling Willie Invitational on December 30. The 153-date 2001 campaign will kick off on January 5.
New to the stakes schedule this year will be the Green Acres Series of the New Jersey Sire Stakes program, the newly redesigned $1 million New Jersey fair circuit, which also has legs at Freehold and Garden State Park. Meadowlands' stops for the Green Acres will be offered for two and three-year-olds in each gender and gait division in June and July.
Two popular Winter Series stakes were renamed for the 2001 meet. The New Faces Series for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings will now be the Robert Suslow Series, in honor of the late horse owner and former Saks Fifth Avenue CEO. The Chill Factor will now bear the name of Clyde Hirt, honoring the memory of the Hall of Fame columnist for Sports Eye who passed away on July 30, 2000. The preliminary legs for the Hirt will take place on January 11 and 18 with the $100,000 estimated final on January 27. The Suslow prelims are March 2 and 9 with a $130,000 estimated final on March 17. Nearly all the Winter Series Finals should set new purse records in 2001, with finals expected to reach from $80,000 to $100,000.
January
Fri., Jan. 5 $20,000 Complex [1st leg]; Sat., Jan. 6 $50,000 Presidential [1st leg]; Tue., Jan. 9 $12,500 Tender Loving Care [1st leg]; Tue., Jan. 9 $12,500 White Ruffles [1st leg]; Wed., Jan. 10 $12,500 Junior Trendsetter [1st leg]; Wed., Jan. 10 $12,500 Super Bowl [1st leg]; Thu., Jan. 11 $19,000 Clyde Hirt [1st leg]; Thu., Jan. 11 $20,000 Horse & Groom [1st leg]; Fri., Jan. 12 $20,000 Complex [2nd leg]; Fri., Jan. 12 $35,000 Cape & Cutter [1st leg]; Sat., Jan. 13 $50,000 Presidential [2nd leg]; Tue., Jan. 16 $12,500 White Ruffles [2nd leg]; Tue., Jan. 16 $12,500 Tender Loving Care [2nd leg]; Wed., Jan. 17 $12,500 Junior Trendsetter [2nd leg]; Wed., Jan. 17 $12,500 Super Bowl [2nd leg]; Thu., Jan. 18 $20,000 Horse & Groom [2nd leg]; Thu., Jan. 18 $19,000 Clyde Hirt [2nd leg]; Fri., Jan. 19 $35,000 Cape & Cutter [2nd leg]; Fri., Jan. 26 $90,000 HORSE & GROOM FINAL; Fri., Jan. 26 $60,000 WHITE RUFFLES FINAL; Fri., Jan. 26 $90,000 SUPER BOWL FINAL; Fri., Jan. 26 $100,000 TENDER LOVING CARE FINAL; Sat., Jan. 27 $100,000 CAPE & CUTTER FINAL; Sat., Jan. 27 $100,000 CLYDE HIRT FINAL; Sat., Jan. 27 $100,000 COMPLEX FINAL; Sat., Jan. 27 $100,000 JUNIOR TRENDSETTER FINAL; Sat., Jan. 27 $125,000 PRESIDENTIAL FINAL.
February
Sun., Feb. 4 $12,500 Senior Trendsetter [1st leg]; Wed., Feb. 7 $16,000 Night Styles [1st leg]; Thu., Feb. 8 $19,000 Exit 16W [1st leg]; Fri., Feb. 9 $16,000 Matt's Scooter [1st leg]; Fri., Feb. 9 $50,000 Overbid [1st leg]; Sat., Feb. 10 $35,000 Aquarius [1st leg]; Sun., Feb. 11 $12,500 Senior Trendsetter [2nd leg]; Sun., Feb. 11 $50,000 Su Mac Lad [1st leg]; Wed., Feb. 14 $16,000 Night Styles [2nd leg]; Thu., Feb. 15 $19,000 Exit 16W [2nd leg]; Fri., Feb. 16 $16,000 Matt's Scooter [2nd leg]; Fri., Feb. 16 $50,000 Overbid [2nd leg]; Sat., Feb. 17 $35,000 Aquarius [2nd leg]; Sun., Feb. 18 $50,000 Su Mac Lad [2nd leg]; Sat., Feb. 24 $100,000 NIGHT STYLES FINAL; Sat., Feb. 24 $100,000 EXIT 16W FINAL; Sat., Feb. 24 $100,000 MATT'S SCOOTER FINAL; Sat., Feb. 24 $125,000 SU MAC LAD FINAL; Sat., Feb. 24 $100,000 AQUARIUS FINAL; Sat., Feb. 24 $125,000 OVERBID FINAL; Sun., Feb. 25 $80,000 SENIOR TRENDSETTER FINAL.
March
Fri., Mar. 2 $22,500 Robert J. Suslow [1st leg]; Sat., Mar. 3 $25,000 Four Leaf Clover [1st leg]; Sun., Mar. 4 $15,000 Dollar Stakes - Filly [1st leg]; Wed., Mar. 7 $19,000 Jersey Girls [2nd leg]; Thu., Mar. 8 $15,000 Dollar Stakes - Colts [1st leg]; Fri., Mar. 9 $22,500 Robert J. Suslow [2nd leg]; Sat., Mar. 10 $25,000 Four Leaf Clover [2nd leg]; Sun., Mar. 11 $15,000 Dollar Stakes - Filly [1st leg]; Sun., Mar. 11 $20,000 Father Foley Memorial [1st leg]; Wed., Mar. 14 $80,000 JERSEY GIRLS FINAL; Thu., Mar. 15 $15,000 Dollar Stakes - Colts [2nd leg]; Fri., Mar. 16 $150,000 FOUR LEAF CLOVER FINAL; Sat., Mar. 17 $130,000 ROBERT J. SUSLOW FINAL; Sun., Mar. 18 $25,080 DOLLAR STAKES - FILLY FINAL; Sun., Mar. 18 $20,000 Father Foley Memorial [2nd leg]; Wed., Mar. 21 $22,500 Blossom [1st leg]; Thu., Mar. 22 $25,130 DOLLAR STAKES - COLTS FINAL; Sun., Mar. 25 $50,500 FATHER FOLEY MEMORIAL FINAL; Wed., Mar. 28 $22,500 Blossom [2nd leg]; Fri., Mar. 30 $27,000 Instrument Landing [1st leg].
April
Sun., Apr. 1 $18,000 Hiram Woodruff [1st leg]; Sun., Apr. 1 $12,500 Forrest Skipper [1st leg]; Wed., Apr. 4 $100,000 BLOSSOM FINAL; Thu., Apr. 5 $27,000 Ramblin' Storm [1st leg]; Fri., Apr. 6 $27,000 Instrument Landing [2nd leg]; Sat., Apr. 7 $19,000 Fox Sports Net [1st leg]; Sun., Apr. 8 $18,000 Hiram Woodruff [2nd leg]; Sun., Apr. 8 $12,500 Forrest Skipper [2nd leg]; Wed., Apr. 11 $12,500 Green With Envy [1st leg]; Thu., Apr. 12 $27,000 Ramblin' Storm [2nd leg]; Fri., Apr. 13 $67,000 INSTRUMENT LANDING FINAL; Sat., Apr. 14 $19,000 Fox Sports Net [2nd leg]; Wed., Apr. 18 $12,500 Green With Envy [2nd leg]; Thu., Apr. 19 $65,000 RAMBLIN' STORM FINAL; Fri., Apr. 20 $40,000 Taurus Romeo [1st leg]; Sat., Apr. 21 $53,200 FOX SPORTS NET FINAL; Sun., Apr. 22 $40,600 HIRAM WOODRUFF FINAL; Sun., Apr. 22 $52,250 FORREST SKIPPER FINAL ; Tues., Apr. 24 $15,000 Fight The Foe [1st leg]; Wed., Apr. 25 $44,250 GREEN WITH ENVY FINAL; Thu., Apr. 26 $17,500 Seatrain [1st leg]; Fri., Apr. 27 $40,000 Taurus Romeo [2nd leg].
May
Wed., May 2 $15,000 Fight The Foe [2nd leg]; Thu., May 3 $17,500 Seatrain [2nd leg]; Sat., May 5 $25,000 Berry's Creek Elims; Sat., May 5 $104,000 TAURUS ROMEO FINAL; Wed., May 9 $55,000 FIGHT THE FOE FINAL ; Thu., May 10 $60,000 SEATRAIN FINAL; Sat., May 12 $50,000 Graduate Elims; Sat., May 12 $350,000 BERRY'S CREEK FINAL; Sat., May 19 $90,000 NJSS [1st leg]; Sat., May 19 $325,000 GRADUATE FINAL; Fri., May 25 $20,000 Miss New Jersey Elims; Sat., May 26 $65,000 Classic Series - Classic Oaks Leg; Sat., May 26 $85,000 Classic Series - Trotting Classic Leg; Sat., May 26 $65,000 Classic Series - Classic Distaff; Sat., May 26 $85,000 Classic Series - Pacing Classic Leg; Sat., May 26 $25,000 SBOA/New Jersey Classic Elims; Mon. May 28* $65,000 NJSS [1st leg]; Mon., May 28* $10,000 C.K. Billings Amateur Drivers; Wed., May 30 $60,000 NJSS [1st leg].
June
Sat., June 2 $35,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial Elims; Sat., June 2 $250,000 MISS NEW JERSEY FINAL; Sat., June 2 $500,000 SBOA/NEW JERSEY CLASSIC FINAL; Wed., June 6 $60,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Thu., June 7 $85,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Fri., June 8 $90,000 NJSS [1st leg]; Sat., June 9 $90,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Tues., June 12 $5,000 Dignity Elims; Wed., June 13 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Thu., June 14 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Fri., June 15 $35,000 Lady Liberty Elims; Fri., June 15 $90,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Sat., June 16 $200,000 ARTHUR J. CUTLER MEMORIAL FINAL; Sat., June 16 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Tue., June 19 $41,800 DIGNITY FINAL; Tue., June 19 $12,500 Green Acres ; Wed., June 20 $12,500 Green Acres ; Thu., June 21 $90,000 NJSS [1st leg]; Thu., June 21 $90,000 NJSS [1st leg] ; Thu., June 21 $12,500 Green Acres ; Fri., June 22 $35,000 Titan Cup Elims; Sat., June 23 $254,500 LADY LIBERTY FINAL; Tue., June 26 $130,000 HISTORIC - ACORN; Wed., June 27 $156,000 HISTORIC - HARRIMAN CUP; Wed., June 27 $84,000 HISTORIC - COACHING CLUB OAKS; Thu., June 28 $170,000 HISTORIC - GOSHEN CUP; Thu., June 28 $130,000 HISTORIC - DEBUTANTE; Fri., June 29 $20,000 Hall of Fame Drivers; Fri., June 29 $100,000 HISTORIC - HISTORIC CUP; Fri., June 29 $204,500 TITAN CUP FINAL; Sat., June 30 $77,000 HISTORIC - JERSEY CUP; Sat., June 30 $68,000 HISTORIC - LADYSHIP; Sat., June 30 $50,000 William R. Haughton Memorial Elims.
Tue., July 3 $45,000 NJSS [1st leg]; Wed., July 4 $45,000 NJSS [1st leg]; Thu., July 5 $90,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Thu., July 5 $90,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Fri., July 6 $20,000 Del Miller Memorial Elims; Fri., July 6 $35,000 Budweiser Beacon Course Elims; Fri., July 6 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Sat., July 7 $50,000 MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIMS; Sat., July 7 $615,000 WILLIAM R. HAUGHTON MEM. FINAL; Tues., July 10 $45,000 NJSS [2nd leg]; Wed., July 11 $45,000 NJSS [2nd leg] ; Thu., July 12 $12,500 Green Acres ; Thu., July 12 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Thu., July 12 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Fri., July 13 $406,000 DEL MILLER MEMORIAL FINAL; Fri., July 13 $380,000 BUDWEISER BEACON COURSE FINAL; Fri., July 13 $50,000 Nat Ray Elims; Sat., July 14 $100,000 Meadowlands Pace Consolation; Sat., July 14 $1,000,000 MEADOWLANDS PACE FINAL; Wed., July 18 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Wed., July 18 $150,000 NJSS FINAL; Wed., July 18 $170,000 COUNTESS ADIOS; Wed., July 18 $12,500 Green Acres; Wed., July 18 $12,500 Green Acres; Thu., July 19 $228,000 NIATROSS; Fri., July 20 $165,000 TARPORT HAP; Sat., July 21 $25,000 Breeders Crown Elims; Sat., July 21 $50,000 Breeders Crown Elims; Sat., July 21 $25,000 Breeders Crown Elims; Tue., July 24 $15,000 Merrie Annabelle Elims; Tue., July 24 $12,500 Green Acres; Tue., July 24 $12,500 Green Acres; Wed., July 25 $15,000 Peter Haughton Memorial Elims; Thu., July 26 $15,000 Sweetheart Elims; Fri., July 27 $25,000 Woodrow Wilson Elims; Fri., July 27 $25,000 Mistletoe Shalee Elims; Sat., July 28 $25,000 Hambletonian Oaks Elims ; Sat., July 28 $100,000 Hambletonian Elims; Sat., July 28 $500,000 BREEDERS CROWN FINAL; Sat., July 28 $800,000 BREEDERS CROWN FINAL; Sat., July 28 $300,000 BREEDERS CROWN FINAL.
Wed., Aug. 1 $35,000 Merrie Annabelle Consolation; Wed., Aug. 1 $35,000 Peter Haughton Memorial Consolation; Thu., Aug. 2 $35,000 Sweetheart Consolation; Thu., Aug. 2 $460,400 PETER HAUGHTON MEMORIAL FINAL; Thu., Aug. 2 $345,000 MERRIE ANNABELLE FINAL; Fri., Aug. 3 $433,800 SWEETHEART FINAL; Fri., Aug. 3 $703,000 WOODROW WILSON FINAL; Fri., Aug. 3 $75,000 Woodrow Wilson Consolation; Fri., Aug. 3 $35,000 Mistletoe Shalee Consolation ; Fri., Aug. 3 $50,000 Townsend Ackerman; Sat., Aug. 4 $290,000 OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES; Sat., Aug. 4 $343,500 MISTLETOE SHALEE FINAL; Sat., Aug. 4 $500,000 HAMBLETONIAN OAKS FINAL; Sat., Aug. 4 $1,000,000 HAMBLETONIAN FINAL; Sat., Aug. 4 $350,000 U.S. PACING CHAMPIONSHIP; Sat., Aug. 4 $500,000 NAT RAY FINAL.