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Meadowlands Pace To Be Shown Live On Fox Sports 2 Saturday Night

A large part of the experience of The Meadowlands Pace, one of harness racing's greatest events, is the soundtrack that accompanies it.

“The Pace” are two words that elicit more than 40 years of memories of the greatest horses, greatest drivers, and, of course, greatest race calls in the history of the game.

Old-timers might recall Ed Gorman's 1980 Pace call, which included arguably the greatest horse ever: “And they are following Niatross and nobody's gonna catch him. It's Niatross by four and he's going away!”

Tom Durkin, who later in his career would go down as one of the greatest thoroughbred announcers of all time after his Big M stay, had this to say in 1985: “Nihilator, what a powerhouse, he's in full stride. Here's Nihilator, Bill O'Donnell urging him, to a sensational mile. 1:50.3. Nihilator! A superstar!”

In 2008, the late, great Sam McKee got to call what has been the most thrilling Pace to date as Somebeachsomewhere looked to stay unbeaten: “Somebeachsomewhere full out. Art Official, a desperate lunge on the outside. Art Official. Somebeachsomewhere. At the line…..Art Official! 1:47! World record upset in The Pace.”

And, finally, last year, the current voice of The Big M, Ken Warkentin, authored this thrilling finish: “In deep stretch, Papi Rob Hanover. Battling back, Tall Dark Stranger had more. Tall…Dark…Stranger in The Meadowlands Pace with Yannick Gingras!”

(All of the above races and many more are available by going to the Meadowlands YouTube Page.)

This Saturday (July 17), the 45th edition of The Big M's signature event will take center stage on a star-studded 14-race card that will include 11 stakes events. The evening gets underway with a special early post time of 6 p.m. The Meadowlands Pace is race nine and has a post time of 9:46 p.m.

For harness fans who can't make it out to the track or who live in another region of the country, there will be a live two-hour show telecast on Fox Sports 2 starting at 8 p.m. The Big M's TV team of Dave Brower and Dave Little will be on set, Jessica Otten will have pre-race features and interviews and Gabe Prewitt will join the team and have winner's circle reaction.

The Fox Sports 2 presentation will show four live events, which will comprise the “Fox Sports Pick Four” (races six through nine): The $178,500 Dorothy Haughton Memorial, $265,400 William Haughton Memorial (Division One) and $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity will serve as the appetizers before the main course, the $700,000 Pace.

The supporting races on the card would be the envy of any track manager even without the events that make up the Fox Sports Pick Four. They are, in order, beginning with race one: the $142,000 Del Miller Memorial (Division One), $135,500 Stanley Dancer Memorial (Division One), $139,500 Del Miller Memorial (Division Two), $174,400 Mistletoe Shalee and $40,000 Miss Versatility before races six through nine (see above). Then, the stakes resume with the $265,400 William Haughton Memorial (Division Two) and $138,800 Stanley Dancer Memorial (Division Two).

“Pace Night is always something special,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “It's just more special this year coming on the heels of the pandemic. The Meadowlands is expecting a big crowd and we are pulling out all the stops for our guests to enjoy the party on the biggest night in harness racing.”

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Maggie Wolfendale Joins Writers’ Room As Show Returns to Studio

It's been a long 16 months since the crew for the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland were all together in their actual studio to record the podcast, and they reunited at last Wednesday morning, welcoming Fox Sports and NYRA paddock analyst Maggie Wolfendale on the show to share excitement about the opening of Saratoga to fans once again and discuss how to pick winning horses based on physical appearances.

“It's not even just the racetrack,” Wolfendale, calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, said when asked to explain how integral fans and tourists are to Saratoga. “It's that the entire town knows they're racing. You can go anywhere and just sit at a bar and have a conversation about the third race on Friday. Then at the track, everyone has their own places they want to be. There's something for everyone too. It's that old county fair feeling. And it's all about the horses. People line the massive paddock we have and line the walkway from the backside to the paddock, where the horses are like boxers coming in for a big fight. The anticipation before every race is something that I don't think you necessarily see at other tracks the way you do at Saratoga.”

Wolfendale has proven herself an indispensable member of the groundbreaking America's Day at the Races broadcasts, in large part because of her expertise in horseflesh and ability to provide horseplayers insight from a close-up view of the animals.

Asked what she looks for in 2-year-old races in particular, she said, “They have the least form to go on, and they take the most prep work. But then sometimes, that prep work goes out the window once you see them in the paddock or on the track. You do your homework, you look at pedigrees; who might have that precocious pedigree that says they can win early, who's suited to different surfaces, who might be one that is crying out to get more distance as the 2-year-old season progresses. But when you look at them physically, a lot of times it comes down to the horse who is just the most physically mature, who's the furthest along from that physical standpoint. You can see the other ones are still developing, because the ones that are physically mature, they're just going to be bigger and stronger than their competition.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, Legacy Bloodstock and the Minnesota Racehorse Engagement Project, the writers looked forward to the Saratoga and Del Mar meets before being joined by TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley to reflect on the great Galileo. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The post Maggie Wolfendale Joins Writers’ Room As Show Returns to Studio appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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America’s Day At The Races To Cover Final Three Days Of Belmont Meeting

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air 14.5 hours of coverage Friday through Sunday, coinciding with the final three days of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast at least 4.5 hours of live racing coverage every day on either FS1 or FS2.

The broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races is as follows (all times Eastern):

Friday, July 9
FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 10
FS1: 1 – 3 p.m.
FS2: 3 – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 11
FS2: 12:30 – 4 p.m.
FS1: 4 – 5 p.m.

Friday's program will air the entirety of Belmont's nine-race card that has a 1 p.m. Eastern first post time. The 5.5-hour show will showcase a $94,000 allowance optional claimer in Race 8 for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. Chad Brown, in position to win his sixth consecutive trainer title at the Belmont spring/summer meet, will send out the Irish-bred Group 1-placed Flighty Lady from post 11 in the 12-horse field at 5-2 on the morning line. Trainer Christophe Clement will send out New York-bred stakes winner Classic Lady, listed at 7-2, from the inside post.

Saturday's show will also air the complete Belmont card, which features three graded stakes and another 1 p.m. first post.

An international field will assemble for the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, the opening jewel of the Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies going 10 furlongs on the inner turf, in Race 7 at 4:06 p.m.

Internationally renowned trainer Aidan O'Brien will saddle Santa Barbara, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf-winner Iridessa and 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile victor Order of Australia. Cirona, trained by Christophe Ferland, captured the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte in April at Longchamp and was narrowly defeated in the 10-furlong Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary on soft turf in May at Longchamp. Other contenders include the top-two finishers of last month's Grade 3 Wonder Again, with Con Lima for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and the Clement-trained Plum Ali.

Race 8 at Belmont will feature the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies competing at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track. Reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will saddle a pair of top contenders in the undefeated multiple stakes-winner Australasia and stakes-winner Inject.

The Louisiana-bred Australasia, by Sky Kingdom, bested Victory Ride-rivals Bella Sofia and Miss Brazil in the six-furlong Jersey Girl on June 6 at Belmont. Inject, a bay daughter of Frosted, romped by 5 1/4-lengths last out in the six-furlong Goldfinch on May 15 over a muddy Pimlico main track.

The day's feature will be the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational going 10 furlongs in Race 9 at 5:12 p.m. The first leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomores will be held on the inner turf course, as O'Brien will send out Bolshoi Ballet, who finished seventh as the favorite last out in the Group 1 Epsom Derby. The Galileo bay won both his efforts in 2021 prior to the Epsom Derby. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will be represented by last-out Grade 2 American Turf-winner Du Jour, while Jonathan Thomas will saddle stakes winner Hard Love.

Sunday will close the curtain on the Belmont spring/summer meet and mark the last live race day at a NYRA track until Thursday, July 15, when the 40-day summer meet kicks off at historic Saratoga Race Course, running through Labor Day, September 6.

At Belmont on Sunday, the $100,000 River Memories for older fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf will be the last stakes of the meet.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Saratoga Live Returns With Expanded Coverage On July 15

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and FOX Sports announced Wednesday the return of Saratoga Live, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning television show providing in-depth coverage and analysis of the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, Saratoga Live will provide full card coverage of nearly every race day to a national audience on the FOX Sports family of networks beginning Thursday, July 15. The 2021 summer meet, which will mark the return of fans to Saratoga following the lifting of COVID-19 protocols in New York State, will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28.

Season six of Saratoga Live will offer fans the most extensive and comprehensive coverage yet with more than 220 hours of live programming during the 2021 summer meet, which runs from Thursday, July 15 through Labor Day, Monday, September 6. With the exception of Whitney Day, Runhappy Travers Day and Labor Day weekend, which feature a first post time of 12:30 p.m., Saratoga Live will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Building on their commitment to showcase the finest racing the sport has to offer, FOX broadcast network (FOX) will present a special Opening Weekend show on July 17 highlighted by the 83rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana. For the third consecutive year, FOX will air the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28 as part of 6.5 hours of Runhappy Travers Day coverage on FOX and FOX Sports.

“Nothing tops a summer day at Saratoga,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics. “With the world's greatest racing meet back in front of full crowds, we couldn't be more excited to celebrate with an opening weekend special on FOX featuring the Diana Stakes. Our expanded coverage across FS1 and FS2, bookended with the Runhappy Travers in August, gives horseplayers a full summer of action and highlights our unique partnership with NYRA.”

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration in 2016 during the first season of Saratoga Live, when FS2 aired 80 hours of live coverage of the summer meet. Since then, coverage of horse racing on FOX Sports has grown considerably each year. In 2020, FOX Sports aired more than 700 hours of horse racing coverage and analysis on its family of networks.

In addition to daily national coverage on FOX Sports, 2021 will see the addition of SNY as a regional NYRA broadcast partner. SNY viewers can look forward to eight consecutive weekends of racing from Saratoga, with coverage of Saratoga Live to kick off on Saturday, July 17 and continuing Saturdays and Sundays through August 29.

“The continued growth and expanded reach of Saratoga Live reflects the sustained excellence of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer. “It's our privilege to present the most extensive and comprehensive racing coverage in the country on FOX Sports and SNY, and we are looking forward to a spectacular summer at the Spa.”

In March, FOX Sports and NYRA announced an expanded partnership agreement that established FOX Sports as the official wagering partner of NYRA Bets and extends FOX Sports' television rights agreement with NYRA through 2030. The new agreement ensures at least 700 hours of horse racing coverage on FOX Sports and guarantees that the Runhappy Travers will air on FOX through 2030.

Saratoga Live will again feature a talented broadcast team leveraging a diverse set of experiences to entertain, educate and inform viewers. In 2021, that group includes hosts Greg Wolf and Laffit Pincay III, with analysis and handicapping from Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Courtney, Andy Serling, Paul Lo Duca, Jonathon Kinchen and Michelle Yu. Viewers can look forward to commentary and insights from Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Following his debut as NYRA track announcer in 2020, John Imbriale will again handle the race calling duties at Saratoga.

In yet another expansion to the Saratoga Live schedule, 2021 will see the addition of Saratoga's weekly steeplechase events to the coverage. Generally held as the first race of the card on Wednesdays or Thursdays, these National Steeplechase Association offerings include premier races such as the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial and the Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard (formerly the New York Turf Writers Cup). Joining the Saratoga Live broadcast team in 2021 for steeplechase racing analysis will be Joe Clancy, publisher of the Saratoga Special.

The current 2021 Saratoga Live broadcast schedule can be found at www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

For more information about the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, please visit NYRA.com.

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