Major Standardbred Stakes Races 2008 - October November December

Upcoming Harness Racing Stakes Events $50,000+++

For fans of trotting and pacing races, major harness horse stakes are being held in coming weeks, particularly the Matron Series at Dover Downs November 9th (tonight) and 15th, the $2.4 million Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals on November 15th at Woodbine, and the $4.6 million Breeders Crown races on November 29th at The Meadowlands.

Major Autumn Harness Racing 2008 Stakes Events:


Race Date Track Age, Sex, Gait Name of Race Purse

11/09/08 DOVER DNS 3YO OPEN PACE PROGRESS 350,000
11/09/08 DOVER DNS 3YO FILLY TROT MATRON 229,000
11/09/08 DOVER DNS 3YO C&G TROT MATRON 224,000
11/09/08 DOVER DNS 3YO FILLY PACE MATRON 199,000

11/15/08 DOVER DNS 2YO C&G PACE MATRON 266,000
11/15/08 DOVER DNS 2YO FILLY PACE MATRON 230,000
11/15/08 DOVER DNS 2YO C&G TROT MATRON 224,000
11/15/08 DOVER DNS 2YO FILLY TROT MATRON 194,000

11/15/08 WOODBINE 2YO C&G PACE OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 2YO C&G TROT OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 2YO FILLY PACE OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 2YO FILLY TROT OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 3YO C&G PACE OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 3YO C&G TROT OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 3YO FILLY PACE OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000
11/15/08 WOODBINE 3YO FILLY TROT OSS SUPER FINAL 300,000

11/21/08 FLAMBORO 2YO FILLY PACE TRILLIUM 75,000

11/22/08 WESTERN FAIR 2YO FILLY TROT TRILLIUM 66,000

11/24/08 FLAMBORO 2YO C&G TROT BUD LIGHT STKS 70,000

11/27/08 NORTHLANDS 4YO H&G PACE PRAIRIE GOLD SS 70,000

11/28/08 KAWARTHA 2YO FILLY PACE TRILLIUM 75,000

11/28/08 NORTHLANDS 4YO MARE PACE PRAIRIE GOLD SS 70,000

11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 2YO C&G PACE BREEDERS CROWN 650,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 2YO C&G TROT BREEDERS CROWN 650,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 2YO FILLY PACE BREEDERS CROWN 650,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 2YO FILLY TROT BREEDERS CROWN 650,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO C&G PACE BREEDERS CROWN 500,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO C&G TROT BREEDERS CROWN 500,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO FILLY PACE BREEDERS CROWN 500,000
11/29/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO FILLY TROT BREEDERS CROWN 500,000

11/29/08 NORTHLANDS 3YO FILLY PACE BREEDERS 50,000

11/29/08 WOODBINE 3YO C&G PACE AUTUMN SERIES (ONSS) 52,000

11/30/08 NORTHLANDS 3YO C&G PACE BLACK GOLD SS 70,000

11/30/08 WINDSOR 2YO FILLY TROT TRILLIUM 66,000

12/01/08 WOODBINE 3YO C&G TROT AUTUMN SERIES (ONSS) 50,000

12/05/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO OPEN TROT CHARLES SINGER MEM 50,000

12/06/08 NORTHLANDS 2YO FILLY PACE DEBUTANTE SS 100,000

12/07/08 DOVER DNS 2YO C&G TROT DSBF 100,000
12/07/08 DOVER DNS 2YO FILLY TROT DSBF 100,000

12/07/08 NORTHLANDS 2YO C&G PACE HARVEST GOLD SS 100,000

12/08/08 DOVER DNS 2YO C&G PACE DSBF 100,000
12/08/08 DOVER DNS 2YO FILLY PACE DSBF 100,000

12/13/08 NORTHLANDS 3YO FILLY PACE HERITAGE SS 50,000

12/14/08 NORTHLANDS 3YO C&G PACE ROCKY MOUNTAIN 50,000

12/15/08 DOVER DNS 3YO C&G PACE MATRON 236,000

12/18/08 WOODBINE 3YO FILLY TROT AUTUMN SERIES (ONSS) 50,000

12/19/08 NORTHLANDS 4YO MARE PACE PRAIRIE MAGIC SS 50,000

12/20/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO C&G PACE THE OIL BURNER 50,000

12/20/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO FILLY PACE THE SNOW ANGEL 50,000

12/20/08 NORTHLANDS 3YO FILLY PACE SNOWFLAKE SS 50,000

12/20/08 NORTHLANDS 4YO H&G PACE PRAIRIE MAGIC SS 50,000

12/21/08 NORTHLANDS 3YO C&G PACE SNOWSHOE SS 50,000



November 15th is expected to be the final race of Somebeachsomewhere in Canada, which will be followed for him by the Breeders Crown and potentially the Matron in Dover before heading off to stud at the prestigious Hanover Shoe Farms. It is said that of the farm's 300 well-bred mares, all but 4 represent good crosses for The Beach.

I am hoping that the Breeders Crown final for 3 year old colts and geldings includes all of the top sophomores:

Tier One

Somebeachsomewhere
Art Official
Shadow Play
Badlands Nitro


Tier Two

Santanna Blue Chip
Bullville Powerful
Mucho Sleazy
Keystone Horatio
Blueridge Western
McCedes
Dali


If Breeders Crown day brings us a final with 3 of the top 4 (Art Official is done for the season but will likely come back in the spring), plus another 3 or 4 from the tier two list, then this will be a truly exciting way to finish off a record-breaking year in pacing.

Somebeachsomewhere wins Meadowlands Pace elim in 1:48.3; final is Sat 19JUL

After destroying another quality field and setting a 3 year old and lifetime mark of 1:48.3, Somebeachsomewhwere remains undefeated and will face a stiff test on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. For more info, check this Daily News article by Dave Little below.

later,

Joe Trainor (it's my real name, honest!!!)



Somebeachsomewhere preps for Meadowlands Pace Final

BY DAVE LITTLE, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Even before he stepped on to a track in the United States, the hype had been though the roof. After winning his elimination in an electric 1:48.3 last week, Somebeachsomewhere has done nothing to temper expectations.

Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack is another big step. That's when he faces nine seemingly overmatched foes in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds, the track's signature event (post time, 10:14 p.m.).

There are reasons for the buzz surrounding the son of 2002 Pace winner Mach Three. Last year as a 2-year-old, he won all six of his starts and became the fastest freshman in the sport's history when he won the Metro (at Mohawk Racetrack, near Toronto) in 1:49.3.
He has come back this year perfect in four tries, including a dominant score in the $1.5 million North America Cup (at Mohawk), but was most impressive last week when he ventured outside of his native Canada for the first time in his career.

In his Meadowlands Pace elimination, the Brent MacGrath trainee toyed with his foes - even after being away from the races for a month - winning by 4-1/2lengths in a lifetime-best 1:48.3. His final quarter of :26.2 amazed all who saw it because of a nearly 20-mph wind. MacGrath, who spent $40,000 at auction to acquire the lone tenant in his stable, exuded low-key confidence at the Pace post draw on Tuesday.

"The horse was on a 30-day (layoff), so he's got to be tighter this week," said MacGrath. "I trained him three times total during that month off. He loves to race and he bounced out of this race real sharp."

The three elimination winners got to choose their post positions after drawing lots. Somebeachsomewhere will leave from post two for driver Paul MacDonell (who's been friends with MacGrath for 25 years) and has been installed as the 2-5 favorite on track oddsmaker Dave Brower's morning line.

Share The Delight has the rail and is 10-1 for John Campbell, whose seven Pace victories are by far the most of any driver. Sand Shooter is 8-1 from post three for Tim Tetrick, who guided 2007 Pace winner Southwind Lynx.

Opposing camps have nothing but respect for the likely 1-5 post-time favorite. "I never got to watch (the horse widely recognized as the greatest ever) Niatross race," Tetrick said. "But this is the greatest horse I have ever seen."

"I think Somebeachsomewhere is in a league of his own," said Share The Delight's trainer, Linda Toscano. "But we're sure going to give (beating him) a try."

Three-time Big M driving champion Bill O'Donnell drove Niatross' greatest son, Nihilator, to victory in the 1985 Pace, lowering his sire's stakes-mark of 1:53.1 to a then unheard-of 1:50.3.
"They can't catch (Somebeachsomewhere) to find out if they can look him in the eye and wear him down," said O'Donnell. "He goes :27 quarters like he's walking."

Meadowlands Racetrack Major Standardbred Stakes 2008

Major harness horse stakes races at Meadowlands in 2008, pacers and trotters, January to early August, $100,000 plus::

Day	Date	Purse	E/G	Name of Race	Leg	Gait	Age/Sex
Sat	1/26/2008	$100,000	E	PRESIDENTIAL	LC	F	FFA P
Fri	3/21/2008	$100,000	E	OVERBID	LC	F	FFA M P
Sat	3/22/2008	$100,000	E	MATT'S SCOOTER	LC	F	3 CG P
Sat	3/22/2008	$100,000	E	FOUR LEAF CLOVER	LC	F	3,4,5 P
Fri	5/2/2008	$100,000	E	SU MAC LAD	LC	F	FFA T
Sat	5/10/2008	$225,000	E	BERRY'S CREEK	EC	F	3 OPEN
Sun	5/11/2008	$100,000	E	MATRIARCH	STK		FFA M P
Sat	5/17/2008	$180,000	E	A.J. CUTLER MEMORIAL	EC	F	FFA T
Sat	5/17/2008	$225,000	E	GRADUATE	EC	F	FFA P
Sat	5/31/2008	$200,000	E	MISS NEW JERSEY	STK	F	3 F NJ P
Sat	5/31/2008	$500,000	E	NEW JERSEY CLASSIC	STK	F	3 NJ P
Sat	7/12/2008	$625,000	E	WR HAUGHTON MEM	EC	F	FFA P
Sat	7/12/2008	$100,000	E	PERRETTI MATCHMAKER	STK	INV	M T
Wed	7/16/2008	$125,000	E	COUNTESS ADIOS	EC	DIV	2 F P
Thu	7/17/2008	$125,000	E	NIATROSS	EC	DIV	2 C P
Fri	7/18/2008	$350,000	E	DEL MILLER MEM	EC	F	3 F T
Fri	7/18/2008	$150,000	E	TARPORT HAP	EC	DIV	3 F P
Sat	7/19/2008	$1,000,000	E	MEADOWLANDS PACE	EC	F	3 P
Sat	7/19/2008	$350,000	E	STANLEY DANCER MEM	EC	F	3 T
Thu	7/31/2008	$400,000	E	M. ANNABELLE	EC	F	2 F T
Thu	7/31/2008	$400,000	E	PETER HAUGHTON MEM	EC	F	2 CG T
Fri	8/1/2008	$425,000	E	SWEETHEART	EC	F	2 F P
Fri	8/1/2008	$400,000	E	WOODROW WILSON	EC	F	2 P
Sat	8/2/2008	$350,000	E	MISTLETOE SHALEE	EC	F	3 F P
Sat	8/2/2008	$300,000	E	NAT RAY	INV		FFA T
Sat	8/2/2008	$275,000	E	OW HOLMES	EC	DIV	3 C P
Sat	8/2/2008	$350,000	E	US PACING CHAMPIONSHIP	EC	DIV	FFA P

2008 Meadowlands Standardbred Stakes Races:

from Standardbredcanada.ca

The Big M Releases 2008 Stakes Schedule

The $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday, August 2 and $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday, July 19 headline more than $14 million in stakes scheduled for the 2008 harness meet at The Meadowlands.

The 133-date season kicks off January 2 and runs through August 2, 2008.

"From our popular Winter Series to the rich Championship Meet stakes of the summer, the Meadowlands continues to set the stage for the sport's brightest stars," said Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Tad Stockman. "We are committed to holding the premier events in harness racing and look forward to another spectacular season of racing."

The Hambletonian, paired with the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for fillies, is the sport's premier event for three-year-old trotters on August 2. Sophomore colts also have the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 19, while the fillies have the $350,000 Delvin Miller Memorial on July 18.

In addition to the track's signature event, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, on July 19, three-year-old pacing colts are showcased in the $225,000 Berry's Creek on May 10, $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on May 31, $62,000 Jersey Cup on June 28 and $275,000 Oliver Wendell Holmes on August 2.

The top older trotters and pacers have plenty of rich stakes opportunities before them. The season for veteran trotters begins with the three-week Su Mac Lad Series [April 18, 25 and $100,000 final on May 2], followed by the $180,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial on May 17, the $200,000 Titan Cup on June 28 and $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational on August 2.

The lengthy stakes season for older pacers begins with the three-week Presidential Series [January 12, 19 and $100,000 final January 26] and continues with the $225,000 Graduate on May 17, $625,000 William R. Haughton Memorial on July 12 and $350,000 US Pacing Championship on August 2.

Pacing mares have a variety of Winter Series engagements, as well as the $50,000 Strada Memorial on April 25, $100,000 Matriarch on May 11, $200,000 Lady Liberty on June 13 and $175,000 Golden Girls on August 2.

Their trotting counterparts have the $100,000 Perretti Matchmaker on July 12, as well as the first leg of the Miss Versatility on May 11. [The two subsequent legs of the Miss Versatility will be raced at Vernon and Tioga Downs, while the final will be contested at Delaware, Ohio during Little Brown Jug Week].

The premier events for three-year-old pacing fillies are the $200,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey on May 31, $85,000 Ladyship on June 27, $150,000 Tarport Hap on July 18 and $350,000 Mistletoe Shalee on August 2.

The two-year-old features begin with the Historic Series the week of June 25, the Countess Adios and Niatross the week of July 16 and the quartet of meet-ending stakes: $400,000 Merrie Annabelle [trotting fillies] and $400,000 Peter Haughton Memorial [trotting colts] on July 31, and $425,000 Sweetheart [pacing fillies] and $400,000 Woodrow Wilson [pacing colts] on August 1.

The 133-date meet runs January 2 through Saturday, August 2 with live racing four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday, at 7 p.m.

A limited engagement of Sunday matinees will be added February 10 - March 16, with a 1:10 p.m. post time.

Special matinee cards will be run on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11), Memorial Day (Monday, May 26), Father's Day (Sunday, June 15) and Hambletonian Day (Saturday, August 2). (The Meadowlands)