Big Event? No Rush

Update: As of 4pm this afternoon, the program for the Meadowlands is available at Trackmaster's website. The Meadows program is still not available.

With excitement building towards this weekend's Adios at the Meadows and the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks eliminations at the Meadowlands, I wanted to get a head start on my handicapping. So, this morning I went to the Trackmaster website to download the programs hoping to spend today working on my selections. One problem, the programs are not yet available.

As you may know, each racetrack has their own rules for declaring in to a particular day's races, many using the three day entry rule. For example, for Saturday's Meadowlands card you needed to declare in by Tuesday morning at 10:00am. All driver changes and scratches needed to be in last night by 10:00pm. At the Meadows, declarations for Saturday's card needed to be made by Wednesday morning at 10:00am with all driver changes due this morning by 10:00am. As a result, the earliest we will be seeing the programs is Thursday afternoon.

You would think for special racing programs like these, racetracks would adjust their declaration dates and draws so program information is available as soon as possible so fans can spend as much time as they would like on their handicapping. After all, doesn't it make sense if you want to increase interest (and betting handle) for your premier events, that you would get the program information out as quick as possible? In Sweden, they make the V75 program information available to the public four days before the actual race, wouldn't you think we could do the same thing here?

Yes, it may be a little inconvenient for the horsemen and the race office, but aren't harness racing's patrons and fans worth it?


With all the excitement regarding the Adios final and the Hambletonian and Oaks eliminations, under the radar is the $200,000 Golden Girls FFA for Pacing Mares at the Meadowlands as well as two divisions of the Adios Volvo for three year old pacing fillies at the Meadows. On different days, these races would be drawing attention. If you get a chance, watch them. They should be good events.