Here’s a tip of the hat to the Garden State.
New Jersey commands the harness racing-industry spotlight Oct. 25-26 by hosting the high-profile Breeders Crown. The sport’s greatest weekend features more than $7.2 million in purses and unfolds at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford – its top North American venue.
The Big M, as the Meadowlands is popularly known, will thus host the harness-racing equivalent of a golf major or the Super Bowl.
Two nights. Twelve championship races. The crowning of a dozen yearlong champions.
This caps a blockbuster special-events year at the Meadowlands, which hosted the Hambletonian in early August, paying out over $3.5 million in purses. The Breeders Crown is essentially the Hambletonian times two – both in terms of NJ horse betting purses and prestige.
You’ve heard of the Breeders’ Cup – what about the Breeders Crown?
This event is an annual set of harness races in the United States and Canada, covering each of the sport’s 12 categories of age, gait, and gender.
The series was initiated by the Hambletonian Society, promoters of the Hambletonian Stakes, in 1984. It was launched to promote the sport by providing a lucrative, high-profile championship race in each of these categories.
The races were considered a year-end championship in each division, providing a culmination to the entire racing season.
They also mirrored what the thoroughbred horse-racing industry had done by launching the Breeders’ Cup in 1984. That event has grown into a staggering $31 million, two-day annual affair. It will take place at Del Mar in California on Nov. 1-2.
For its first 15 years, the Breeders Crown occurred at several tracks across North America.
After a 1998 appearance at Colonial Downs near Richmond, Virginia, the series has rotated between a few facilities. They include the Meadowlands Racetrack; Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania; Harrah’s Hoosier Park; and both the Woodbine Racetrack and Mohawk racetrack outside of Toronto.
Since 2010, all races in each edition have been held at one track.
Setting up the 2024 Breeders Crown
With still 10 days left until the 2024 Breeders Crown, we still await the official draw for the 12 championships.
However, we know what to expect in terms of schedule:
| Friday, Post Time 6:20 p.m. | Saturday, Post Time 6:20 p.m. |
|---|---|
| $700,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Colt Trot | $400,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot |
| $700,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Pace | $400,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace |
| $700,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Colt Pace | $600,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace |
| $700,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot | $600,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Colt Pace |
| $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace | |
| $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot | |
| $600,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot | |
| $600,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Colt Trot |
Every one of these events is among the biggest for the entire sport.
Placing them together not only creates destination demand for the Big M, but it figures to entice substantial betting, consumer spending and tax revenue for the Garden State.
Promotional lineup for 2024 Breeders Crown
Both race nights feature special promotions and events to complement the great on-track racing action.
According to the Meadowlands, Friday promotions include a $1,200 Halloween costume contest, with the winner taking home $500. Folks can sign up from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse Lobby, and judging will take place following Race 4.
And it’s not just one prize for one winner:
- 1st place: $500
- 2nd place: $250
- 3rd place: $100
- 4th place: $50
- Bonus categories: $100 for scariest; $100 for funniest; $100 for best horse-themed costume
In addition, guests who use any self-service tote machine between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. are eligible to win cash vouchers. Throughout the night, lucky individuals will see a random voucher printed after you place a wager, with value ranging from $2 to $500.
On Saturday, there will be a $1,200 Breeders Crown hat contest. Similar to the costume contest, you can sign up Saturday in the Clubhouse Lobby between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Winners will be announced after Race 4. The prizes are identical to the costume contest.
Finally, the racetrack will also hold a $10,000 handicapping contest. After purchasing a $100 betting card, contestants must bet on a minimum of five Meadowlands races. The biggest winner will be, well, the biggest winner:
- 1st place: $2,500
- 2nd place: $2,000
- 3rd place: $1,250
- 4th place: $1,000
- 5th place: $750
- 6th-10th places: $500
Late-season horse racing blitz
New Jersey racing fans marked their calendars for three straight weekends of high-level action. And they’re sure getting it in October.
The boutique Monmouth-at-Meadowlands thoroughbred meet concludes Oct. 18 with a six-race, all-turf card. First race post time is 7 p.m.
Harness racing resumes on Saturday, Oct. 19.
The Breeders Crown weekend follows. And then, the culmination of it all: the Breeders’ Cup one weekend later.
