Pace Night recap and more
by Bob Heyden
With the 49th edition of the Meadowlands Pace in the books, here’s a look at some interesting facts from that night.
1. For the 10th time, a Meadowlands Pace winner was sired by a Meadowlands Pace winner: Nihilator (1985) by Niatross (1980), Mach Three (2002) by Matts Scooter (1988), the trio of Bettors Delight (2001), Holborn Hanover (2004), and Roll With Joe (2011) all by Cams Card Shark (1994), Tall Dark Stranger (2020) by Bettors Delight (2001), A Rocknroll Dance (2012) by Rocknroll Hanover (2005), Control The Moment (2016) by Well Said (2009), and both winners in the past two seasons Legendary Hanover (2024) and Madden Oaks by Huntsville (2017).
2. Yo Tillie dominated again to remain perfect at three-for-three, but she’s not Hambletonian eligible. The Hambletonian Oaks debuted in 1971. Every 3YOFT who has competed since then and been named HOY has raced in either the Hambletonian or the Oaks.
3. Captaintreacherous had three in the Pace and all three cashed: Prince Hal Hanover (placed second), Fallout (fourth), and Captain Optimistic (fifth). His sire Somebeachsomewhere had eight of nine finalists by either a son or a grandson of his.
4. Cameron Capone at 26 is the second youngest Pace winning trainer. Blair Burgess was the youngest from 1987 with Frugal Gourmet at 25 years 10 months. The youngest trainer ever to compete in the Pace, was Marc Fontaine (20) with Forrest Skipper in 1985 who never threatened in the Nihilator year.
5. Yannick Gingras ended the evening at $249.8 million just $127G from becoming the sport’s fourth $250 million driver.
6. Dave Miller was third with Papis Pistol in the 30th anniversary year for him in the Pace. He finished fifth with Cinder Lane Sam (1995) in his debut. At 60, he was vying to become the oldest Pace-winning driver. The two youngest Pace drivers — Braxten Boyd (25) and Todd McCarthy (32) — went 1-2, with a combined age of just 57.
7. Dexter Dunn and Scott Zeron, winners of the past six Driver of the Year awards, are both still searching for that elusive Pace victory.
8. Only two drivers have won the Meadowlands Pace as the active $$ leader in the sport at the time. Billy Haughton in 1978 with Falcon Almahurst and John Campbell starting in 1989 with Dexter Nukes. Dave Miller will try again next year, possibly as the all-time leader just $5.5 million away at the conclusion of Pace night.
9. Twin B Joe Fresh is right back in the winner’s circle after her decisive Dorothy Haughton score. She is a candidate to do what only Adios Butler has accomplished prior, which is be named Horse of the Year at ages 4 and 5. He did it in 1960 and 1961. At $2,588,657 lifetime, she’s got some luminaries coming up in her path, Loyal Opposition ($2,640,935), Bunny Lake ($2,843,476), Burning Point ($2,853,289), and Darlins Delight ($2,901,926).
10. Speaking of defending HOY Twin B Joe Fresh, she is the sixth pacing female to be so honored. All five raced the following year and combined got zero HOY votes in their follow up seasons.
ETCETERA
• Ron Burke is at $355.7 million career; the next three trainers combined are at $335 million.
• July 15, 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the first sub 1:50 trotting mile in Meadowlands history: JL Cruze (1:49.4). John Campbell drove the 4YO for trainer Eric Ell. He’s still at it too now at 14.
• Dunn set the record in 2024 for Breeders Crowns with six and divisional champions with eight. Can he continue on this path? In the Triple Crowns, he’s already won the Yonkers Trot and Messenger and is all but certain to have the Hambletonian favorite.
• July 15 marked 39 years since we lost Billy Haughton at 62 from a racing accident 10 days before at Yonkers. At that time, he was fourth in wins lifetime and third in earnings all time.
• Braxten Boyd is not the only 25-year-old driver to debut in and win the Meadowlands Pace. Tim Tetrick did the same in 2007 with Southwind Lynx.
• Finally, here are some Meadowlands Pace Night fact for the ages. 48 years ago, on the very same July 12, the first Meadowlands Pace was held, won by Escort. After the first two elims were held the only trot of the night was contested and was won by 22-year-old Charlie Connor, Jr. driving Hurricane Star.
“I was driving at Scarborough in Maine and a judge there told me it was time to get my “A” license,” he said. “On Pace Night, I had only had it a couple months. Hurricane Star was a real good one. I have win pictures of him beating Savoir and Mickey Rodney.”
Connor, Jr. is the only driver still active from that entire initial Meadowlands Pace card in 1977.
“I need 29 more for 2,000 wins,” he said. “I guess until I get there [I’ll keep driving].”
