Arrival of The Meadowlands
It was an Opening Night for the record books.
by Bob Heyden
The Meadowlands opened on Sept. 1, 1976. Why not wait until the 50th anniversary next year to talk about it you ask? Because, that will be a look at the totality of the 50-year phenomenon. Here, today, I want to take you back to that unforgettable Opening Night.
This will be divided into four sections:
1. The Lead-Up
2. The Numbers
3. The Players
4. The Aftermath
Here we go.
THE LEAD-UP
How did we get to Opening Night in 1976 as harness racing took center stage in the New York Metropolitan Area?
“Be There At The Start Of Something Big” was plastered on many a billboard. New Jersey, to put it mildly, was all in. “The Swamp,” was, $300-million-plus later, a burgeoning new facility able to put on the grandest of all shows, with a football stadium within shouting distance. At least this was the plan. Just nine years earlier the tiny municipality of Secaucus had turned down (vote 2,926-2,495) a potential $20 million “Trotting Palace” that was in the works.
Quoting Charlie Leerhsen from Hoof Beats that first year, “Not long ago the Jersey Complex marinated in equal parts opposition and misunderstanding. The Sports Authority had found it impossible to sell the bonds behind their unprecedented venture without a “moral pledge” from the Governor [Brendan Byrne] to make good on all investments. But that vital guarantee, written in the form of a legislative act, had stalled in the Trenton State House. Right up to the morning of the vote, the lawmakers appeared equally divided on the advisability of legislating themselves into the sports business. Early in their debate, however, a parade of well-dressed demonstrators poured noisily down State Street. They massed on the capitol steps with signs saying, “Pass the Pledge,” and horse-shaped badges saying, “YES.” A few brought live horses which they sent grazing onto the lawns. One of them drove a covered wagon. This was ‘Abbatiello’s Army’ [That would be Anthony] of the New Jersey SBOA [Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association] and they came laden with memories. A little while later, they emerged victorious, by two votes.”
THE NUMBERS
They were coming from everywhere to race at this brand-spanking new facility in East Rutherford, NJ.
The 10 horses in race 1 had raced at eight different track last out and it was a grand total of 20 different racetracks for the entire 10-race card.
Lew Williams had the most drives, seven, and became the first driver to win from post 10, with Moondowner in the fifth ($28.60).
The Meadowlands was advertised as being four miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel and eight miles from the George Washington Bridge.
Jim King, Jr. who drove Butlers Waverly (fourth in race 4 at 18-1), at 24 years of age was the youngest driver on the card; 21-year-old John Campbell was two years away from his Big M debut.
The clocking for race 1 by Quick Baron was 1:57.2. That was the new New Jersey standard down from Albatross’ 1:57.3, a Freehold track record set four years earlier. That would be lowered to 1:55.3 by Rambling Willie just a few hours later.
The Opening Night announced attendance was 42,133, hardly taking into account the tramplers and fence-busters; 35,000 was the proposed capacity.
All 10,000 seats were sold by 6:45 p.m., with $1.75 admission, $3.00 clubhouse, and $1.50 additional seating.
Posts 5 and 6, todays primo starting spots, were blanked.
Belmont Park drew 17,585 that afternoon and handled on-track $2,476,565. The new Meadowlands handled $2,446,955.
Cat Manzi won twice, but at Monticello (Blue Gum and Donna Lee Knight). He was 26 days from his first Meadowlands win, Regal Contessa on Sept. 27.
There were picketers outside on Opening Night. Signs like “Giants Play We Pay.” This was a reference to the new Giants Stadium which held 78,143 and was to be funded by the racetrack in large part. At that point The Meadowlands was not paying taxes either to the state or the local community.
Yonkers drew 11,783 that night which was off from their Wednesday average of 13,589. Freehold that afternoon had 2,951 in the building and Monticello had 4,219.
The first meeting went 102 nights straight through to New Year’s Eve, then 181 in 1977 to give an aggregate 283 nights with $507,280,266 bet, averaging 17,213 per evening who wagered $1,792,510. There were 560 two-minute miles and the average nightly purse distribution was $110G.
Jim Larente won the second (Royal Bret, $6.60) and third races (Frankie P, $18.60) to briefly take over the leading driver award from Ray Remmen.
Post time was 8 p.m. with a 10-race card, and a fully enclosed grandstand.
The prior state record for attendance was 15,747 at Freehold in 1964. The prior state handle record was $1,105,326 set at Freehold that was erased by that night’s fifth race ($1,363,104).
Napal Dew was the runner-up in the opener to Quick Baron, a sign of things to come. Nobody raced at The Meadowlands in the ’70s more than he did. Not coincidentally, the Greg Wright barn led the trainer standings all four of those ’70s seasons.
There were six sub two-minute miles, some minor tote board issues during the evening, and for the very first time, a gate with 10 across and a mile track in New Jersey.
THE PLAYERS
Eight different Hall of Famers hit the board that night: Ray Remmen, Joe O’Brien, Ed Lohmeyer, Billy Haughton, Buddy Gilmour, Bob Farrington, Herve Filion, and Del Miller.
Ken McNutt, who lived five miles away, said, “We left at 6:20 and the traffic was so bad I had to walk the last mile. I was in the third race. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made it to the paddock on time.”
Note: McNutt’s quote is from the 1980s, and it should be mentioned it was McNutt who drove the first sub 1:55 Meadowlands winner, Meadow Blue Chip in June 1977.
Sonny Werblin was the chairman of the Sports Authority, remember he also opened Shea Stadium 12 years earlier in Flushing, NY.
Six Dancers raced at The Meadowlands in Year 1, but just Stanley for the opener (fifth, Bret John). The others were Donald, Harold Sr., Vernon, Sonny and Ron.
The late Terry Morgan competed at The Meadowlands that week and in 2025, the only one to do both.
The oldest driver on the card was Del Miller at 63.
Lou Guida also was in action with Double Allegaroo, ninth in race 9.
Eb Mahar was the paddock judge, Bob Quigley the general manager, Joe DeFrank the director/secretary of standardbred racing, Ed Gorman the track announcer, and Jack Cleary the program director.
THE AFTERMATH
The headline on front page of the Sept. 2, 1976 New York Daily News: “50,000 Mob Meadowlands, Yonkers Sags To 11,783”.
Night 2 in 1976 was interesting. B Gs Bunny was the first 2YO winner, and 10 months later the 3YO world record setter at 1:54 flat, and Savoir set a trio of firsts: the first trotter to win in East Rutherford, the first victory for 21YO Peter Haughton, and first HOY (1975) to compete at the new facility.
There were 278 drivers in total and 336 trainers that competed at the new oval in Year 1. The only teen to win was Mark O’Mara, 19, who went 2-6-4 in 37 starts.
Young Quinn was third in the feature on Opening Night to Rambling Willie and Nero, but 24 days later he was the very first winner in 1:55 with Joe Marsh, Jr.
Mike Lachance cameo’d in East Rutherford in the first season: 10 1-2-1.
And finally, file this one in the “old habits die hard” basket, the New York Daily News had The Meadowlands results in full on Sept. 2, 1976, but upon a closer look they included on races 6, 7, 9, and 10, the corresponding letter (think NYC OTB) next to the number:
6th (H)-8 Rambling (D)-4 Willie Nero (C)-3 Young Quinn
7th (I)-9 Ammo (A)-1 Honeyrob (C)-3 Full Dress
9th (B)-2 Andy Lobell (H)-8 Pickwick Baron (F)-6 Mr Overnite
10th (C)-3 Winthrop Lobell (F)-6 Spud Express (E)-5 Flying Dream N
