by Bob Heyden

John Campbell has seven wins in the Meadowlands Pace. Tim Tetrick is trying for his seventh Pace victory on Saturday (July 13) to equal what once seemed completely unapproachable.

Here are seven fun facts that compare the No. 1 and No. 3 money-winning drivers of all time in The Meadowlands signature race.

1. Campbell’s seven came with: Hilarion (1982) for Jerry Silverman, Dexter Nukes (1989) for George Gilmour, Cam’s Card Shark (1994) for Bill Robinson, David’s Pass (1995) for Brett Pelling, The Panderosa (1999) also for Pelling, and finally No. 7 came in 2002 with Mach Three for Monte Gelrod. Tetrick’s half dozen started in his 2007 debut try with Southwind Lynx for George Teague. His second came three years later in 2010, edging by John Campbell and Rock N Roll Heaven with One More Laugh for Ray Schnittker. His third came in 2013 when Captaintreacherous dominated. The very next year, and still the fastest Pace ever, he won with He’s Watching in 1:46.4. In 2017 he won again for Schnittker with the outstanding Huntsville, and he scored comfortably in 2023 with HOY Confederate.

Campbell also won the Pace with a HOY, Cams Card Shark (1994). Both Campbell and Tetrick won for Pelling, their only common trainer.

2. When Campbell won his last Pace in 2002, he also won his final money title (No. 16). At that point Campbell owned the top six money-winning seasons ever. Currently, Tim Tetrick owns six of the top eight money-winning seasons.

3. Both drivers won the Pace before and after going into the Hall of Fame.

4. Campbell was history’s first driver to reach $100 million, $200 million and $250 million. Tetrick is the youngest driver to $100 million, $200 million and $250 million.

5. Both won the Meadowlands Pace back-to-back, both times with favorites. Campbell did it in 1994-95 with Cams Card Shark and David’s Pass and Tetrick did it in 2013-14 with Captaintreacherous and He’s Watching.

6. When Campbell won his seventh Pace (2002) he owned the two fastest Pace wins ever to that point, 1:49.3 with both The Panderosa and Mach Three. Tetrick currently owns the two fastest Pace wins ever with Confederate last year in 1:47 only a fifth-of-a-second off He’s Watching from 2014 (1:46 4).

7. Campbell holds the all-time record for consecutive Pace final drives at 30 (1981-2010). This year, Tetrick will go in his 18th straight, the second longest streak.

MEADOWLANDS PACE BY THE NUMBERS

Here are some Pace stats that could change depending on who wins this year’s 48^th edition.

SIX BY SIX

Six Meadowlands Pace winners have been sired by a Meadowlands Pace winner: Nihilator (1985) by 1980 winner Niatross, Mach Three (2002) by 1988 winner Matt’s Scooter, Holborn Hanover (2004) by 1994 winner Cams Card Shark, Roll With Joe (2011) by 1994 winner Cams Card Shark, A Rocknroll Hanover (2013) by 2005 winner Rocknroll Hanover, and Control The Moment (2016) by 2009 winner Well Said.

SWEET 16

Sixteen of the 47 editions of the Meadowlands Pace had a Horse of the Year in there, including twice with two. In 1985, Nihilator was first and Forrest Skipper 10^th and in 1991 Precious Bunny was first with Artsplace second (1992). Nihilator and Precious Bunny were HOY the same year they won the Pace, while Forrest Skipper and Artsplace did it the following year.

MORE FOR 24?

Nijinsky will be the 24th winner of the North America Cup who will attempt to double up in the Meadowlands Pace. The combined slate reads 23 10-3-1.

A PERFECT THREE?

Nijinsky will attempt to be just the third undefeated 3YO to capture the Meadowlands Pace. He’s 6-6 in 2024. Captaintreacherous was 5-5 in 2013 and Tall Dark Stranger was 2-2 in 2020.

18 STRAIGHT

In 2024, Tim Tetrick will drive in his 18th consecutive Pace final. Yannick Gingras is in his 17th. The last Pace not with both was 2007, Tetrick’s debut. John Campbell holds the all-time record for consecutive Pace drives with 30 (1981-2010).

ONE NOT DONE

Nijinsky was 1-for-10 as a 2-year-old. He’s not the first to enter the Pace with a less than stellar 2YO tally. In 1977 Escort won the first Pace despite an 0-15 freshman slate, Art Official was also 0-15 at 2 before turning the tables on Somebeachsomewhere in 2008, and Precious Bunny was just 1-14 in 1990 before posting the first sub 1:50 Pace (1:49.4) defeating Artsplace in 1991.

24-FOR-47

Twenty-four of the 47 editions of the Pace went to the favorite with Confederate putting that number over 50 per cent last year. Thirty seven of 47 favorites have hit the board, just a touch under 80 per cent.

11 AND COUNTING

It’s been 11 years since a first crop sire has won the Meadowlands Pace. Somebeachsomewhere was the last to do it in 2013 when his son Captaintreacherous won the Pace. This year Captain Crunch will try to duplicate that with a pair in Gem Quality and Number Cruncher.

NEW NUMBER TWO

Tim Tetrick passed Ron Pierce as No. 2 on the all-time earnings list in Pace history with a victory in 2023 with Confederate. Pierce was had a record of 20 4-2-1 with $2.7 million while Tetrick now is 17 6-1-3 with $2.9 million.

SIX FOR THE MONEY

All six sires in the 2024 Pace final raced in this race and got money. Always B Miki (Its Saturday Night) was second in 2014, Bettors Delight (Nijinsky, Mirage Hanover) was second in 2001, Captain Crunch (Gem Quality, Number Cruncher) was fourth in 2024, Captaintreacherous (Captain’s Quarters, Captain Albano, Captain Luke) win in 2013, Huntsville (Legendary Hanover) won in 2017 and He’s Watching (Funtime Bayama) won in 2014 in a stake’s best 1:46.4.