Entries for the first leg of the late-closing exhibition series for trotters racing under saddle are due Monday, July 15 at 9:00 a.m. at The Meadowlands race office
There are currently 19 eligible horses and two supplements to the program. Horses may supplement to the series at a cost of $500, up to the 9:00 a.m. entry time on Monday, July 15 (877-782-2537); after that no further supplements will be accepted.
The first $10,000 leg will take place on Friday, July 19, with a second $10,000 event contested the following Friday, July 26. The top point-earners in preliminary legs will advance to $25,000 final, showcased on harness racing's richest and most prestigious day - the 88th edition of the Hambletonian, Saturday, August 3 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Hambletonian Monte series was made possible through the generous backing of the following sponsors: Jeff Gural’s Allerage Farm, Back On Track Therapeutic Products, Blue Chip Farm, Burke Racing Stable, Global Graphics, Bill Weaver’s Valley High Stable and White Birch Farms.
Monte racing, a hybrid of harness and thoroughbred racing is a popular pari-mutuel sport in Europe, especially in France where many top trotters and drivers compete in both sulky and saddle races.
Pointe Of Honor, who recently rewarded backers with a $226 mutuel while in harness at the Big M, is one of two current supplements to the Hambletonian Monte series. Another notable eligible is Green Day, a winner of $1.2 million, including the Yonkers Trot, a leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.
Additional Monte America races were previously conducted at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Saratoga Harness, Goshen Historic Track and the Afton Fair, New York.
“Jeff Gural’s help in hosting and sponsoring the series at the Meadowlands has been a huge boost in helping to grow Monte racing in the U.S.," said series founder Helene Gregory, who received a President’s Award from the U.S. Harness Writers for her efforts in staging under saddle racing in 2012.
Complete conditions and more information can be found on the Monte America website or on the Hambletonian Society website.
Eligibles to the Monte America series are listed below. Supplements are accepted until Monday, July 15.
Admirable Hanover, Amoreena, Armbro Doyle, Celebrity Playboy, Chinese Cuisine, First Tail U See, Green Day, Hour Lavec, Mado Dream, Majestic Man, Master Pine, Muscolo, My Irish Molly, Rapids N Currents, Ringside Lauryn, Road Rash, TJS Mr Lavec, Waldorf Hall and Winuendo.
Supplements: Pointe Of Honor and Sundance Bayama.
(Hambletonian Society)