 THE
MEADOWS
 The Meadows is a harness racing track in Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania. The track
lies on 155 acres of land in the greater Pittsburgh area.
The Meadows has been a popular part of Pennsylvania’s professional sports
scene since its opening in 1963. It holds year-round harness racing that includes
about 225 live racing days.
The Meadows has several off-track locations within the Greater Pittsburgh
area. As such, it’s becoming a key component of the city’s rapidly
expanding entertainment scene.
The Meadows hosts many special events during the year, most notably the Delvin
Miller Adios Week which is a series of major harness stakes races that culminates
with the state’s richest stakes, the $500,000 Adios Pace for the Orchids.
The track is also the home of the Messenger Stake, one of the legs of harness
racing’s Triple Crown. Harness racing’s Triple Crown also includes
the Cane Pace (held at Yonkers Raceway) and the Little Brown Jug (in Delaware,
Ohio).
Other big events hosted by The Meadows include the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes
(PASS), Currier & Ives and the Keystone Classic.
The Meadows Track Facts
| • Speed
Rating |
: |
1:59 |
| • Length
of Homestretch |
: |
608' |
| • Width
of Homestretch |
: |
80' |
| • Starters
behind the gate |
: |
9 |
| • Hubrail |
: |
none |
| • “Open” Stretch |
: |
yes |
| • Grandstand
Capacity |
: |
4,500 |
| • Clubhouse
Capacity |
: |
1,150 |
| • Parking
Capacity |
: |
4,500 cars |
Record
Business |
|
|
| • Handle |
: |
$1,653,961
on August 13, 1994 |
| • Attendance |
: |
14,672 on
August 4, 1975 |
History
1948
- Delvin G. Miller, one of the nation’s top harness racing drivers,
established Meadow Lands Farm in Pennsylvania. He bought Adios as his breeding
stallion. Adios soon became the leading sire in the history of the sport.
1963
- Pari-mutuel betting was legalized in Pennsylvania.
- Miller founded The Meadows harness racing track near his breeding
farm. The facility opened on June 28.
1967
- The inaugural Adios Pace was run.
The Meadows
Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania
Mid 1990s
- The Meadows hit hard by attendance decrease due to presence of slot
machines at tracks near it.
1995
- The Meadows became the home of the prestigious Messenger Stakes, one
of the legs of harness racing’s Triple Crown.
1999
- Hilton Group PLC, the parent firm of Ladbroke USA, put The Meadows
up for sale.
2001
- Magna Entertainment acquired The Meadows.
|
