CAPONE REFLECTS ON UNCONVENTIONAL BIG M PACE WIN

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 17, 2025 -- His horse didn’t cross the finish line first, but that was OK with trainer Cam Capone, whose Madden Oaks was placed first after Prince Hal Hanover was disqualified and placed second in Saturday (July 12) night’s $656,000 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds at The Meadowlands.

“Going into the race, I thought the only horse that could beat me was Prince Hal Hanover,” said the 26-year-old conditioner. “It’s too bad Todd [McCarthy, driving Prince Hal Hanover] didn’t give everybody a fair run. I think we were going by, but I think sometimes, you never really know.”

As the judges looked at the stretch drive time and time again after the conclusion of the 49^th edition of The Big M’s signature event with Madden Oaks trying to squeeze through inside of Prince Hal Hanover, the longer they examined the tape, the more the feeling in the crowd was that there was likely to be a disqualification. The fans were somewhat accustomed to that type of result, as there was also a DQ just four years ago in the 2021 Pace, when Charlie May was taken down and Lawless Shadow put up.

“Braxten [Boyd, driving Madden Oaks] and I both knew there was interference,” said Capone. “My horse actually caught his right hind leg on Todd’s wheel disc, and that’s when my horse put in three or four bad steps.”

It wasn’t the way Capone wanted to win. He thought he had the best horse. He may have. But we’ll never know for sure if he was in the Meadowlands Pace.

“Once you come off the turn, as a driver, you are supposed to pick your lane,” said Capone. “You can adjust your lane, but once you are committed to your lane, you have to stay where you are. Todd was three-wide into the stretch, [but nearing the wire] Braxten had to check our horse.

“Once Todd picked his lane, he drove Braxten down. There was enough room for Braxten to get through, but then Todd threw his bike underneath us. That’s when the interference became a real thing. Todd went into Braxten’s path. I think where we really got him, is when his bike went into our path, that’s when they said he’s coming down for sure.

“It’s not the way you want to win it, but I’ll take it. It’s one of those things. You’d rather win it the right way, but when you’re not capable of winning it the right way, you’ll take it.”

With the victory, Madden Oaks lifted his lifetime stats to five wins from 11 starts, good for earnings of $525,567 for owners Samir Tawil, Paul Kautz, Alexander Henn and Nathan Fullmer. The son of Huntsville-Hard Eight has never failed to hit the board.

In the Pace, Madden Oaks paid $15.20 as the 6-1 fifth choice despite starting out as the morning-line favorite at 5-2. Prince Hal Hanover was sent off as the 9-5 public choice for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, whose Lawless Shadow was put up four years before seeing his horse come down this time around.

For Capone, the trip in the Pace was ideal.

“Once Todd made the lead, giving us a two-hole trip, I thought I was going to win this thing,” said Capone. “It was a good situation to be in. It was a good race. My horse came out of it good. Now, he gets a two-week vacation.”

What lies ahead for Madden Oaks?

“The [Aug. 2] Cane Pace at The Meadowlands is next,” said Capone. “He’s got the New York Sire Stakes, the Empire Breeders, the New Jersey Classic, if we want to do that. Then, the Bluegrass, Tattersalls, Breeders Crown, Matron and Progress. There'll be no Little Brown Jug. He’s too big for a half-mile track. We were invited to the Milstein, but it’s not his style of racing.”

SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS: The seventh edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place on Friday (July 18), offering players a chance to win a share of $1,000 in prize money.

Contest format:

·         Contestants must be on-site to participate

·         Contestants must buy a $100 betting card to participate

·         Contestants must bet a minimum of five Meadowlands races

·         There is no minimum or maximum bet per race

·         Contestants can play any wager(s) on The Meadowlands live wagering menu

·         Contestants keep all pari-mutuel winnings

·         Contestants can enter as many times as they wish

·         The top two finishers earn spots in the $10,000 end-of-the-year contest

Remaining contest schedule:

·         Friday, July 18

·         Saturday, August 30

·         Saturday, October 25

·         Friday, November 21

·         The $10,000 invitation-only final is on Saturday, December 13

Previous players that have qualified for the December contest are Nick Montemurro and Gary Scogna (the top two finishers from January); Michael Grasso and Montemurro (February); Sean Loebs and Joe Barre (March); Robert Glaser and Jim Bohnarczyk (April); Karen Fossli and Russ Slader (May); and Del Kern and Scogna (June).

Complete contest rules and regulations can be found here.

To participate, players must be 18 years of age or older to wager on racing. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please get help at 1-800-GAMBLER.

BIG M STILL FOXY: Just because the Meadowlands Pace is over, that doesn’t mean the national television coverage of harness racing stops.

For a fifth consecutive year, the TV teams at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Meadowlands are combining forces to bring high-caliber harness racing stakes events to a coast-to-coast audience over the networks of FOX Sports as part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” telecasts.

The next broadcast will be Hambletonian Day, Saturday, Aug. 2, when the 100^th edition of the $1-million Hambletonian can be seen in the New York-Metropolitan area on FOX 5 New York. There will be coverage of “America’s Trotting Classic” throughout the day, before the big event is televised live. The show will feature racing from Saratoga Race Course

Here is the schedule for the remaining FOX Sports shows, with the event(s) that will be featured and the time the show will be broadcast. Which FOX network the show can be found on – Fox 5 New York (locally), FS1 or FS2 – will be determined:

·         August 2 – Hambletonian 100 coverage throughout the day on FS1 from 1-4:30 p.m.; then watch the Hambletonian live on FOX 5 at 4:30 p.m.

·         September 5 – New Jersey Classic Series finals, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         November 1 – Kindergarten finals, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         November 15 – Fall Final Four, 8-11 p.m., TBA

THEY ARE FA-REEE! To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free program pages for every race of every race card on its website.

Go to playmeadowlands.com, then click on the “news” dropdown to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.

WHEN IS LIVE RACING? During the month of July, live racing at The Big M will be conducted every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post-time of 6:20 p.m.

TWO WEEKS TO HAMBO DAY: The biggest date on the 2025 calendar at The Meadowlands is coming up soon.

On Saturday, Aug. 2, the 100^th edition of the $1-million Hambletonian will highlight the strongest program of the year in the sport. The only card during the season that takes place during the day, post time on Hambo Day is noon.

This is the list of stakes that will be contested that day (with estimated purses):

·         $1,000,000 Hambletonian

·         $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks

·         $260,000 Cane Pace

·         $100,000 Shady Daisy

·         $300,000 John Cashman Memorial

·         $150,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial

·         $275,000 Sam McKee Memorial

·         $175,000 Lady Liberty

·         $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final (2-year-old colt and gelding trot)

·         $240,000 New Jersey Siren Stakes final (2-year-old filly trot)

CATCH THE SHOW: Check out the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show this Friday and Saturday when track announcer Ken Warkentin opens up the mic with a scene set and program changes at 5:45 p.m.

At that point, Warkentin will then throw to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set, where The Big M’s Dave Little and Jessica Otten will provide news, notes, selections and a look at the night’s featured races.

Joe Romanelli, the former track announcer at Freehold Raceway and the current voice of the qualifiers and baby races at The Big M, will be handling interviews from the back paddock as well as providing commentary and selections on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed.

PLAY HORSEPLAY, WIN A CAR: The extremely popular Horseplay Car Giveaway is winding its way toward the payoff.

When there is live racing, fans can get involved by picking up a free toy horse to toss. Participants attempt to throw their numbered horse into the window of a moving car. A winner, randomly chosen from all the horses that make it into the vehicle, will receive a $100 betting voucher. The 27 winners will be entered into the Horseplay final drawing on Friday, Aug. 1, for a chance to win a 2025 Toyota GR86. 

SOCIALLY SUPERIOR: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

Stay in touch with The Big M talent trio of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

A GREAT NIGHT OUT: Looking to book a corporate event or private party? The Meadowlands has unlimited event possibilities. The redesigned Gallery with multiple TVs, private bar and balcony overlooking the FanDuel Sportsbook is perfect for game days, watch parties and more.

To book your private party, email alokshin@playmeadowlands.com.

FANDUEL IS NO. 1: Meadowlands regulars know that if they want action on professional and college sports, all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the No. 1 facility of its kind in all of North America.

It couldn’t be easier to access, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Big M.

The book has massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, which enable fans to watch and wager in comfort while having some great food and drink.

On Thursday (July 17), golf fans get to bet on a major as the 153^rd British Open gets underway.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, is the favorite to win the tournament at +450. He is followed by Rory McIlroy (+700), Jon Rahm (+1200), Bryson DeChambeau (+2000) and Xander Schauffele (+2500).

Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open for business Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. – midnight.