All about Adios Day

WASHINGTON, PA, July 25, 2023  — The most exciting aspect of Saturday’s (Jul. 28) Adios Day, of course, will be the race itself when nine of harness racing’s top 3-year-old pacers battle for a purse of $350,000.

To enhance that experience, Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) and the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association (PHRA) have planned a diverse schedule of fun activities, food and beverage specials, and innovative wagers for Adios Day and Adios Eve.

On Adios Eve, beginning at 5:30 PM, the MSOA will stage a Family Fun Night featuring balloon and airbrush tattoo artists as well as a stilt walker. Fans also will enjoy giveaways (while supplies last) and PHRA’s virtual reality simulator (available Adios Day as well). Adios Eve racing includes two Arden Downs Grand Circuit stakes. First post is 5:10 PM.

On Adios Day, The Meadows will offer several attractive dining packages, including the VIP Tent, where $100 admission includes food and two beverage tickets, and Balcony Seating and Buffet in Barstool Sportsbook for $50. In keeping with the traditional color of the Pace for the Orchids, the drink special is Orchid Elixir.

Guest Adios Day participants include a Pennsylvania State Police mounted unit.

Adios Day typically offers innovative, potentially lucrative wagering opportunities, and this 57^th edition of the Pace for the Orchids is no different. The Meadows will offer the “Adios Pick8,” which requires players to correctly pick the winners of eight consecutive races concluding with the Adios in race 15. The base wager is 20 cents with a low takeout of 15 percent.

The Adios Pick8 is structured as must pay, so that if there are no tickets with all eight winners, the pool won’t be carried over. In that case, the ticket-holders with the most correct picks will share the payout, which is guaranteed at $15,000 by The Meadows, the MSOA and the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Initiative.

Also on the wagering front, the Early Pick 5 sports a $5,000 guarantee. And if players are worried about long lines at betting windows, PHRA has a cool alternative. On both Friday and Saturday, PHRA ‘s “Wager Warriors” will be patrolling the apron with mobile terminals to take bets from fans.

All the Adios Day racing action, including five Grand Circuit stakes in addition to the Adios, will be livestreamed, with free access at the MSOA Facebook page and YouTube channel. The livestream show, which begins at 11:45 AM, will be hosted by Meadows race caller Jeff Zidek, prominent harness announcer Gabe Prewitt and PHRA’s Dawnelle Mock.

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association