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Meadows riding high heading toward its 50th

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Trainers put horses through their training regimen at The Meadows early Friday.

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A view from inside the grandstand of trainers and drivers pacing their horses around the track at The Meadows Friday morning.

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A view of the Meadows racetrack from the parking garage next to the casino

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Friday marks the 50th birthday of The Meadows racetrack in North Strabane Township.

If you are entertaining thoughts of entertainment, Sean Sullivan has a location that has an abundance.

“We pride ourselves as a one-destination entertainment complex,” said the vice president and general manager at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Sullivan’s message is to let us entertain you with quality harness racing, casino gambling, concerts and more. Those options are available all years, but are more prevalent and resonate stronger during this milestone summer.

Friday will be the 50th birthday of the iconic harness facility in North Strabane Township. Spearheaded by legendary horseman Delvin Miller and his partners in the Washington Trotting Association, and amid a backdrop of widespread public dissent, The Meadows in 1963 became the first parimutuel horse track to open in Western Pennsylvania.

Any golden anniversary is worthy of celebration, and Meadows officials have amped up the festivities. And they are plentiful this week.

Events are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Each night they will include a disc jockey playing 1960s music; 1963 trivia with prizes; a cookout in the Miller Tent; videos of top track moments on the infield matrix board; and a complimentary 50th anniversary journal.

There also will be birthday cake available Wednesday.

Friday’s card is a little more extensive, highlighted by recognition of horsemen, horsewomen and track personnel with 50 years of service.

There also will be 1963 pricing on some food and beverage items; jog cart rides and paddock tours from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association; archival footage and still shots of track construction and Miller on the matrix board; and a separate recognition of state, Washington County and local governments.

The post time Friday will be 8:20 p.m., as it was 50 years ago. Wednesday and Thursday will have the usual evening post time of 6:55 p.m.

Saturday should be a pip of an evening as Gladys Knight and the band The O’Jays will perform starting at 8.

The Meadows’ concert series, kicked off by Weird Al Yankovic June 1, will resume Aug. 3 with country star Ronnie Dunn and conclude Aug. 17 with comedian/actor/master storyteller Bill Cosby.

Go to www.meadowsgaming.com for more information.

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