The Pitt Park racecourse near to the city of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania opened for racing on 28th June 1963, delighted that many of the States top drivers had come to support the inaugural harness race meeting at the track. The racecourse was a 5 furlong oval dirt track with a 173 metre home straight, and racing was administered by the Pitt Park Racing Association who staged all meetings between 1st September and Christmas Day. Harness racing continued for 8 years, despite thoroughbred racing being allowed in the State since 1968. The racecourse was situated at The Meadows in the Meadowlands region of the State, and in 1971 the track was upgraded to include a 6 ½ furlong chute to facilitate thoroughbred sprint races. By 1972 the venue had been granted 98 racing days per year, although alarmingly crowds decreased and the track decided to end the season prematurely on 18th November 1972, leading to the decision to return to full time harness racing in 1973. Today it can boast upwards of 225 race meetings annually; its principal races are the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and the Keystone Classic. However, the most important race it hosted was the Messenger Stakes between 1995 and 2003 which, along with the Little Brown Jug and the Cane Pace, form the Triple Crown of Harness racing. In 2004 the race was moved to Harrington Raceway in Delaware before relocating to its current home at Yonkers.

Messenger Stakes winners when held at The Meadows between 1995 and 2003
1995 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Davids Pass trained by Brett Pelling and ridden by John Campbell
1996 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Go For Grins trained by Chris Ryder and ridden by Dave Palone
1997 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Western Dreamer trained by Nathaniel Varty and ridden by Michel Lachance
1998 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Fit For Life trained by Brett Pelling and ridden by John Campbell
1999 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Blissfull Hall trained by Benjamin Wallace and ridden by Ronald Pierce
2000 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Aint No Stoppin trained by Joe Holloway and ridden by John Campbell
2001 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Bagel Beach Boy trained by Jim Campbell and ridden by Luc Ouellette
2002 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by Allamerican Ingot trained by Robert McIntosh and ridden by David Miller
2003 The Messenger Stakes over 8 furlongs was won by No Pan Intended trained by Ivan Sugg and ridden by David Miller

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses