Trotting's Richest Race

The Messenger Stake for 3-year-old pacers. Named for the English-bred Messenger, progenitor of practically all harness horses racing today, who died in 1808.

PLACE: Roosevelt Raceway, N.Y.
DATE: July 4
TELEVISION: 10-10:30 p.m. E.D.T., ABC (coast-to-coast except New
York).
TOTAL PURSE: $150,000.
DISTANCE: 1 mile

QUALIFYING TRIALS: Friday, June 27. First leg of pacing's Triple Crown, which also includes the Little Brown Jug and the Yonkers Futurity.

THE FAVORED FIVE: Thorpe Hanover, O'Brien Hanover (Del Miller entry); Shadow Wave, Raider Frost ( Joe O'Brien entry); Adios Paul ( Johnny Simpson).