BECKWITH TO MAKE RETURN TONIGHT AT BIG M
Fans of Brett Beckwith will be able to wager on their favorite driver Thursday (June 11) night at The Meadowlands, when the 23-year-old pilot makes his return to the races earlier than originally anticipated after suffering a brain injury, broken jaw and broken wrist in a spill at Saratoga on April 12 ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- June 11, 2026 -- Fans of Brett Beckwith will be able to wager on their favorite driver Thursday (June 11) night at The Meadowlands, when the 23-year-old pilot makes his return to the races earlier than originally anticipated after suffering a brain injury, broken jaw and broken wrist in a spill at Saratoga on April 12.
The Big M is racing this week on Thursday and Friday (June 12). There is no live racing on Saturday (June 13) due to a World Cup soccer match at New Jersey New York Stadium (aka MetLife Stadium).
“I trained a couple and biked up a couple last week,” said Beckwith, who led The Big M with 146 wins during 2025. “But Thursday will be my first time driving in parimutuel races. To be honest, I’m excited. It's been a while.”
That’s because Thursday will mark almost two months to the day since Beckwith had to go to the sidelines. His Thursday return is approximately one month earlier than he expected.
“I'm happy with the way everything is going (with my recovery),” said Beckwith. “Just the way everything's healed. Every time I went in for an x-ray, everything was good. And I was super diligent in taking care of myself during the time away.”
Beckwith said he attended “eight or nine” therapy sessions and did plenty on his own at home to earn the blessing of his doctor to return to work.
Beckwith’s 73 wins still have him in the top spot in The Big M driver colony, but the red-hot Joe Bongiorno is nipping at his heels, with 71.
“It'll be fun and interesting (to compete with Joe for the top spot),” said Beckwith. “I mean, I'm just happy to be back and whatever happens, happens.”
Not surprisingly, Beckwith will come back and go right to warp speed, the only speed he knows.
“On Thursday, I think I have 13 drives at The Meadowlands,” said Beckwith. “Then, Meadowlands on Friday, Saturday in the Poconos, Sunday Saratoga, and then Monday and Tuesday at Plainridge. I’m getting right back to it.”
CHALK TALK: The Meadowlands has long been known as a place where players can bet against favorites with confidence, and when one takes a look at other North American harness tracks, that is once again the case thus far in 2026.
Currently, chalk at The Big M reports home first at a rate of 40.8 percent.
Every other harness track of note has a percentage of winning favorites higher than that of The Meadowlands: Hoosier Park (45.9), Philadelphia (46), Meadows (48.9), Monticello (48), Mohawk (46.8), Northfield (46.2), Oak Grove (48.7), Plainridge (48.6), Pocono (44.7), Saratoga (47.9), Scioto (44) and Yonkers (46.2).
27TH HEAVEN? The remarkable On To Norway will be at The Big M Friday night in one of two $50,000 divisions of the second leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-olds on the trot.
The gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act, who has not lost since his 3-year-old debut on April 3, 2025, will be in search of his 27th consecutive victory. The Hoosier Park regular will depart from post eight for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke and will start out at 2-1 on the morning line.
ONE THOUSAND REASONS TO PLAY: For the sixth time this year, patrons who love a good challenge will go at it for $1,000 in cash prizes on Friday (June 12) night, when Leg 6 of the popular Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place.
It’s important to finish at or near the top of the leaderboard, as the four players with the highest bankrolls at the end of the night will win some cash (on a $500-$250-$150-$100 basis), but only the top two finishers will earn spots in the $10,000 invitation-only contest final, which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 12.
2026 contest schedule:
· Leg 6 – Friday, June 12
· Leg 7 – Friday, July 24
· Leg 8 – Saturday, Aug. 22
· Leg 9 – Saturday, Sept. 5
· Leg 10 – Friday, Oct. 23
· Leg 11 – Saturday, Nov. 14
· Invitation-only $10,000 contest final: Saturday, Dec. 12
Each monthly contest will follow the same format:
· Contestants must bet a minimum of five Meadowlands races.
· No minimum or maximum bet per race.
· All wagers offered on The Meadowlands program are eligible for the contest.
· Contestants keep all pari-mutuel winnings.
· Unlimited entries per person.
There is no entry fee, but a $100 live-money bankroll is required for players, and the prize pool is guaranteed at $1,000, funded by The Meadowlands.
On the night of the contest, players must register/check-in at the Clubhouse Lobby by 6:35 p.m. A $100 betting card must be purchased to participate, as this is a live-money/wagering contest.
The top two finishers from each $1,000 contest earn spots in the $10,000 tournament final on December 12 (22 total players).
To register for the competition, go here.
Must be 18 or over to wager on racing. Gambling problem, dial 1-800-GAMBLER.
DEBBIE’S MONSTER DOUBLE: Hall of Famer Debbie Little, who was filling in as host of the simulcast show for her husband, Dave, made her presence felt in a big way on Friday (June 5) night.
Debbie, who was a handicapper and writer for the New York Post for 27 years before getting her current gig as associate editor and columnist at Harness Racing Update, showed no rust as a track tout, giving out seven winners on the card.
In addition, she absolutely crushed it late, as she used a 1-2 favorite (best bet Wishuponastar Deo) in the 14th race as a single to go along with a 50-1 bomb in the finale (Ms Frances Assisi, one of two horses she included) to make a gigantic score.
Her “Little’s Late Double” called for an investment of $40, and those who played along cashed in for a segment-record $868, a profit of $828, after cashing their $20 base bets on the $86.80 payout.
WHO’S ON THE SHOW? Debbie Little will be back on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set this weekend, serving as host of the live simulcast presentation on both Thursday and Friday.
Annie Stoebe, the trainer of Hambletonian hopeful Diabolic Hill, will serve as co-host on Thursday, while Larry Fox, who was the voice of Freehold Raceway, will co-host on Friday.
Fox will call the races Thursday night, while Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, who is the voice of the Little Brown Jug, will serve as track announcer Friday.
Melissa Keith will take care of commentary and handicapping for the FanDuel TV (FDTV) feed on Thursday, while Gary DiLeo, who will handle post-race interviews both nights, will sit in the FDTV chair Friday.
THE SCHEDULE: Live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis through Sept. 12 with a first-race post time of 6:35 p.m.
There are several exceptions to those rules.
On July 4, there is a stakes-packed program that includes two Graduate finals as well as eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace. Post time is 6 p.m. At the conclusion of the card, the track will have a fabulous fireworks show.
The 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on August 8. That card begins at noon.
Finally, there will be three cards that take place on a Thursday. Those programs are on June 11, July 2 and August 6.
There are additional changes to the schedule with the World Cup soccer tournament coming to town.
There will be no live racing on Saturday, June 13, and Saturday, June 27, which created the need for the additional Thursdays on June 11 and July 2.
Finally, The Big M will be closed for simulcasting on the following dates, when World Cup matches will be played at New Jersey New York Stadium (aka MetLife Stadium):
· Tuesday, June 16
· Monday, June 22
· Thursday, June 25
· Tuesday, June 30
· Sunday, July 5
· Sunday, July 19
“We are hoping that our regular customers don’t mind some inconvenience when the World Cup is in town,” said Settlemoir of the competition that begins June 11 and concludes July 19. “But the fact is, those days play out like Football Sundays when the Jets or Giants are playing home games. The difference is, there is no parking on site. We are open on days when there is soccer to any rideshare customers on property. On those days, patrons can get their action in the FanDuel Sportsbook.”
THE SPECTACULAR SEVEN: Here is the lineup of wagers that will be offered on this weekend’s 14-race programs. They all offer a low 15 percent takeout.
· Races 1-5: 20-cent Early Pick-5
· Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6
· Races 6-9: 50-cent Early Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
· Race 7: 10-cent Early Pentafecta (Hi-5)
· Races 8-12: 20-cent Late Pick-5
· Races 10-13: 50-cent Late Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
· Race 14: 10-cent Late Pentafecta (Hi-5)
GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS: 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.
CHECK OUT FACEBOOK AND X: Check out The Meadowlands on Facebook (@meadowlandsracetrack) for race replays, interviews, carryover updates, promotional videos and much more.
Everything Meadowlands is also 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 duo of Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).
CUP RUNNETH OVER IN FANDUEL: Meadowlands regulars who love to plunk down a bet or two on professional sports, know all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 betting facility of its type in North America.
It couldn’t be easier to do, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Big M. There are massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, which enable fans to watch and wager in comfort while having some great food and drink.
Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final takes place Thursday (June 11) when the Vegas Golden Knights head to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes at 8 p.m.
The best-of-seven series is tied at two games apiece.
The Hurricanes are -154 on the money line while the Golden Knights are -194 getting 1½ goals. The under/over is 6½ goals.
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.
