BIG M STAKES EVENTS BACK ON FOX SPORTS
The TV teams at The Meadowlands and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) are joining forces for a sixth consecutive year to bring some of the biggest stakes events at the No. 1 harness track in the world to a national television audience on the networks of FOX Sports ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- April 14, 2026 -- The TV teams at The Meadowlands and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) are joining forces for a sixth consecutive year to bring some of the biggest stakes events at the No. 1 harness track in the world to a national television audience on the networks of FOX Sports.
The seven broadcasts will be part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” series, a Thoroughbred-centric telecast that will expose that audience to some of the most impactful events in the harness racing industry.
“All of us at The Meadowlands are so pleased once again to be joining forces with NYRA to bring some of the biggest events we offer here at The Meadowlands into people’s living rooms,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “(Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) Jeff Gural and I know that if we are to grow our business, we need to have a national TV presence. The shows on FOX Sports enable us to do that with a production that is first rate.”
“FOX Sports and NYRA are happy to team up with The Meadowlands for another great year of premier stakes coverage, highlighted by the Hambletonian and Meadowlands Pace,” said NYRA Senior Director of TV Operations Eric Donovan. “FOX Sports remains committed to showcasing harness racing's marquee events.”
The talent duo of Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt will return to provide live-on-the-scene analysis, commentary and selections.
The first of the seven shows will feature the $175,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial on May 16, with the final telecast showcasing some of the best 2-year-olds in training on Fall Final Four Night on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Of course, one of the broadcasts will feature the 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian, which takes place on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Here is the schedule for the seven shows that will feature Meadowlands stakes events on FOX Sports, with date, featured event(s), start and finish time and which network – FS1 or FS2 – the broadcast will be shown on:
· May 16 – $175,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, 8-11 p.m., FS2
· July 4 – $250,000 Graduate finals for both pacers and trotters; $175,000 Crawford Farms; $175,000 Dave Brower Memorial; $150,000 Six Pack; $150,000 Perfect Sting; and $50,000 Meadowlands Pace eliminations, 8-11 p.m., FS1
· July 11 – $800,000 Meadowlands Pace; $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity; $300,000 Del Miller Memorial; $300,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial; $300,000 William Haughton Memorial; $200,000 Jerry Silverman Memorial; and $175,000 Dorothy Haughton Memorial, 8-11 p.m., FS1
· August 8 – $1,000,000 Hambletonian; $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $300,000 Cane Pace; $300,000 John Cashman Memorial; $275,000 Sam McKee Memorial; $175,000 Lady Liberty; $175,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial; and $120,000 Shady Daisy, TBA, TBA
· September 11 – New Jersey Classic Series finals for 2- and 3-year-olds – There are four events for pacers for $150,000 each and four events for trotters for $250,000 each, 8-11 p.m., FS2
· October 31 – Four $125,000 Kindergarten Series finals for 2-year-olds, 8-11 p.m., FS2
· November 14 – The Fall Final Four: Valley Victory, Goldsmith Maid, Three Diamonds and Governor’s Cup, all for a purse of $400,000; FanDuel Championships: Two $350,000 dashes for males and two $175,000 events for females, 9-11 p.m., FS2
