BIG M TO RACE SATURDAY ONLY AS LIVE RACING WINDS DOWN

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- August 21, 2025 -- For a second straight week, the usual two-day-a-week racing schedule at The Meadowlands will be cut in half due to preseason football at MetLife Stadium, as there will be no live action this Friday (Aug. 22) before a 15-race program takes place on Saturday (Aug. 23).

Post time is 6:20 p.m.

Thereafter, there will be three more weeks of live action on a Friday-Saturday basis, with harness racing concluding on Saturday, Sept. 13, before the trotters and pacers take a four-week break while Thoroughbred turf racing is conducted at The Big M.

Saturday’s card is rock solid, with four $25,000 leg three divisions of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds, the $45,000 Renaissance final for 2-year-old filly pacers and a pair of $60,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals – one for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and another for 3-year-old filly trotters.

WHAT? THEY’RE FREE? 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 THE SHOW: They’ll be a new face on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set for the Saturday races.

Brett Sturman, the columnist and handicapper from harnessracingupdate.com, will sit alongside Dave Little providing commentary and selections.

The remainder of the lineup is the same as usual with Hall of Famer Ken Warkentin back calling the races after a two-week hiatus and Joe Romanelli conducting back paddock interviews as well as providing analysis and handicapping tips on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed.

SATURDAY’S SIMULCAST STAR: Thoroughbred players get to bet one of the great programs of the season on Saturday when a 14-race, powerhouse card will take place at Saratoga Race Course. The featured event is the $1.25 million Travers Stakes, and the favorite is arguably the best-known equine athlete in all of racing.

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty is listed as the 2-5 favorite in the field of five in the Travers, which is race 13 on the program and has a post time of 6:14 p.m.

Being at Saratoga is nice, but why not skip the long trip and hang out in the best simulcast area of any racetrack, the one located at The Meadowlands.

You may want to show up early and grab your spot, post time for the first race at Saratoga is 11:10 a.m.

WHAT A CARRYOVER: Last Friday (Aug. 15) marked the first time in 2025 that there was a carryover in the 50-cent Pick-4, and the bettors bet with both hands.

The carryover of $26,408 coaxed players to pour $134,179 of “new money” into the Late Pick-4 pool for a grand total of $160,587, and after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 2-1, 3-5, 5-1 and 8-5, those with winning tickets cashed in for $173.45.

STABILE’S GOT A SIX-PACK: While serving as co-host of the simulcast show Friday (Aug. 15) night, Anthony Stabile had himself quite a night giving out winners.

Stabile picked six on top with some headline-worthy payouts along the way.

Among Anthony’s six-pack were Big Bad Bill, who paid $13 in the third race. He also tabbed the $30.60 Exacta cold in the eighth before Albert Alpha, another $13 winner, topped a cold $30.80 Exacta in the 12^th. Stabile finished the night with Rockabilly Charm ($10.80) in the 14^th before completing a sweep of the Late Daily Double, which returned $34.40.

A GREAT WAY TO PLAY: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

Here is the rundown of what will be offered on Saturday:

·         Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Races 3-9: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 (mandatory payout nightly)

·         Races 6-9: Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

·         Races 8-13: 20-cent Pick-6

·         Races 10-13: Late 50-cent Pick 4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

·         Race 15: 10-cent non-jackpot Pentafecta (Hi-5)

ROUND EIGHT IS UP NEXT: The eighth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place on Saturday, Aug. 30, and offers players a chance to win a share of $1,000 in prize money.

Contest format:

·         Contestants must be on-site to participate

·         Contestants must buy a $100 betting card to participate

·         Contestants must bet a minimum of five Meadowlands races

·         There is no minimum or maximum bet per race

·         Contestants can play any wager(s) on The Meadowlands live wagering menu

·         Contestants keep all pari-mutuel winnings

·         Contestants can enter as many times as they wish

·         The top two finishers earn spots in the $10,000 end-of-the-year contest

Remaining contest schedule:

·         Saturday, August 30

·         Saturday, October 25

·         Friday, November 21

·         The $10,000 invitation-only final is on Saturday, December 13

Previous players that have qualified for the December contest are Nick Montemurro and Gary Scogna (the top two finishers from January); Michael Grasso and Montemurro (February); Sean Loebs and Joe Barre (March); Robert Glaser and Jim Bohnarczyk (April); Karen Fossli and Russ Slader (May); Del Kern and Scogna (June); and Fossli and Montemurro (July).

Complete contest rules and regulations can be found here.

To participate, players must be 18 years of age or older to wager on racing. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please get help at 1-800-GAMBLER.

BIG M COAST-TO-COAST: For a fifth consecutive year, the TV teams at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Meadowlands are combining forces to bring high-caliber harness racing stakes events to a coast-to-coast audience over the networks of FOX Sports as part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” telecasts.

The next broadcast will be Friday, Sept. 5, when the New Jersey Classic Series finals take center stage.

Here is the schedule for the remaining FOX Sports shows, with the event(s) that will be featured and the time the show will be broadcast. Which FOX network the show can be found on – Fox 5 New York (locally), FS1 or FS2 – will be determined:

·         September 5 – New Jersey Classic Series finals, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         November 1 – Kindergarten finals, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         November 15 – Fall Final Four, 8-11 p.m., TBA

SOCIALLY SUPERIOR: Everything Meadowlands is 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 Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

A GREAT NIGHT OUT: Looking to book a corporate event or private party? The Meadowlands has unlimited event possibilities. The redesigned Gallery with multiple TVs, private bar and balcony overlooking the FanDuel Sportsbook is perfect for game days, watch parties and more.

To book your private party, email alokshin@playmeadowlands.com.

FANDUEL IS NO. 1: Meadowlands regulars know that if they want action on professional sports, all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the No. 1 facility of its kind in all of North America.

It couldn’t be easier to access, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Big M.

The book has massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, which enable fans to watch and wager in comfort while having some great food and drink.

On Thursday (Aug. 21), one of Major League Baseball’s greatest rivalries will be revisited in the Bronx as the Boston Red Sox take on the New York Yankees at 7:15 p.m.

The Yankees are the -142 favorite in the game that has an under/over of 8½ runs.

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.