‘CAPPERS HAVE TWO SHOTS LEFT TO QUALIFY FOR BIG M CONTEST FINAL

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- October 22, 2026 -- With just two legs to go before the big-money final, handicappers will be gunning to finish in the top two in the $1,000 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest on Friday (Oct. 23) night as they seek a seat in the contest final on Dec. 12, which offers $10,000 in prize money.

Friday will mark the 10^th of 11 legs of the competition. Those finishing in the top four take home prize money on a $500-250-150-100 basis, but the top two, they not only earn the top two cash prizes, but also cop spots in the five-figure final, where the winner will walk away with $5,000.

Contest regulars Stefan Ferrara and John Skladany have earned three entries for the contest’s invitation-only finale, and each are looking to equal Nick Montemurro’s mark of four entries, which he earned in 2025.

Thus far this year, 18 entries have been earned for the year-end competition, which will have a total of 22 entries.

Those handicappers – with their nightly contest totals – are:

·         Leg 1 – January: Del Kern ($934.01) and Ferrara ($840.76)

·         Leg 2 – February: Robert Glaser ($592.50) and Emile Issa ($500)

·         Leg 3 – March: Sean Loebs ($1,170.06) and Patrick O’Malley ($832)

·         Leg 4 – April: O’Malley ($554) and Ferrara ($380.20)

·         Leg 5 – May: Skladany ($1,031.60) and James Molina ($800)

·         Leg 6 – June: Rodney Duncan ($822.20) and Skladany ($497.28)

·         Leg 7 – July: Jim Sidor ($1,192.10) and Russ Slader ($750)

·         Leg 8 – August: Ferrara ($1,000.75) and Skladany ($726.50)

·         Leg 9 – September: Glaser ($305.40) and Joe Barre ($210) 

2026 contest schedule:

·         Leg 10 – Friday, Oct. 23

·         Leg 11 – Saturday, Nov. 14

·         Invitation-only $10,000 contest final: Saturday, Dec. 12

The contest follows this 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 6:20 p.m. A $100 betting card must be purchased to participate, as this is a live-money/wagering competition. 

The top two finishers from each $1,000 contest earn spots in the $10,000 tournament final on December 12 (22 total entries).

To register, go here.

Must be 18 or over to wager on racing. Gambling problem, dial 1-800-GAMBLER.

THE SCHEDULE: The pacers and trotters will be in action at The Big M every Friday and Saturday through the end of 2026, with just one exception, as there is no live racing on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25.

In addition, there are three Thursday cards on the calendar: Dec. 3, 10 and 17.

All told, there are 22 nights of live Meadowlands harness racing remaining this year, and each has a post time of 6:20 p.m.

SAVE THE DATES: There are still some dates worth circling on your calendar if you only like to come out to The Big M when the level of racing is sky high, starting with Saturday, Oct. 31, when four $125,000 Kindergarten finals for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait will be offered.

Then, two weeks later, on Saturday, Nov. 14, the last major stakes card on not just The Meadowlands schedule, but the entire harness racing calendar, takes place when estimated purses of $2.65 million will be up for grabs on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night.

The eight stakes races that will take place that evening are:

·         $400,000 (est.) Valley Victory (2-year-old colt and gelding trot)

·         $400,000 (est.) Governor’s Cup (2-year-old colt and gelding pace)

·         $400,000 (est.) Goldsmith Maid (2-year-old filly trot)

·         $400,000 (est.) Three Diamonds (2-year-old filly pace)

·         $350,000 (est.) FanDuel Open Pace

·         $350,000 (est.) FanDuel Open Trot

·         $175,000 (est.) FanDuel Fillies and Mares Trot

·         $175,000 (est.) FanDuel Fillies and Mares Pace

(All FanDuel events are for 3-year-olds and up)

The 2026 stakes curtain will then fall when four $70,000 (est.) New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait will be contested on Saturday, Nov. 21.

IT’S LIVE ON FOX: The TV teams at The Meadowlands and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) will continue their partnership with two more live broadcasts that will bring high-end Big M stakes action into people’s living rooms from coast-to-coast.

Both Kindergarten Finals Night as well as Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night will be televised as part of the NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” series. The Kindergarten races take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, and will be on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) from 8-11 p.m., while the FF4/FDC are on Saturday, Nov. 14, and will be broadcast on FS2 from 9-11 p.m.

STURMAN TO CO-HOST: Joining regular Big M TV simulcast show host Dave Little on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set this weekend is Brett Sturman, the columnist and handicapper from Harness Racing Update.

Ken Warkentin will be in his usual spot at the top of the stands calling the action with Gary DiLeo handling interviews with winning connections.

THE GREAT EIGHT: The Meadowlands’ betting public is now accustomed to the new $3 Late Pick-3 (Races 12-14) and $5 Late Daily Double (13-14), but still go for mile oval’s wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout in a big way.

These are the bets that will offer that low takeout for this weekend’s 14-race programs:

·         Race 1: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

·         Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6 (Friday’s carryover: $2,174.75)

·         Races 6-9: 50-cent Pick-4

·         Race 8: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

·         Races 8-12: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick-4

·         Race 11: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

PROGRAMS FOR 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 “handicapping” dropdown to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.

ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED: 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 Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

FIGHT NIGHT: For all UFC fans, come on out to a watch party on Saturday (Oct. 24) at 2 p.m.

The site of the party is The Gallery, which is on the second floor at The Big M. It’s a game-day ready destination for live sports, fight nights, celebrity meet and greets and more. This private room features walls of TVs plus a central 220″ jumbo screen, as well as its own bar and self-service betting machines.

On Saturday, the featured bout for UFC 333 pits Alexander Volkanovski against Movsar Evloev. The featherweight title showdown has Volkanovski seeking a second defense of his second title reign when he takes on the unbeaten Evloev.

In the co-headliner, Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili meet for a third time as Yan sets to defend his bantamweight title after regaining it in December.

WEAR THE CROWN: The Breeders Crown stops at Scioto Downs, the five-eighths-mile oval in Columbus, Ohio this year, and all of the action will, of course, be offered to The Big M’s faithful simulcast patrons.

This weekend, there are a total of 12 events that will take place. The 2-year-olds will take to the track Friday night, while, on Saturday evening, there will be eight dashes, four for the 3-year-olds and four for older horses. The 12 races carry purses that total just over $8 million.

DRINK FROM THE CUP: In the event heading to Lexington, Kentucky isn’t appealing to you, relax and head to The Meadowlands expansive simulcast area to watch and wager on the best Thoroughbred race horses on the planet compete in the Breeders’ Cup.

The Cup is composed of 14 events – which go for purses that total $30 million – and will be contested over two days at Keeneland Race Course.

Day 1 is Friday, Oct. 30, and will offer five races, all for 2-year-olds. They are:

·         Race 6 – Juvenile Turf Sprint, $1 million, 5½ furlongs (turf), post time 2:55 p.m. EDT

·         Race 7 – Juvenile Fillies, $2 million, 1 1/16 miles, 3:35 p.m.

·         Race 8 – Juvenile Fillies Turf, $1 million, 1 mile (turf), 4:15 p.m.

·         Race 9 – Juvenile, $2 million, 1 1/16 miles, 4:55 p.m.

·         Race 10 – Juvenile Turf, $1 million, 1 mile (turf), 5:35 p.m.

Day 2 is Saturday, Oct. 31, and will offer nine races, all for 3-year-olds and up. They are:

·         Race 4 – Dirt Mile, $1 million, 1 mile, 1:10 p.m.

·         Race 5 – Turf Sprint, $1 million, 5½ furlongs (turf), 1:48 p.m.

·         Race 6 – Sprint, $2 million, 6 furlongs, 2:26 p.m.

·         Race 7 – Filly & Mare Turf, $2 million, fillies and mares, 1 3/16 miles (turf), 3:04 p.m.

·         Race 8 – Filly & Mare Sprint, $1 million, fillies and mares, 7 furlongs, 3:42 p.m.

·         Race 9 – Mile, $2 million, 1 mile (turf), 4:20 p.m.

·         Race 10 – Distaff, $2 million, fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles, 4:58 p.m.

·         Race 11 – Turf, $5 million, 1½ miles (turf), 5:36 p.m.

·         Race 12 – Classic, $7 million, 1¼ miles, 6:16 p.m. 

TAKE IT TO THE TIN IN FANDUEL: Meadowlands regulars who love to plunk down a bet or two on college or 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.

The National Basketball Association is back, and that means the New York Knicks are playing to defend the league championship – the team’s first in 53 years – they won back in June.

New York will travel to Boston on Friday (Oct. 23) to take on the Celtics in a 7 p.m. game.

Boston is a 2½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 224½.

The National Football League season rolls on with Week 7 getting underway Thursday (Oct. 22), when the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots head for the Windy City for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff with the Chicago Bears.

The Bears are a 3-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 50½.

On Sunday (Oct. 25), both local teams play at 1 p.m.

The New York Jets host the winless Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets are a 4½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 39½ points.

The New York Giants head for the Lone Star State to take on the Houston Texans.

Houston is a 10½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 43½ points.

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.