FINAL MAJOR STAKES CARD OF 2026 ON TAP AT BIG M SATURDAY

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- November 12, 2026 -- The Meadowlands – as well as the entire sport of harness racing – has one big night left in its 2026 stakes arsenal, and the final eight shots will be fired Saturday (Nov. 14) night at the mile oval, when $2.27 million in purses will be up for grabs on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night.

The program on Saturday, as well as Friday (Nov. 13), will get underway at 6:20 p.m.

“Once again, we are happy to host a night of racing where divisional honors could be won and lost on the last huge night on the harness racing calendar,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “There are many great storylines on Saturday’s program, but two stand out to me.

“Twin B Joe Fresh, the 2024 Horse of the Year, will be making the final start of her phenomenal career in the FanDuel Open Mares Pace. In addition, On To Norway and Super Chapter will matchup for the fifth time this year, in the FanDuel Open Trot, and despite On To Norway leading the series three to one, Super Chapter could get back in the Trotter of the Year conversation with a win Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to a big crowd and a big night of betting, featuring three 50-cent Pick-4 wagers, one of which will be made up of the four FanDuel events, and another comprising the four Fall Final Four races. It’s going to be a great night.”

The eight stakes races that will take place that evening – highlighting some of the major players – are:

·         Race 4 (post time, 7:35 p.m.): $150,000 FanDuel Open Mares Trot – Marcus Melander-trainee Tactical Moni started the year 0-for-5, but got sharp at just the right time, recording back-to-back wins in the Oct. 16 Breeders Crown Prep before scoring in the Oct. 24 final as the even-money favorite. Warrawee Michelle, an Ake Svanstedt student who is the defending Dan Patch Older Trotting Mare of the Year, finished second in the Crown final.

·         Race 5 (post time, 8 p.m.): $300,000 FanDuel Open Trot – Were Breeders Crown champion On To Norway to defeat arch-rival Super Chapter, Trotter of the Year is his, and he will get Horse of the Year consideration as well. But if Super Chapter beats On To Norway, that second victory in five tries against that foe might be enough to take the TOTY hardware, given his resume that includes victories in the International Trot, Maple Leaf and Cashman.

·         Race 6 (post time, 8:25 p.m.): $150,000 FanDuel Open Mares Pace – The incomparable Twin B Joe Fresh will look to finish her career with a five-race win streak. The Chris Ryder trainee won the Breeders Crown and Dayton Derby during her recent run of success.

·         Race 7 (post time, 8:50 p.m.): $300,000 FanDuel Open Pace – Women Layer looks like the one to beat off a 1:48 score in the Potomac after finishing a close-up third in the Breeders Crown. Defending divisional champ Ervin Hanover recorded a spectacular 1:46.3 score at The Meadowlands earlier this year in the Dave Brower Memorial.

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

·         Race 8 (post time, 9:20 p.m.): $383,830 Valley Victory (2YOCGT) – In what looks like a wide-open event, Kindergarten winner Bentley Blue Chip takes on Command Center, who won the Bluegrass in a lifetime-best 1:54.

·         Race 9 (post time, 9:45 p.m.): $386,830 Goldsmith Maid (2YOFT) – Birr Castle, the Breeders Crown winner from Melander, faces Svanstedt’s Kountry Plunge, the New York standout who has seven wins in as many starts.

·         Race 10 (post time, 10:10 p.m.): $300,000 Three Diamonds (2YOFP) – Miss Dolce had to overcome a tough trip before a late rally had her come up a nose short in the New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund final for trainer Joe Holloway. Ohio Sire Stakes standout Cleveland Darby will look to add to her field-biggest bankroll of $430,465 for Run Burke.

·         Race 11 (post time, 10:35 p.m.): $300,000 Governor’s Cup (2YOCGP) – The last stakes event of the night is another where it looks like a handful of horses could prance down victory lane. The Brett Pelling-trained Hades scored in eye-popping fashion last week at The Big M in just his sixth lifetime outing in 1:51.2. Burke’s Eastie Boy won the Matron in 1:50.1 while Joe Bongiorno’s Seine missed a neck in last to Starstruck Dreamer, who isn’t in this dash, but would likely be the favorite at post time were he.

THE FALL FINAL FOUR IS FOXY: The TV teams at The Meadowlands and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) will continue their partnership with one last 2026 broadcast that will bring high-end Big M stakes action into people’s living rooms from coast-to-coast.

Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night will be televised as part of the NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” series. Those eight dashes can be seen on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) from 9-11 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 14).

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE: This weekend will mark the return of a pair of well-known personalities – who are outstanding journalists, handicappers and TV personalities – to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set to sit in the co-host chair alongside Big M veteran TV host Dave Little.

First up on Friday, serving as co-host will be John Rallis, the associate editor and columnist at TROT Magazine, who also serves as a TV personality on Woodbine Mohawk Park’s nightly simulcast presentation. Rallis will then shift to another role on Saturday, when he will conduct the post-race winner’s circle interviews for all eight stakes races on the program.

Hall of Famer Derick Giwner, the editor at DRF Harness, will co-host on Saturday. He writes a weekly column in the publication that is a must-read for both industry insiders as well as the casual fan.

On Friday, Gary DiLeo will provide the interview with winning connections from the paddock after the featured eighth race.

And, as usual, Hall of Famer Ken Warkentin will be in his spot at the top of the grandstand calling the action for both programs.

SWIM IN BIG POOLS: The Meadowlands offers the largest betting pools in harness racing, and the mile oval’s fan base loves playing when the takeout is low. These are the wagers that will offer a low 15 percent takeout over the course of the upcoming weekend. Both cards have 14 races.

This is the lineup for Friday’s races:

·         Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

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

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

·         Races 8-13: 20-cent Pick-6

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

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

This is the lineup for Saturday’s races:

·         Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Races 4-7: All-Stakes 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 estimated pool)

·         Races 5-11: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 (mandatory payout)

·         Races 6-11: 20-cent Pick-6

·         Races 8-11: All-Stakes 50-cent Pick-4 ($75,000 estimated pool)

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

·         Race 11: 10-cent Hi-5 (Pentafecta) ($25,000 estimated pool)

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 16 nights of live Meadowlands harness racing remaining this year, and each has a post time of 6:20 p.m.

ROOM FOR ONE MORE: The 2026 Meadowlands stakes curtain will come down after one more night of big action.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, four $70,000 (est.) New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait will be contested, putting the spotlight squarely on future Garden State equine stars.

ABSOLUTELY 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.

GET THE 411: 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).

FOOTBALL 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 Football League season rolls on with Week 10 getting underway Thursday (Nov. 12), when the Washington Commanders head to MetLife Stadium for an 8:15 p.m. game with the New York Giants.

The Giants are a 1½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 41½ points.

On Sunday (Nov. 15), the New York Jets will welcome the Buffalo Bills to MetLife for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Buffalo is a 7½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 50½ 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.