HARNESS RACING RETURNS TO THE BIG M SATURDAY

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- October 15, 2026 -- After a four-week hibernation while the Thoroughbreds took the spotlight, the Standardbreds will be back racing over the mile oval at The Meadowlands Saturday (Oct. 17) night, as the Fall Meeting resumes its march to the end of 2026.

Post time is 6:20 p.m.

Fans of all horse racing will get to sample a buffet of both breeds this weekend, as the final evening of Thoroughbred turf action takes place on Friday (Oct. 16) with a 7 p.m. post time.

“The four weeks of turf racing provided some variety for our regular customers,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But now, it’s time to get back to what we are known for here at The Big M, the best harness racing in the world.”

He makes a good point.

The temperatures will continue to cool down as fall advances toward winter, but the harness action will remain hot through the end of the year.

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 23 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 racing is at a sky-high level, starting with Saturday, Oct. 31, when four $125,000 Kindergarten finals for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait are offered on the Halloween Night program.

But that’s not all.

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 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.

BOZICH ON SET: Joining regular Big M TV simulcast show host Dave Little on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set Saturday night will be Mike Bozich, the longtime voice of Harrah’s Philadelphia.

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 13-15) and $5 Late Daily Double (14-15), 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 Saturday’s 15-race program:

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

·         Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6

·         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).

CORNHOLE CLASSIC: The Garden State Cornhole Alliance will host the second Jimmy Hoffa Cornhole Classic on Saturday (Oct. 17) at The Meadowlands.

The competition will be capped at 100 teams, so this is a first-come, first-served event.

There will be cash prizes and each team will be guaranteed six matches, four for rounders (for seeding) and double elimination.

For further information, go here.

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.

There are a total of 19 elimination races that will take place this weekend, six on Friday and 13 on Saturday.

The 12 Breeders Crown finals will take place next week, with the four events for 2-year-olds taking place on Friday, Oct. 23, and all events for 3-year-olds and older horses on Saturday, Oct. 24.

CUP RUNNETH OVER: 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTBALL IN FANDUEL IS FABULOUS: 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 6 getting underway Thursday (Oct. 15), when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks travel to Denver for an 8:15 p.m. game with the Broncos.

Seattle is a 2½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 40½ points.

On Sunday (Oct. 18), both local teams play in games that kickoff at 1 p.m.

First up are the New York Giants, who host the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium.

The Saints are a 1½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 45½ points.

The New York Jets travel to New England to face the Patriots.

New England is a 7½-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.