LOOK FOR SPICED UP BETTING MENU ON BIG M PACE NIGHT
In an effort to titillate player’s palates, The Meadowlands will increase the minimum bet on two existing wagers as well as adding a new one altogether to what is already one of the most interesting and popular betting menus in the harness game ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 8, 2026 -- In an effort to titillate player’s palates, The Meadowlands will increase the minimum bet on two existing wagers as well as adding a new one altogether to what is already one of the most interesting and popular betting menus in the harness game.
All of this will be happening Saturday (July 11) on the track’s biggest night of the year, when eight stakes events – featuring the $810,000 Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC – will be contested for estimated purse money totaling more than $2.4 million.
The Big M is known for its multi-leg bets, and the new-look wagers will again challenge punters to select more than one winner on a ticket.
The Late Pick-3, which spans races 12 through 14, will now have a $3 minimum bet instead of the $1 that will continue to be offered on the other Pick-3s throughout the card. The Late P3 will allow players to make bigger scores by taking more of an aggressive stance. A Pick-3 that used to pay $78, will now return $234.
The same will be true of the Late Daily Double, which takes place on races 13-14. It will now sport a minimum play of $5, instead of the usual $2. Like the bigger minimum Pick-3, players will be put in a more contentious position, as a double that used to pay $40, will now pay $100 with the new minimum.
Daily Double fans will also be treated to an extra opportunity on the card, as the track will add a Mid-Card Double with a $2 minimum on races 8 and 9.
“We have some fans who made some recommendations, and we always listen. We thought they had some good ideas,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “At the end of the day, trying new things is always something we are willing to do, especially with something like increasing minimum bets. We have a lot of players at our track that play several-dollar tickets on wagers such as the Pick-5 and Pick-4, so we figured, let’s see how adding a $3 Pick Three and a $5 Double would be received. Maybe down the road we’ll consider other adjustments.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – This is the field for the $810,000 Meadowlands Pace, presented by Genova Burns LLC, an open event for 3-year-olds that takes place at The Meadowlands on Saturday, July 11, 2026, with post position, horse, driver, trainer and morning-line odds:
PP – HORSE – DRIVER – TRAINER – ODDS
1 – Toby Ornot Toby – Tim Tetrick – Scott DiDomenico – 20-1
2 – Brandon Blvd – Dexter Dunn – Andrew Harris – 3-5
3 – Lindy Dragonwater – Joe Bongiorno – Ron Burke – 20-1
4 – Gentleman’s Club – Andy McCarthy – Aaron Lambert – 8-1
5 – Melillo – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke – 10-1
6 – Bookie J – Jason Bartlett – Chris Ryder – 12-1
7 – Sweet Lovin Lou – Scott Zeron – Dan Lagace – 6-1
8 – Al Papi – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 10-1
9 – Azrael Blue Chip – Brett Beckwith – Besim Odza – 30-1
10 – Ubrute – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 15-1
NOTE: Post time is 10:33 p.m.
Brandon Blvd drew for posts 1-6 for winning the elimination.
Driver changes to be announced Thursday morning.
Morning-line odds by John Rallis.
TV: The Pace can be seen on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) during a three-hour presentation that will feature an all-Meadowlands lineup of stakes races. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m.
