East Rutherford, NJ – It’s time for harness racing fans who love stakes races to get out their magic markers and circle some dates on their calendars as this weekend marks the beginning of The Meadowlands’ Championship Meet.
The stakes will start sizzling this Saturday (May 2), when the $157,125 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old open trotters and $67,650 Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters are the first two slabs of prime meat on the grill.
The Meadowlands, known for its marquee nights of racing will then host the following events (with estimated purses) on the following nights:
- May 16 – $175,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial
- May 23 – $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-old males and females on the pace
- June 12 – $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-old males and females on the trot
- July 4 – $250,000 Graduate finals for both pacers and trotters; $175,000 Crawford Farms; $175,000 Dave Brower Memorial; $150,000 Six Pack; $150,000 Perfect Sting; $50,000 Meadowlands Pace eliminations
- July 11 – $800,000 Meadowlands Pace; $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity; $300,000 Del Miller Memorial; $300,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial; $300,000 William Haughton Memorial; $200,000 Jerry Silverman Memorial; and $175,000 Dorothy Haughton Memorial
- August 1 – $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations; $50,000 Hambletonian Oaks eliminations
- August 7 – $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-old males and females on the pace
- August 8 – $1,000,000 Hambletonian; $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $300,000 Cane Pace; $300,000 John Cashman Memorial; $275,000 Sam McKee Memorial; $175,000 Lady Liberty; $175,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial; $120,000 Shady Daisy; and $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-old males and females on the trot
- September 11 – New Jersey Classic Series finals for 2- and 3-year-olds – There are four events for pacers for $150,000 each and four events for trotters for $250,000 each; and $150,000 Girl Power
- October 31 – Four $125,000 Kindergarten Series finals for 2-year-olds
- November 14 – The Fall Final Four: Valley Victory, Goldsmith Maid, Three Diamonds and Governor’s Cup, all for a purse of $400,000; FanDuel Championships: Two $350,000 dashes for males and two $175,000 events for females
“We are proud to host some of the biggest races the sport offers year in and year out at The Meadowlands,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Our schedule is once again stacked, with Meadowlands Pace Night and Hambletonian Day standing out as our two must-attend cards. The Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships program has evolved into another gigantic night of racing that the entire sport watches because of its huge effect on divisional championships, not to mention Pacer, Trotter and Horse of the Year voting.”
THE SPECTACULAR SEVEN: Here is the new lineup of wagers that will be offered every racing night. They all offer a low 15 percent takeout:
- Races 1-5: 20-cent Early Pick-5
- Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6
- Races 6-9: 50-cent Early Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 7: 10-cent Early Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 8-12: 20-cent Late Pick-5
- Races 10-13: 50-cent Late Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 14: 10-cent Late Pentafecta (Hi-5)
THREE-MAN BOOTH: On Friday night (May 1), John Rallis, the 2025 Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award winner and columnist and associate editor at Trot Magazine, will be paired up with Big M TV’s regular host Dave Little on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set.
Rallis will have another edition of his pregame show segment, “Replays with Rallis”, which yielded a $25 winner and a $30 winner the last time the 30-year-old did the show several weeks ago.
On Saturday, the talent level will increase in a big way when DRF Harness editor Derick Giwner sits alongside Little on the desk, which will allow Rallis to conduct interviews from the paddock as well as the winner’s circle during the course of the Dexter Cup/Lady Suffolk card.
The pregame show begins at 6 p.m.
On both Friday and Saturday, Ken Warkentin will call the races and Gary DiLeo will handle commentary and selections on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed. DiLeo will handle the winner’s reaction interview on Friday.
DERBY DAY IS HERE: Known as “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”, the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday (May 2) and simulcast regulars know the greatest place to watch and wager on the race is inside The Meadowlands, in one of the best and most expansive simulcast areas anywhere.
Doors at The Big M will open at 9 a.m., with the first of 14 races at Churchill Downs slated for 11 a.m.
The Kentucky Derby, which is race 12 on the program, has a post time of 6:57 p.m.
The Meadowlands is offering several options for players who want to spend the day at the track watching all of the action while enjoying some good food and drink.
Here is a look at three ways to enjoy your Derby Day:
The Café:
- Reservations must be prepaid
- The cost is $125 per four-person table
- Waited service
- Guaranteed track admittance and seating
Ticket purchase price is also a food credit that can be used at the Café on Derby Day towards racetrack staples like chicken wings, French fries, cheesesteaks, burgers, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream and more. The credit is valid on Saturday, May 2, 2026 only.
To purchase a table, go here.
The Lounge:
- Reservations must be prepaid
- $75 Bar Seat
- $150 Two-Person Table
- $300 Four-Person Table
- $300 Three-Person Couch
- $500 Five-Person Couch
- Waited Service
- Guaranteed track admittance and seating
Ticket purchase price is also a beverage and food credit to be used at the Victory Bar & Kitchen on Derby Day towards delicious fare including burgers, nachos, salads, sandwiches and more. The credit is valid on Saturday, May 2, 2026 only.
To purchase tickets, go here.
Pink buffet:
- To view the menu, go here.
- Seating begins at 4 p.m.
- Buffet opens at 4:30 p.m.
To make reservations, go here.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! Derby Day at The Meadowlands has additional cool stuff for those who come out to The Big M.
$1,000 Derby Hat Contest:
- $1,000 total in cash prizes
- Registration is between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Clubhouse Lobby
- Judging will take place in the Winner’s Circle at approximately 5 p.m.
- Prize breakdown: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $250; 3rd Place: $100; 4th Place: $50; Fanciest: $100
Win Wager Drawing:
There will be ten winners of $50 win tickets on the Kentucky Derby. Drawing is at 6 p.m.
There will be ten winners of $100 win tickets on the live Meadowlands program. Drawing is at 7 p.m
To register, go here.
DON’T FORGET THE OAKS: The Kentucky Derby’s sister event, the Kentucky Oaks for fillies, takes place on Friday (May 1), and, of course, patrons can watch and wager on the nine-furlong dash in the Meadowlands simulcast area.
Friday’s races at Churchill get underway at 12:30 p.m.
The Kentucky Oaks is the 13th race on a 13-race program and has a post time of 8:40 p.m.
MAKE YOUR BETS ON THE RUN: As a convenience for the wagering public, The Meadowlands will offer a walk-up teller window on both Friday (May 1) and Saturday (May 2) so that patrons can get their action on the Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky Derby and The Meadowlands.
The walk-up window is located in Lot M off Berry’s Creek Road. The windows will be open from 10:30 a.m. through 7 p.m.
Programs will be available for sale on Saturday for the Kentucky Derby.
THE SCHEDULE: Live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis through Sept. 12 with a first-race post time of 6:35 p.m.
There are several exceptions to those rules.
On July 4, there is a stakes-packed program that includes two Graduate finals as well as eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace. Post time is 6 p.m.
The 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on August 8. That card begins at noon.
Finally, there will be one card that takes place on a Thursday. That program is on August 6.
GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS: 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 FACEBOOK AND X: 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).
SPORTS WAGERING IN FANDUEL: Meadowlands regulars who love to plunk down a bet or two on 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 Meadowlands. 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.
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.