East Rutherford, NJ – Hambletonian Day (Saturday, Aug. 8) is upon us, and, as usual, the 16-race card at The Meadowlands is packed with the game’s biggest stars.
This week, The Big M will be adding a night of action to the weekly calendar, and will race Thursday (Aug. 6), Friday (Aug. 7) and Saturday. Post time on Thursday and Friday is 6:20 p.m.
On Saturday, those who will be heading to the track have to keep in mind that post time for the first race is noon. Admission is $5, but you get a Hambletonian hat for paying your way in, so it is well worth the cost.
All dining is sold out, but don’t worry, there are plenty of good eats to be had at concession stands inside the building and numerous food trucks outside on the apron extending into The Backyard.
Gates open at 10 a.m., so get there early and claim your spot.
As for the racing, there are 11 dashes of note that feature some of the game’s best squaring off.
Here’s a look:
- Race 2: $180,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes 2-year-old colt and gelding Platinum division trot final – Jim Campbell trainee Wrong Sounds Right, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, seeks his third straight win. The main foe is the 9-5 Presidente, who was a close second in each of his last two.
- Race 3: $310,750 Cane Pace (3-year-old open) – This dash features the first time that Meadowlands Pace winner Brandon Blvd, the 6-5 early choice, will take on North America Cup champion Odds On Mr Mamba (5-2).
- Race 6: $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes 2-year-old filly Platinum division trot final – Wall Of Fame (2-1) was victorious in each of her three preliminaries while Nevis Peak (5-2) skipped Leg 2 three weeks ago but was a winner in the two legs she did participate in.
- Race 8: $281,200 John Cashman Memorial (open trot) – The defending Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Lexus Kody (5-2) has won three in a row, including the JL Cruze and Spirit of Massachusetts. Can Super Chapter (7-2), off since July 11 after finishing second to On To Norway for a second straight start, be competitive as a 4-year-old taking on older?
- Race 9: $500,000 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian Oaks (3-year-old filly trot) – Nezuko Kamado S (2-1) came up a neck short in her elimination as the 1-5 public choice facing Busy Miss Lissy S (4-1), and looks to get back on track and win for the fifth time in six seasonal tries.
- Race 10: $183,650 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial (mares open trot) – Yo Tillie (3-1), the defending divisional champ, is off a determined nose victory in 1:51 using Lasix for the first time in the Miss Versatility.
- Race 11: $1-million Winning Key Farm Hambletonian (3-year-old open trot) – Apex (5-2) has been the favorite to win America’s Trotting Classic since last summer, and he did win his elimination, but Ohio invader Big Ranger (2-1) has taken the role of favorite away off an eye-popping 1:50 lifetime-best clocking in his first-ever appearance at The Big M in his elim.
- Races 12 and 13: $138,650 and $139,900, respectively, Sam McKee Memorial (open pace) – Both dashes look like great betting races with Captain Optimistic (3-1), a winner at The Big M earlier this year in 1:46.3, taking on William Haughton and #Senditin champ Lou Hill (7-2) in the first heat. Prince Hal Hanover (3-1), a lifetime earner of over $1.4 million, faces Haughton upset winner Bythemissal (9-2) in the second dash.
- Race 14: $156,500 Lady Liberty (open mares pace) – The two superstars from the Chris Ryder barn go at it again when Twin B Joe Fresh (5-2) takes on Miki And Minnie (3-1). ‘Joe’ took down ‘Miki’ in the July 11 Dorothy Haughton, which was one week after Miki bested Joe in the July 4 Perfect Sting.
- Race 15: $123,200 Shady Daisy (3-year-old filly pace) – Be Perfect BG (9-5) is five-for-seven this year and 10-for-12 lifetime. Her biggest challenge is likely to come from Darlin’s Angel (3-1), who paced her back half in :53.2 on the way to a lifetime-best 1:49.2 win last week in the Tompkins-Geers.
“Hambletonian Day is finally here, and all of us at The Meadowlands are ready to give our customers a memorable experience,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “All of our employees know what Hambletonian Day means. We will have customers who never miss a card in the building, and we also will have folks who come only on Hambo Day. Our goal is to show everyone a great time on not only what is our biggest day of the year, but the biggest day of the year for the entire sport.”
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 6:20 p.m.
There are some exceptions to those rules.
The 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on Saturday, Aug. 8, and that card begins at noon.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, racing will begin at 7 p.m.
In addition, there is a Thursday program scheduled. It will take place on Aug. 6.
Finally, there will be no live racing at The Meadowlands on Friday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 28, due to preseason football at MetLife Stadium.
A TASTY MENU: The betting public at The Big M is accustomed to the new wagering menu, and the players’ approval was confirmed when the second-biggest night of wagering of 2026 took place Saturday (Aug. 1) night, when more than $3.4 million was pushed through the windows.
This is the wagering menu for Thursday’s 14-race program:
- Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
- Races 4-9: 20-cent Pick-6
- Races 6-9: 50-cent Pick-4
- Race 7: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 8-14: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
- Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick-4
- Races 11-12: $2 Daily Double
- Races 12-14: $3 Pick-3
- Races 13-14: $5 Late Double
- Race 14: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
This is the wagering menu for Friday’s 14-race program:
- Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
- Races 4-9: 20-cent Pick-6
- Races 6-9: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 7: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 8-14: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
- Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Races 11-12: $2 Daily Double
- Races 12-14: $3 Pick-3
- Races 13-14: $5 Late Double
- Race 14: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
This is the wagering menu for Saturday’s 16-race program:
- Races 1-6: 20-cent Pick-6 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Races 3-7: 20-cent Pick-5 ($75,000 guaranteed pool)
- Races 4-7: 50-cent Pick-4
- Races 6-12: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
- Race 7: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 8-11: 50-cent Pick-4 ($125,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 10: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 11-14: 50-cent Pick-4 ($100,000 guaranteed pool)
- Races 12-16: 20-cent Pick-5
- Races 13-16: 50-cent Pick-4
- Race 13: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Race 15: $5 Late Double
- Race 16: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
The Pick-4s with guaranteed pools are offered in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
YOUR HAMBO MERCH: The 2026 Hambletonian collection is available, so check out some great hats, hoodies, tees and other apparel at www.hamboshop.com.
Any item you buy comes with free shipping.
If you prefer to purchase your items in person, the merchandise will be available at The Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day.
IT’S LIVE ON FOX: The Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks will be telecast live to a national television audience on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The show can be seen as part of the New York Racing Association’s “Day at the Races” coverage of the Thoroughbred action from Saratoga Race Course.
For those who would like to see the Hambletonian Oaks and Hambletonian live on TV, they should tune in to FOX Sports 2 (FS2) at 3 p.m.
Post time for the Oaks is 3:36 p.m. The Hambo is set for 4:51 p.m.
BRETT A GOOD BET: With just three race cards remaining in the Winter-Spring-Championship Meet, Brett Beckwith is looking good in his quest to keep his title as top dog of The Meadowlands driver colony.
The 23-year-old Beckwith, whose comeback music after he wins a race is “Who Let The Dogs Out?”, has opened up some daylight on his closest pursuer in the battle for who will walk away with the title as top pilot at The Big M.
Beckwith, whose 146 wins led The Big M in 2025, currently has 96 victories. Joe Bongiorno is next with 88.
WHO’S ON THE SHOW? This Thursday, Friday and Saturday, John Rallis will be back on the Sam McKee Memorial Set sharing his insights and selections alongside Big M simulcast show host Dave Little.
Saturday’s Hambletonian Day presentation will mark the third straight year that Little and Rallis have teamed up on the desk on the industry’s biggest day.
Ken Warkentin will be in his place at the top of the grandstand calling the action for all three programs. The Hall of Famer will be calling his 27th Hambletonian.
Gary DiLeo will handle interviews from the paddock with winning connections Thursday, with Little and Rallis sharing those duties Friday night from the winner’s circle.
On Saturday, Gabe Prewitt and Rallis will share the winner’s circle interview chores.
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).
FANDUEL IS FABULOUS: 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 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.
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.