East Rutherford, NJ – The fun keeps rolling at the Meadowlands Racetrack through September to close out the 2026 summer harness meet. Live racing takes place every Friday and Saturday, with a 6:20 p.m. (EDT) post time. Friday, Aug. 28, is the only exception; there is no live racing due to a football game at MetLife Stadium.
This Saturday (Aug. 22) is the track’s eighth handicapping contest of the year. There is no entry fee (a $100 live money bankroll is required) for players, and the prize pool, guaranteed at $1,000 and funded by the track, will be paid out to the top four finishers. Full details are available here.
Saturday, Aug. 29, the annual BBQ Extravaganza will heat the Meadowlands Racetrack. A total of $2,500 will be awarded, with $500 for best pulled pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, and people’s choice. From 5-11 p.m. in the Backyard, fans can grab delicious barbecue and food truck eats from some of the finest local food trucks and restaurants in the area.
BBQ masters looking to come out on top in this year’s BBQ competition include Magic Mike’s Smoked Meats, Kimchi Smoke, Michael’s Backyard BBQ, Rhythm + Ribs Smokehouse, Lots of Meat BBQ and Bennett St BBQ. The full truck list can be found here.
The September $1,000 handicapping contest takes place on Saturday, Sept. 5. Once again, there is no entry fee (a $100 live money bankroll is required), and the prize pool, guaranteed at $1,000, will be paid out to the top four finishers.
Closing out the summer harness meet on Saturday, Sept. 12, is Fan Appreciation Night and the track’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. The Café will have $1 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, and soda and $2 draft beer from 6-11 p.m. and fans have a chance to win up to $50 in betting vouchers just for swiping their Players Club card.
The night’s TV broadcast will also feature racing highlights from the last 50 years along with special guests. In addition, the first 1,000 guests will receive a 50th anniversary beverage flask (giveaway begins at 6 p.m.). A rundown of the night’s events can be found here.
For a complete list of nightly events, promotions, and an updated racing calendar, please visit PlayMeadowlands.com. Dining reservations for the Pink buffet can be made by calling 201-The-BigM (201-843-2446) or online here.