East Rutherford, NJ – There will be no need for horse players to knock on doors this weekend to get tricks and treats, all they need to do is head to The Meadowlands, where three carryovers will be available Friday (Oct. 30) to satisfy the sweet tooth of any punter before the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds, a tasty treat with purses totaling $500,000, takes center stage on Halloween Night, Saturday (Oct. 31).
In addition, the Breeders’ Cup simulcast will be the highlighted event in The Big M’s expansive simulcast area, with the 14-race competition that goes for $30 million in purses being offered to Thoroughbred racing fans on both Friday and Saturday.
“This is the time of year for some special events,” said Meadowlands Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Last weekend, we offered simulcasting of the Breeders Crown from Scioto Downs. This weekend, we have the Breeders’ Cup simulcast and, on track, the Kindergarten finals. Then, in two weeks, on Nov. 14, we will host Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night, so, despite the colder temperatures, there is still some good racing to come.”
THE CARRYOVERS
On Friday, the first race will offer a carryover on the Early 20-cent Pick-5 of $20,891. Last Saturday, after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 7-2, 3-5, 17-1, 84-1 and 22-1, no winning tickets were sold. Those with four correct selections collected $1,741.00.
Carryover No. 2 will come in race 3, as the 20-cent Pick-6 will start out with $2,655 up for grabs. Last Saturday, after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 17-1, 84-1, 22-1, 7-1, 1-1 and 2-1, the only players cashing in – for $35.22 – were those with four correct selections.
Finally, the third and final Friday carryover comes in race 7. Last Saturday, the 10-cent Hi-5 (Pentafecta) combination of 5-8-7-1-4 yielded no winning tickets, and after the low 15 percent takeout was removed from the pool of approximately $10,000, a carryover of $8,417 remained.
THE KINDERGARTEN
The series for freshmen of each sex and gait will make up the Early 50-cent Pick-4 on Saturday. Each has a purse of $125,000.
Here is a snapshot of horses who are major players:
· Race 6 (Filly Trot): Orinoco stormed home to win the fifth and final leg last Friday as the even-money favorite in 1:54.2. The Captain Corey-Bonnie Lou product finished third in her Breeders Crown elimination in the start prior, but was disqualified and placed sixth, costing her a spot in the final.
· Race 7 (Colt and Gelding Pace): The Joe Bongiorno-trained and driven Seine (Sweet Lou-Lock Bridge) was dominant in his Leg 5 score, hitting the wire in a lifetime-best 1:50.4 as the 1-5 public choice. He will have his hands full with Starstruck Dreamer (Captaintreacherous-Scarlett Hanover), the Noel Daley trainee who just missed in the Breeders Crown to Blazin Lou.
· Race 8 (Filly Pace): This race shapes up as a great matchup between Miss Dolce (Perfect Sting-Beautiful Candy) and Perfect Body (Perfect Sting-Sweet Body), the winners from last week’s two divisions.
· Race 9 (Colt and Gelding Trot): Obiter Dictum (Tactical Landing-Insolentreusite) was a safe winner in one of two Leg 5 divisions a week ago as the Marcus Melander student was using trotting hobbles for the second time. Melander’s Gustav Vasa (Face Time Bourbon-Ms Emily Mariette) pulled off a 12-1 surprise in the other dash.
THE BREEDERS’ CUP
In the event heading to Lexington, Ky., isn’t appealing to you, relax and head to The Meadowlands’ expansive simulcast area to watch and wager on the best Thoroughbred racehorses 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:
· Race 6 – Juvenile Turf Sprint, $1 million, 5-1/2 furlongs (turf), post time 2:55 p.m. EDT
· Race 7 – Juvenile Fillies, $2 million, 1-1/16 miles, 3:35 p.m.
· Race 8 – Juvenile Fillies Turf, $1 million, 1 mile (turf), 4:15 p.m.
· Race 9 – Juvenile, $2 million, 1-1/16 miles, 4:55 p.m.
· Race 10 – Juvenile Turf, $1 million, 1 mile (turf), 5:35 p.m.
Day 2 is Saturday (Oct. 31) and will offer nine races, all for 3-year-olds and up. They are:
· Race 4 – Dirt Mile, $1 million, 1 mile, 1:10 p.m.
· Race 5 – Turf Sprint, $1 million, 5-1/2 furlongs (turf), 1:48 p.m.
· Race 6 – Sprint, $2 million, 6 furlongs, 2:26 p.m.
· Race 7 – Filly & Mare Turf, $2 million, fillies and mares, 1-3/16 miles (turf), 3:04 p.m.
· Race 8 – Filly & Mare Sprint, $1 million, fillies and mares, 7 furlongs, 3:42 p.m.
· Race 9 – Mile, $2 million, 1 mile (turf), 4:20 p.m.
· Race 10 – Distaff, $2 million, fillies and mares, 1-1/8 miles, 4:58 p.m.
· Race 11 – Turf, $5 million, 1-1/2 miles (turf), 5:36 p.m.
· Race 12 – Classic, $7 million, 1-1/4 miles, 6:16 p.m.
The last race of the day could provide the ultimate drama, as either Golden Tempo or Forever Young could go on to be named Horse of the Year with a win in the $7 million Classic.
THE SCHEDULE: 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 20 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 level of racing is sky high, starting with Saturday (Oct. 31), when four $125,000 Kindergarten finals for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait will be offered.
Then, 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 (NYRA) 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.
LOEBS AND DEBBIE LITTLE ON SET: This weekend will see a new face on Friday and a familiar one Saturday on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set.
Sean Loebs, a longtime Meadowlands regular and winner of last year’s $10,000 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest final, will make his debut on The Big M’s live simulcast presentation sitting alongside regular host Dave Little.
Last Friday, Loebs bet an $80 cold late double and hit for $384 to vault him to victory in the 10th leg of the $1,000 contest. Loebs finished the night with a bankroll of $704 to garner his second contest win of 2026.
Debbie Little, the associate editor and columnist at Harness Racing Update, makes her return to the desk on Saturday, and will serve as host of the show alongside her husband, Dave, who will shift to the co-host seat.
The Littles observed two anniversaries recently. The pair were married 37 years on Sept. 10, while Oct. 28 marked the 40-year anniversary of the day that Dave picked the winners of all nine races on a matinee program at Roosevelt Raceway while working as a handicapper at the New York Post.
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 Friday. Dave Little will conduct winner’s circle interviews on Saturday for the four Kindergarten dashes.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: The Meadowlands’ betting public is now accustomed to the new $3 Late Pick-3 (Races 11-13) and $5 Late Daily Double (12-13), 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 weekend’s 13-race programs:
· Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6
· Races 6-9: 50-cent Pick-4
· Race 7: 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).
FOOTBALL IN FANDUEL: 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 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.