East Rutherford, NJ – She’s a trainer of stakes-caliber trotters and a business woman with her own apparel line.
But that’s not enough for Annie Stoebe, who will add “television co-host” to her resume this weekend, when she sits alongside Dave Little on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set and offers her insights, opinions and selections on The Meadowlands’ live simulcast show this Friday (Nov. 28) and Saturday (Nov. 29).
The broadcast begins nightly at 5:45 p.m. when there is live racing. Post time for the first race is 6:20 p.m.
Stoebe says she touched base with Meadowlands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gural as well as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, both of whom liked the idea of her doing the show.
“It was a little bit of them and [Big M Winner’s Circle Host] Gary [DiLeo] pitched in and we just kind of all talked about it and it just snowballed from there,” said Stoebe. “[Co-hosting] is different, but I’m always up for trying something new, and I figured, why not, this is a great opportunity.”
“We are in the midst of having a different co-host every week as compared to the past, when we had two people on set doing a majority of the shows,” said Settlemoir. “This format allows people from different walks of the industry to be on our show and share their perspectives.
“Journalists are great, and they are the backbone of who we use to do the show with Dave. But to get the opinions of a trainer like Annie is something we feel is something our fan base might find interesting, because we certainly do.”
Stoebe, whose two stable stars are Diabolic Hill and Elista Hanover, doesn’t appear too intimidated by the fact that a majority of the gig calls for handicapping the races.
“I’ll make some extra money,” said Stoebe with a laugh. “I’ll do my studying.”
In addition to horse training, Stoebe also has a line of apparel that she’s hawking that includes tank tops, T-shirts and baseball caps.
“There are links on all of my social media,” said Stoebe. “There is also a Shopify store, which is where all of those links will take you.”
To take a look at the merchandise, go here.
Diabolic Hill was one of the top 2-year-old male trotters of 2025, winning half of his 10 starts and banking just over a half-million dollars. On Nov. 15, in his last start of the season, the son of Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream won the $421,000 Valley Victory at The Big M, getting some revenge on Breeders Crown champion Spencer Hanover, who defeated ‘Diabolic’ in the Crown up at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Does the trainer have Hambletonian dreams?
“I had dreams from the second I saw him in the paddock,” said Stoebe. “But after the Valley Victory, we are definitely looking forward to next year.”
Diabolic Hill, Elista Hanover, an apparel line, and handicapping and commenting on two racing programs. All of these things will be discussed at length this weekend. And Stoebe is ready for the challenge.
“I was asked and jumped on the opportunity,” said Steobe. “I can’t wait to co-host.”
NO RACING THURSDAY: There will be a change in the live racing schedule at The Meadowlands this week.
Since the start of November, racing has taken place on a three-day-a-week basis (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).
However, this week, there will be no racing on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27).
There is one other exception to the schedule for the remainder of 2025. There will also be no Thursday racing on Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
SIMULCASTING FEAST: While there is no live racing at The Big M on Thursday, there will be simulcasting offered until the conclusion of the program at the Fair Grounds.
Doors open at 11 a.m.
A GREAT WAY TO PLAY: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.
Here is the rundown of what wagers will be offered on the Friday and Saturday 14-race programs this weekend:
Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
Races 3-9: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 (mandatory payout nightly)
Races 6-9: Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
Races 8-13: 20-cent Pick-6
Races 10-13: Late 50-cent Pick 4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
Race 14: 10-cent non-jackpot Pentafecta (Hi-5)
LITTLES HIT BIG: Big M TV veteran Dave Little saved his best for last on the nine-race Thursday (Nov. 20) card, giving out the lone Pick-4 that was offered, which paid $401.10, as well as the Late Daily Double ($49.40), on which he had a $6 ticket for a return of $148.20.
In total, Little’s followers cashed in for $549.30 on a $76 investment.
On Saturday (Nov. 22), Dave’s wife, Debbie, who sat in the co-host’s chair on set, treated her followers to some extra holiday green, giving out the $186 Late 50-cent Pick-4. But Debbie, the associate editor and columnist at Harness Racing Update, structured her ticket so her fans had it three times to collect $558 for an investment of $40.50, a profit of well over $500.
LOEBS’ LATE LIGHTNING: Sean Loebs made a big score on the Late Pick-4 to come from well back to take the 10th and final installment of the 2025 Meadowlands $1,000 Monthly Handicapping Contest on Friday (Nov. 21) night.
Loebs finished the night with a bankroll of $1,103.00 to outdistance second-place finisher William Meisel, who used an early score to finish with $536.
By finishing 1-2, Loebs and Meisel became the final two qualifiers for the $10,000 invitation-only challenge, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Loebs also had a top-two finish in March, so he will have two entries in the $10,000 tussle. Joining Loebs with a pair of entries are Gary Scogna, Karen Fossli and Robert Glaser.
Nick Montemurro leads the way with four entries in the December competition.
The contest will be limited to the players who finished first or second during the 10 weeks of the “qualifiers”, with $5,000 going to the winner. There will be 20 entries in the final.
The complete list of players from January through October that qualified for the December contest are Montemurro and Scogna (January); Michael Grasso and Montemurro (February); Loebs and Joe Barre (March); Glaser and Jim Bohnarczyk (April); Fossli and Russ Slader (May); Del Kern and Scogna (June); Fossli and Montemurro (July); Emile Issa and Montemurro (August); and Rich Preziotti and Glaser (October).
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.
A SOCIAL SETTING: Everything Meadowlands is 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).