East Rutherford, NJ – The final weekend of harness racing at the Meadowlands before a four-week break will go out with a bang this Friday (Sept. 11) and Saturday (Sept. 12), as $1.78 million in purses will be on the line Friday on New Jersey Classic Finals Night before the track’s 50th anniversary is celebrated Saturday, with the fans reaping all of the rewards.
First up on Friday are the NJC dashes for 2- and 3-year-olds of each sex and gait. The four events for trotters go for $250,000 each, while the four paces have $150,000 purses. Also on the menu is the $188,200 Girl Power for mare trotters.
Four of the more notable NJC stories of the night are:
· Race 3 (3-year-old filly pace) – One of the division’s top players, Be Perfect BG (8-5 on the morning line), is the one to beat. The Anthony Beaton trainee is five-for-nine this year, and her four losses came to a pair of top-notch competitors. Earlier in the season “BPBG” was beaten twice by Loua Dipa, the defending divisional champion, and more recently, was taken down by the red-hot Sangria Summer, in the Lynch at Pocono Downs and Shady Daisy at The Big M.
· Race 6 (2-year-old filly trot) – The remarkable Wall Of Fame (9-5) will be looking for her eighth win in as many starts for trainer Julie Miller and her husband-driver Andy. Last week in her elimination, the daughter of Walner-Saadet put forth another virtuoso performance, scoring by a never-an-anxious-moment 3 lengths in 1:53.4.
· Race 9 (3-year-old colt and gelding trot) – Last week, the entire harness racing universe – as well as a few bridge-jumping place bettors – gasped when Hambletonian winner Apex (5-2) was a well-beaten fourth as the 1-9 favorite. Will the Marcus Melander trainee rebound? Or will one of a handful of top trotters – Diabolic Hill (5-1), Nix Nacken (7-2) or Magic Punk (9-2) – get the win? In the aftermath of last week’s loss, Melander said it was a “bad trainer job and I didn’t have him sharp enough.” But after getting bloodwork done that revealed nothing of note, the 2019 Dan Patch Trainer of the Year said his prized pupil was doing well and that he is expecting a good effort this week.
· Race 11 (2-year-old colt and gelding pace) – Aintmyfirstro Deo (2-1) has won all five of his 2026 outings for the team of trainer Megan Scran and driver Scott Zeron, but will have to earn his sixth straight win, having drawn post 9 in a nine-horse field. The gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions has gone wire-to-wire on four occasions, while in his second career start, he won from well off the pace, a tactic that Zeron may have to use Friday given his post position fortunes.
TIME TO CELEBRATE: The Meadowlands has been the top harness track in the sport since it opened, and if you come out on Saturday, you can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mile oval.
If you are one of the first 1,000 in attendance, you will receive a commemorative Meadowlands 50th Anniversary flask.
Throughout the evening, there will be video reels, interviews and more.
In addition, there will be concession specials at the Café, with $1 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda and $2 Bud and Bud Light drafts (for ages 21 and older). The specials are available from 6-11 p.m. with a limit of five items per transaction.
It’s a good night to be in the Players Club. Members can swipe their card at any self-service terminal for a chance to win up to $50.
IT’S LIVE ON FOX: The New Jersey Classic Finals plus the Girl Power for mare trotters will be shown live to a nationwide television audience as part of the New York Racing Association’s “America’s Day at the Races” series.
The broadcast can be seen Friday night on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) from 8-11 p.m., and the team of Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt will provide commentary and selections.
THIS IS IT: This is the final weekend of harness racing at the Meadowlands before the trotters and pacers take a four-week break.
Harness racing will be conducted this Friday (Sept. 11) and Saturday (Sept. 12) night. Thereafter, the “Monmouth at The Meadowlands” mini-meet will be conducted with nine nights of Thoroughbred turf racing, which will be held on Sept. 18, 19, 25 and 26, and Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10 and 16. Post time is 7 p.m.
Harness racing will then return on Saturday, Oct. 17.
After that, there will be harness racing on Friday and Saturday for the rest of October and throughout November.
December will see a three-day-a-week schedule for the first three weeks of the month, with live action on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through the 19th. Then, after the 19th, there will be only one live harness card for the rest of the year, on the 26th.
The post time for all harness racing programs for the remainder of 2026 is 6:20 p.m.
SIMULCAST SHUTDOWN: Due to regular season National Football League action that will take place at MetLife Stadium, there will be no simulcasting offered at the Meadowlands on Sept. 13, 20 and 27.
STURMAN ON SET: Joining regular live simulcast show host Dave Little on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set this Friday and Saturday will be Brett Sturman, the handicapper and columnist from Harness Racing Update. The presentation gets underway both nights at 5:45 p.m.
Ken Warkentin will be in his usual spot at the top of the stands calling the action. Little will handle winner’s circle interviews of the featured events on Friday with Gary DiLeo handling those chores on Saturday.
A STELLAR SEVEN: The Meadowlands’ betting public is accustomed to the new $3 Late Pick-3 and $5 Late Daily Double, but still go for the mile oval’s wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout in a big way.
These are the bets that offer that low takeout for this Friday’s 14-race program:
· Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 3-6: 50-cent Pick-4
· Races 4-10: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
· Races 6-10: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 8-13: 20-cent Pick-6
· Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick-4
· Race 11: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
These are the bets that offer that low takeout for this Saturday’s 15-race program:
· Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 3-6: 50-cent Pick-4
· Races 4-10: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
· Races 6-10: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 8-13: 20-cent Pick-6
· Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick4
· Race 11: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
Note: On Friday, the $3 Late Pick-3 will be offered on Races 12-14 and $5 Late Double on Races 13-14.
On Saturday, the $3 Late Pick-3 will be offered on Races 12-14 and $5 Late Double on Races 13-14, despite the fact that those races do not close out the card.
ROCK OUT: Hang out on the roof at the Big M on Saturday, Sept. 19 and enjoy the classic rock sounds of The Past Masters. The show begins at 6 p.m., and there will be drink specials but absolutely no cover charge.
For complete information, go here.
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).
FOOTBALL IN FANDUEL IS FABULOUS: 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.
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.