East Rutherford, NJ – Come on out for the biggest party in harness racing Saturday (July 11) night at The Meadowlands and experience a huge night of fun and top-notch harness racing, featuring the $810,000 Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC.
The program will offer 14 races with purses totaling $2.5 million, and it would be difficult to not conclude that this is the best program in the sport thus far in 2026. Eleven of the dashes are stakes events, so it’s no surprise that many of the sport’s equine standouts will be on the track.
In addition, there will be so much going on, everyone will find something interesting to do or see on the night of the mile oval’s signature event. There will be plenty for youngsters to do as well, so bring the kids.
On your way in the door, pick up your free Meadowlands Pace T-shirt, which commemorates the 50th edition of the storied stakes event as well as paying tribute to the World Cup soccer tournament.
There are also rides, games, live music and food trucks, so this is one night when you have to be at the track.
For complete information, go here.
Some of the superstar performers on the program include:
- Del Miller Memorial (3-year-old filly trot) – Nezuko Kamado S, fresh off a 1:52.1 lifetime-best win at The Big M in the Reynolds, tops the first division while the unbeaten Ygritte (five-for-five) takes on Oak Grove Oaks winner Jailbird Jog in division two.
- Stanley Dancer Memorial (3-year-old colt and gelding trot) – Oak Grove Derby winner Spencer Hanover faces rival Endurance, the 2-5 favorite who ‘Spencer’ defeated in the Bluegrass State, in division one. Apex, the current Hambletonian favorite, tops the second division.
- Jerry Silverman Memorial (3-year-old filly pace) – Loua Dipa, the millionaire Fan Hanover winner who took the 2025 Breeders Crown and is the defending divisional champion from the Ron Burke barn, is the one to beat.
- Dorothy Haughton Memorial (open mare pace) – Last week in the Perfect Sting, Chris Ryder stablemates Miki and Minnie and Twin B Joe Fresh finished 1-2 in a memorable battle to the wire in the slop. The duo will go at it again, along with Louies Girl N, who finished fourth in that dash.
- William Haughton Memorial (open pace) – Defending Older Male Pacer of the Year Ervin Hanover registered his first Big M win after eight failures last week in the Dave Brower and will try to stay perfect in four seasonal starts in the first division. He’ll face Graduate winner Captain Optimistic. Each hit the wire in 1:46.3 in those victories, which is the fastest time of the year in the sport. Captain Albano is looking to rebound in division two after a tough-trip, 11-hole outing in Ervin Hanover’s score.
- E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity (4-year-old open trot at 1 1/8 miles) – In a thrilling Graduate final one week ago, On To Norway became the fastest trotter in North American harness racing history, stopping the clock in 1:48.3 while taking down defending divisional champion Super Chapter. The duo figure to provide more thrills in this 1 1/8-mile test that sports a bulky 13-horse field.
- Meadowlands Pace (3-year-old open pace) – Off a powerhouse 1:47.3 lifetime-best win in the lone elimination, Brandon Blvd has been installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite in the $810,000 final. He’ll be driven by five-time Dan Patch Driver of the Year Dexter Dunn and is trained by Andrew Harris, the conditioner for the powerful Punisher 11 Stable. Each is looking for their first Pace wins. Sweet Lovin Lou, who won one of two North America Cup eliminations, closed well for second to ‘Brandon’ when Lasix was added for the first time.
MEADOWLANDS PACE FIELD
This is the field for the Pace, an open event for 3-year-olds, with all changes, with post position, horse, driver, trainer and morning-line odds:
PP – HORSE – DRIVER – TRAINER – ODDS
1 – Toby Ornot Toby – Tim Tetrick – Scott DiDomenico – 20-1
2 – Brandon Blvd – Dexter Dunn – Andrew Harris – 3-5
3 – Lindy Dragonwater – James MacDonald – Ron Burke – 20-1
4 – Gentleman’s Club – Andy McCarthy – Aaron Lambert – 8-1
5 – Melillo – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke – 10-1
6 – Bookie J – Jason Bartlett – Chris Ryder – 12-1
7 – Sweet Lovin Lou – Scott Zeron – Dan Lagace – 6-1
8 – Al Papi – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 10-1
9 – Azrael Blue Chip – Brett Beckwith – Besim Odza – 30-1
10 – Ubrute – Todd McCarthy – Ron Burke – 15-1
NOTE: Post time is 10:33 p.m.
Brandon Blvd drew for posts 1-6 for winning the elimination.
Morning-line odds by John Rallis.
LIVE ON FOX: The Meadowlands Pace card will once again be shown to a national television audience Saturday night as part of the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) “America’s Day at the Races” series.
The three-hour live broadcast can be seen on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and will begin at 8 p.m. Providing commentary and analysis will be the team of Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt.
The presentation is the third of seven on FOX that will feature Big M races during the 2026 stakes season, with the next broadcast coming on August 8 when the 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is the featured event. That show will be on FS2, with the telecast kicking off at 11:30 a.m.
BEATING THE HEAT: Last week’s heat wave knocked out racing on Thursday (July 2) and Friday (July 3), so Big M management moved the Thursday night program to tonight (Thursday, July 9), when the track will kick off a three-card race week.
Racing will be conducted on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a post time of 6:35 p.m.
Moving forward, live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis through Sept. 12 with a first-race post time of 6:35 p.m.
There are some exceptions to those rules.
The 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on Saturday, August 8, and that card begins at noon.
On Saturday, August 15, racing will begin at 7 p.m.
In addition, there is another Thursday program scheduled. It will take place on August 6.
There is another day that racing fans need to be aware of.
The Big M will be closed for simulcasting on Sunday, July 19, when the World Cup championship match will be played at MetLife Stadium.
Finally, pending regulatory approval from the New Jersey Racing Commission, there will be no live racing on Friday, August 14, and Friday, August 28, due to preseason football at MetLife Stadium.
WHO’S ON THE SHOW? This weekend, Trot Magazine associate editor and Mohawk TV personality John Rallis and DRF Harness editor Derick Giwner will be back for a second straight week participating in The Big M’s live simulcast presentation.
On Thursday and Friday, Rallis will join regular host Dave Little on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set while Gary DiLeo provides interviews from the paddock.
Saturday night will find Giwner sitting alongside Little on set with Rallis and Little handling interviews from the winner’s circle.
As usual, Ken Warkentin will be in his spot at the top of the grandstand calling the action for all three programs.
TAKEOUT SMALL, WIN BIG: Here is the lineup of wagers that will be offered on Thursday and Friday night’s 15-race programs. They all offer a low 15 percent takeout. On Thursday’s card, there will be no guaranteed pools on the two Pick-4s.
- Races 1-5: 20-cent Early Pick-5
- Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6
- Races 6-9: 50-cent Early Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 7: 10-cent Early Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 8-12: 20-cent Late Pick-5
- Races 10-13: 50-cent Late Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 15: 10-cent Late Pentafecta (Hi-5)
SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS: Here is the lineup of wagers that will be offered on Saturday’s 14-race Meadowlands Pace Night card. The Mid-Card Double is a new wager, while the Late Pick-3 and Late Double offer new base bets, designed for players to make bigger scores.
- Races 1-5: 20-cent Early Pick-5
- Races 3-8: 20-cent Pick-6
- Races 6-9: 50-cent Early Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 7: 10-cent Early Pentafecta (Hi-5)
- Races 8-9: $2 Mid-Card Double
- Races 8-12: 20-cent Late Pick-5
- Races 10-13: 50-cent Late Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- Race 12: $3 Late Pick-3
- Race 13: $5 Late Double
- Race 14: 10-cent Late Pentafecta (Hi-5)
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).
BET THE WORLD CUP IN FANDUEL: 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.
The FanDuel Sportsbook is your headquarters for betting on the World Cup, and is open for business, even when there is no racing at the track.
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.