COUNTDOWN TO HAMBLETONIAN 100 AT BIG M IS ON

Thursday, May 8, 2025

---

There are just 86 days to go.

Harness racing’s most-storied event is celebrating a remarkable milestone this year at the industry’s top venue as the 100^th edition of the Hambletonian will take place in just under three months at The Meadowlands, on Saturday, Aug. 2.

The Hambo, as well as a laundry list of supporting stakes events, will take place on the first Saturday in August. That day is so special on the Big M’s calendar, that it is the only card of the 94 this year at the mile oval that takes place during the day. Post time is noon, and the $1-million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters tops a card that features nine other major events – including the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for sophomore filly trotters – on a day where purses for the program are estimated at $3.24 million.

“Hambletonian Day is the most popular event in harness racing,” said Meadowlands’ Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “It always brings out a big crowd, and features the very best horses, trainers and drivers in the world. For true harness fans, it is a can’t miss day at the races.”

Maryland, the standout 2-year-old from 2024, is the early favorite to win The Hambletonian after winning six-of-nine starts a year ago, good for earnings of just over $1.2 million, a bankroll that led all horses in the sport.

The Marcus Melander trained son of Chapter Seven-Crucial is certain to open up at No. 1 in Big M track announcer Ken Warkentin’s weekly “Road to The Hambletonian” Top 10, which will make its debut during the first week of June and will come out for 10 straight Wednesdays.

A national television audience will once again be able to watch The Hambletonian live, as FOX Sports will broadcast the event as part of its “America’s Day at the Races” series.

In the coming months, there will be a plethora of special events surrounding “America’s Trotting Classic”. Much of that information will be available on The Meadowlands website, playmeadowlands.com. For complete statistical data, upcoming events, upcoming prep races and everything else Hambletonian, go to the society’s website, hambletonian.com.

Do you like lots of fun facts about the #Hambletonian100 countdown? Of course you do! To get in on the fun, go to https://www.facebook.com/HambletonianSociety and https://www.facebook.com/HarnessRacingDC.

EARLY PREGAME SHOW: With The Meadowlands now having the first race of every race card go to the gate without a post-time drag and begin promptly at 6:20 p.m., the track’s live simulcast show will now begin 15 minutes earlier, at 5:30 p.m., every live racing night.

DUNN IN THE SULKY: Dexter Dunn, the United States Harness Writers Association Dan Patch Driver of the Year Award winner five of the last six years, will be Dave Little’s guest on Saturday night on the track’s “In the Sulky” interview segment. It will begin at approximately 5:35 p.m.

Dunn and Little will discuss the New Zealand native’s fabulous 2025, which saw him win a record six Breeders Crown titles.

In addition, Dunn will weigh-in on Maryland and Captain Optimistic, who are big-time 2025 Hambletonian and Meadowlands Pace contenders, respectively.

WHEN IS LIVE RACING? During the month of May, live racing at The Big M will be conducted every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post-time of 6:20 p.m.

THE BIG SHOW: Check out the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show at 5:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday when Warkentin opens up the mic with a scene set and program changes.

Warkentin will then throw to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set, where The Big M’s Little and Jessica Otten will provide news, notes, selections and a look at the night’s featured races.

Joe Romanelli will handle interviews from the back paddock as well as providing commentary and selections on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed.

WALK TO THE TRACK, DRIVE AWAY IN A CAR: The extremely popular Horseplay Car Giveaway has returned.

When there is live racing, fans can get involved by picking up a free horse to toss. Participants attempt to throw their numbered horse into the window of a moving car. A winner, randomly chosen from all the horses that make it into the vehicle, will receive a $100 betting voucher. The 27 winners will be entered into the Horseplay final drawing on Friday, Aug. 1, and have a chance to win a 2025 Toyota GR86. 

A GRAND CONTEST: The fifth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place on Friday, May 16, and for visitors to The Big M, playing the contest is something they should consider even if they have not participated in competitions like this before.

The monthly challenge offers $1,000 in cash prizes.

If a track visitor is someone that doesn’t mind risking $100 during the course of a race card, then the contest is for them, as that $100 that gets them into the contest is not an entry free, but money that buys one a ‘betting card’. If they hit big that night, they keep every penny of that green. In addition, if they finish in the top four, they walk away with that additional prize money, and, if in the top two, collect not only prize money but also earn a spot in the end-of-the-year competition that offers cash prizes totaling $10,000.

Contest format:

·         Contestants must be on-site to participate

·         Contestants must buy a $100 betting card to participate

·         Contestants must bet a minimum of five Meadowlands races

·         There is no minimum or maximum bet per race

·         Contestants can play any wager(s) on The Meadowlands live wagering menu

·         Contestants keep all pari-mutuel winnings

·         Contestants can enter as many times as they wish

·         The top two finishers earn spots in the $10,000 end-of-the-year contest

Remaining contest schedule:

·         Friday, May 16

·         Friday, June 20

·         Friday, July 18

·         Saturday, August 30

·         Saturday, October 25

·         Friday, November 21

·         The $10,000 invitation-only final is on Saturday, December 13

Players that have qualified for the December contest are Nick Montemurro and Gary Scogna (the top two finishers from January); Michael Grasso and Montemurro (February); Sean Loebs and Joe Barre (March); and Robert Glaser and Jim Bohnarczyk (April).

Complete contest rules and regulations can be found here.

To participate, players must be 18 years of age or older to wager on racing. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please get help at 1-800-GAMBLER.

EIGHT IS GREAT: It was another banner night on Saturday (May 3) for the team of Warkentin, Otten and Little as the trio of Big M TV talent kept their followers cashing all night long.

Warkentin, the Hall of Fame voice of the track, selected eight winners – featuring Vandalism in the fourth race, who returned $22.40 – and three exactas.

Otten had seven on top, featuring Take Your Pick ($10.80) in the ninth. She also had a $1 ticket on the Early 50-cent Pick-4, thrilling her fans with a return of $150.80.

Little tabbed six on top, with Primary Colors ($8.80) his best price in the 12^th. He also treated his fans to a $3 ticket on the Late 50-cent Pick-4, which was good for a return of $174.60. “Little’s Late Double” came in for a third straight card, enabling those who played Little’s ticket to cash in for $92 as they made their way out the door.

GOING NATIONAL: For a fifth consecutive year, the TV teams at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Meadowlands will combine forces to bring high-caliber harness racing stakes events to a national television audience over the networks of FOX Sports as part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” telecasts.

The first of eight scheduled shows will be broadcast on Saturday, May 17, when The Big M showcases the best older trotters in North America in the $175,000 (est.) Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. In addition to coverage from the East Rutherford oval, races from Indiana’s Hoosier Park will also be featured.

The Meadowlands’ Otten and Hoosier Park’s Gabe Prewitt will provide commentary from their respective venues.

Here is the schedule for the FOX Sports shows, with the event(s) that will be featured and the time the show will be broadcast. Which FOX network the show can be found on – Fox 5 New York (locally), FS1 or FS2 – will be determined:

·         May 17 – Cutler Memorial, 8-11 p.m., FS2

·         June 28 – Perfect Sting, Brower Memorial, Crawford Farms, Six Pack, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         July 5 – Stan Bergstein Graduate finals; Meadowlands Pace eliminations, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         July 12 – Meadowlands Pace Night (multiple stakes), 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         August 2 – Hambletonian Day (multiple stakes), 1-7 p.m., TBA

·         September 5 – New Jersey Classic Series finals, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         November 1 – Kindergarten finals, 8-11 p.m., TBA

·         November 15 – Fall Final Four, 8-11 p.m., TBA

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.

ACTION BIG, TAKEOUT SMALL: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

They are:

·         20-cent Pick-5: Races 1-5

·         20-cent Survivor Pick-7: Races 3-9 (mandatory payout nightly)

·         Early 50-cent Pick-4: Races 6-9 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

·         20-cent Pick-6: Races 8-13

·         Late 50-cent Pick 4: Races 10-13 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

·         10-cent non-jackpot Pentafecta (Hi-5): Race 14

LET’S GET SOCIAL: 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 trio of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

PARTY ON: Looking to book a corporate event or private party?  The Meadowlands has unlimited event possibilities. The redesigned Gallery with multiple TVs, private bar and balcony overlooking the FanDuel Sportsbook is perfect for game days, watch parties and more.

To book your private party, email alokshin@playmeadowlands.com.

FANDUEL IS FABULOUS: Meadowlands regulars know that if they want action on professional and college sports, all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the No. 1 facility of its kind in all of North America.

It couldn’t be easier to access, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Big M.

The book has 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 baseball locals will be off on Thursday (May 8), so sports bettors will likely have added interest in the NBA playoffs when the Golden State Warriors travel to Minnesota for an 8:30 p.m. matchup with the Timberwolves.

Minnesota is a 10½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 201½ points.

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.