Plan extra time due to soccer at MetLife 7/26 (games at 4pm & 7pm). Use Paterson Plank Road entrance and stay to right at toll plaza.

BERGSTEIN GRADUATE FINALS KEEP STAKES TRAIN ROLLING AT BIG M

Thursday, July 3, 2025


To honor a man who dedicated his life to the sport and whose face and voice were the most recognized in the history of harness racing, The Meadowlands has seen fit to add his name to the featured events taking place this Saturday (July 5) night at The Big M, as the Stan Bergstein Graduate finals take place with a pair of $230,000 events for 4-year-olds, one for pacers and one for trotters.

Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night at the mile oval, and has a special later-than-usual post time of 7 p.m., on an evening when on-track patrons will have plenty to enjoy.

The Meadowlands Pace was scheduled to have had eliminations Saturday, but with only 10 horses having dropped into the entry box Tuesday (July 1) morning, the one-dash-for-the-cash final will go on Saturday, July 12.

For those who want to see how some of the contenders are coming along, the eighth race on Saturday will be a 3-year-old Open, which will feature a half-dozen of the horses who will go in the Pace.

What else is happening Saturday?

  • At 6 p.m., the post-position draw for the Meadowlands Pace will take place in the winner’s circle (Jessica Otten will host)
  • Face painters will be in the Backyard from 6:30-9 p.m.
  • Fan Appreciation specials will be offered from 6-11 p.m., with $1 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda, as well as $2 Bud and Bud Lite. These cost-friendly concessions will be available at the Café, Terrace, Café Apron Window and Backyard only
  • After Race 6, Horseplay. You could win a 2025 Toyota GR86
  • Fireworks! Approximately 10 minutes after the last race, there will be a fantastic fireworks show. Anywhere in the Meadowlands grandstand, outside on the standee level, or up on the roof will all be the best place to watch from

“Giving back to our loyal fan base is something all of us at The Meadowlands can get behind,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Fan Appreciation Night is one way we can do that. Our on-track patrons will be treated to a pair of races named for Stan Bergstein, a man who is synonymous with harness racing, and during the night, can enjoy some low-cost concessions before a great fireworks show lights up the sky at the conclusion of racing. It’s a great way to spend a warm summer night.”

GOING NATIONAL: There will be live harness racing broadcast to a national television audience this Saturday (July 5) night, with the spotlight shining on The Meadowlands and Ohio’s Scioto Downs during the three-hour presentation.

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

This Saturday’s show can be seen on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) and will begin at 8 p.m. Anchoring the broadcast will be Chris Griffin and Gabe Prewitt from NYRA’s showcase track, Saratoga Race Course, with on-the-scene commentary being provided by Jessica Otten at The Meadowlands and Jenna Otten at Scioto Downs.

Featured action at The Big M includes the two Bergstein Graduate finals. The matchup in the pace pits Nijinsky against Captain Albano, who hit the wire a nose apart first and second, respectively, in the final preliminary two weeks ago.

Private Access looks to stay perfect in four seasonal starts in the trot. Amazing Catch, Sir Pinocchio and Gruesome Twosome look like the most likely to pull off an upset.

The Next Generation for 2-year-old filly trotters and 2-year-old colt pacers and trotters sit atop the Scioto marquee. Ohio Sire Stakes dashes will also be shown.

Here is the schedule for the remaining 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:

  • July 5 – Stan Bergstein Graduate finals, 8-11 p.m., FS2
  • July 12 – Meadowlands Pace Night (multiple stakes), 10-11:30 p.m., FS2
  • August 2 – Hambletonian 100 coverage throughout the day, 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

MONTHLY HANDICAPPING CONTEST: The seventh edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place on Friday, July 18, and offers players a chance to win a share of $1,000 in prize money.

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, July 18
  • Saturday, August 30
  • Saturday, October 25
  • Friday, November 21
  • The $10,000 invitation-only final is on Saturday, December 13

Previous 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); Robert Glaser and Jim Bohnarczyk (April); Karen Fossli and Russ Slader (May); and Del Kern and Scogna (June).

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.

THEY ARE FA-REEE! 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.

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

But there is one exception.

On Saturday (July 5), post time for the first race is 7 p.m.

CIRCLE THE DATES: The two biggest dates on the calendar at The Meadowlands feature two of the biggest stakes events the game offers.

In just one week, on Saturday, July 12, the $656,000 Meadowlands Pace will take center stage on a power-packed card that gets underway at 6:20 p.m.

Two weeks after that, “America’s Trotting Classic” will be in the spotlight celebrating an historic anniversary.

On Saturday, Aug. 2, the 100th edition of the $1-million Hambletonian will highlight the strongest program of the year in the sport. The only card during the season that takes place during the day, post time on Hambo Day is noon.

WHAT’S GOING ON? Check out the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show every Friday and Saturday when track announcer Ken Warkentin opens up the mic with a scene set and program changes at 5:45 p.m.

At that point, Warkentin will then throw to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set.

Veteran Canadian harness racing TV talent Greg Blanchard will be at The Meadowlands both this week and next, sitting alongside the Big M’s Dave Little, with the pair providing news, notes and selections.

On the Friday nights, Blanchard will be in the co-host chair, while on the Saturdays, he will serve as host of the broadcast.

John Rallis, who divides his on-camera time between The Big M and Woodbine Mohawk Park when not serving as an editor and columnist at TROT Magazine, will be handling interviews from the back paddock this Friday and Saturday as well as providing commentary and selections on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed on Saturday.

Jessica Otten will provide the FDTV analysis on Friday.

PLAY HORSEPLAY, WIN A CAR: The extremely popular Horseplay Car Giveaway has returned.

When there is live racing, fans can get involved by picking up a free toy 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, for a chance to win a 2025 Toyota GR86.

A GREAT WAY TO PLAY: 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

SOCIALLY SUPERIOR: 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).

A GREAT NIGHT OUT: 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 NO. 1: 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.

Local baseball fans will be able to double up on their action on Thursday (July 3).

The New York Yankees are in Toronto for a 7:08 p.m. first pitch with the Blue Jays. The Bronx Bombers are -124 in the game that has an under/over of 8½ runs.

At 7:11 p.m., the slumping New York Mets will look for their second straight win against the Milwaukee Brewers at CitiField.

The Mets are -162 in the game that has an under/over of 8 runs.

For those who like a higher-risk, higher-reward scenario, a $100 parlay on the Yankees and Mets to win would return $292, a payoff of just under 2-1.

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.