PACE NIGHT STARS SHINED BRIGHT AT BIG M

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Meadowlands Pace Night delivered all of the drama and thrills that the sport’s biggest evening of racing promised it would on Saturday (July 11) at The Meadowlands, as not only did some star performers walk away with big stakes events scores, but in the process, prepared for races that are even more harness-calendar impactful.

The results:

• Del Miller Memorial (3-year-old filly trot) – Nezuko Kamado S won her division in 1:50.1 on the front end, while Jailbird Jog circled up from seventh and last after getting into a fourth-over flow to set up what figures to be a fabulous Hambletonian Oaks, which has eliminations at The Big M on July 31.
• Stanley Dancer Memorial (3-year-old colt and gelding trot) – In the last major prep before the Aug. 8 Hambletonian, Endurance made it four wins in five 2026 tries in division one, and if he is to win the Hambo, he’ll have to bring his best. Apex, the winter book favorite to win America’s Trotting Classic, scored in the other division with ease as the 1-9 favorite.
• Jerry Silverman Memorial (3-year-old filly pace) – Loua Dipa outlasted arch-rival Be Perfect BG for a second consecutive stakes event (the Fan Hanover was the first), and in doing so, so inspired her connections that she will now take on the boys in the Adios, which has eliminations this Saturday (July 18) at The Meadows. On Wednesday afternoon, the release of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll revealed that Loua Dipa was No. 1 in the rankings.
• Dorothy Haughton Memorial (open mare pace) – After Miki and Minnie got the better of Chris Ryder stablemate Twin B Joe Fresh in the July 4^th Perfect Sting, “Joe” scored a measure of revenge in the Dorothy Haughton, as “Miki” couldn’t stay with the 2024 Horse of the Year and ended up third.
• William Haughton Memorial (open pace) – A wild result in division one as a parked-out trip did 1-5 favorite Ervin Hanover in and fast fractions on the front end were more than Captain Optimistic could handle. Bythemissal, eighth and last while four-wide at three-quarters, charged home to grab the victory at odds of 57-1. Lou Hill worked out a live cover trip to win the second division in a lifetime-best 1:47.2.

• E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity (4-year-old open trot at 1 1/8 miles) – The remarkable On To Norway held off Super Chapter in a scintillating matchup of the best two 4-year-old trotters in North America. On To Norway also defeated Super Chapter in the Graduate on July 4^th, when he became the fastest trotter in history by virtue of a 1:48.3 clocking. He now is the clear 4-year-old division leader. Will the duo continue to be successful once they move up in class to face the older “killers” in the trotting division who are 5-years-old and older is the question.
• Meadowlands Pace (3-year-old open pace) – Brandon Blvd might have been 1-5, but his win did not come easily. Al Papi (who finished second), Gentleman’s Club (third) and Melillo (fourth) were all in the photo finish at the conclusion of a 1:48.1 mile. “Brandon” pushed his lifetime bankroll past the $1-million mark after winning for the 11^th time from just 16 lifetime starts.

THE SCHEDULE: 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 101^st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on Saturday, Aug. 8, and that card begins at noon.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, racing will begin at 7 p.m.

In addition, there is a Thursday program scheduled. It will take place on Aug. 6.

There is another day that simulcast 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, there will be no live racing at The Meadowlands on Friday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 28, due to preseason football at MetLife Stadium.

A CLOSE RACE: With just nine race cards remaining in the Winter-Spring-Championship Meet, the battle for top driver is still very much up for grabs.

It’s a two-way fight, as Brett Beckwith, whose 146 wins led The Big M in 2025, currently has 88 victories. Joe Bongiorno is in hot pursuit with 83.

The duo is incredibly close when it comes to how effective they have been for their backers. Beckwith wins at a rate of 22.1 percent, while Bongiorno scores at a 21.3 percent clip.

For some perspective, there are 22 drivers who have at least 100 starts at The Big M this year, and the only two with win percentages 20 percent or higher other than Beckwith and Bongiorno are Yannick Gingras (22 percent) and Dexter Dunn (23.6 percent).

WHO’S ON THE SHOW? This weekend, a married Hall of Fame couple will return to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set.

Harness Racing Update columnist and associate editor Debbie Little will serve as host of the live simulcast presentation on Friday night, with her husband, Dave, sitting alongside in the co-host chair.

The duo, both members of the Communicators Hall of Fame, were longtime New York tabloid handicappers and writers, with Debbie having worked at The New York Post from 1993-2020 and Dave at The New York Daily News from 1991-2015.

Saturday night will find owner and occasional Big M track announcer and simulcast show contributor Larry Fox on set in the co-host seat with Dave Little in his usual spot hosting the show.

Ken Warkentin will be in his place at the top of the grandstand calling the action for both programs, while Gary DiLeo will handle interviews from the paddock with winning connections.

TAKEOUT SMALL, WIN BIG: Here is the lineup of wagers that will be offered on Friday and Saturday night’s 15-race programs. They all offer a low 15 percent takeout.

• 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)

SHINY NEW WAGERS: Here are the new wagers that made their debuts on Meadowlands Pace Night that will continue to be part of the wagering menu.

• Races 8-9: $2 Mid-Card Double
• Races 13-15: $3 Late Pick-3
• Races 14-15: $5 Late Double

On Pace Night, the Mid-Card Double paid $605.60 thanks to Bythemissal’s upset in the eighth race at 57-1. The Late Pick-3 returned $982.20, while the Late Double, despite a 1-5 favorite winning the 14^th race, paid $84 at the conclusion of the 15^th.

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.

The World Cup championship match takes place on Sunday (July 19) at MetLife Stadium. The game begins at 3 p.m.

Spain is the favorite at -150 with Argentina at +130.

If you think Argentina’s Lionel Messi will score the game’s first goal, the odds are +400. To score at any time, +140; to score two or more goals +900; and to score three or more goals +6000.

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.