The Meadowlands Racetrack is seeking local charities interested in having a night at the races for a good cause in the track’s annual Charity Handicapping Contest, scheduled for Saturday, May 25. 

The Charity Contest is a free handicapping contest open to 501C3 organizations. It offers a $15,000 USD total donation/prize pool, with all 10 charities receiving a donation. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• 1st Place: $5,000 USD
• 2nd Place: $3,000 USD
• 3rd Place: $2,000 USD
• 4th Place: $1,500 USD
• 5th Place: $1,000 USD
• 6th-10th: $500 USD

For the Charity Handicapping Contest, organizations will select one horse in each of the 10 designated Meadowlands live races.  The organizations will amass a mythical bankroll if their selection officially finishes first, second or third in the designated race. Official $2 WPS (Win, Place, Show) payoffs will be added to the mythical bankroll. Official race results will serve as the order of finish. The organization that accumulates the highest mythical bankroll is the winner.

“This is an event we love to host each year,” said Jason Settlemoir, COO and GM of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. “Every year more and more charities register to participate and all the chosen charities make the event a huge night out. It is a terrific event for not only the track but also for the local community.” 

Act Now won the inaugural contest in 2019, Horse Rescue United took home the top prize in both 2021 and 2022, and the Travis Mills Foundation (pictured above) finished in the top spot in 2023.

Participating organizations will also have the opportunity to make winner’s circle presentations and be featured on the track’s jumbotron. 

Interested not-for-profit organizations must apply to participate by emailing Rachel Ryan at [email protected] by Thursday, May 9. The email must include:

1. Charity/Non-Profit Name
2. 501C3 letter
3. Charity/Non-Profit Mission
4. Website URL & Social Links
5. Charity Representative(s) that will be onsite for the contest on May 25.

If more than 10 organizations apply, 10 will be selected via a random drawing. Selected organizations will be notified by Friday, May 10. 

For more details, email Rachel Ryan.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)