You’d think after a five-week slumber, during which harness racing at The Meadowlands was in hibernation mode, the mile oval would come back and ease their way towards the final portion of the 2024 major stakes calendar. Think again.

The Big M returns with live harness action on Friday, Oct. 18, with a special early post time of 12:30 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 19, at the usual 6:20 p.m., with eliminations for the 12-race, year-end extravaganza known as the Breeders Crown. It’s the first time the Crown has been at The Meadowlands since 2021. Friday’s races will determine who will advance to the finals in the two-year-old events while Saturday’s dashes will decide who will go for the big green in the three-year-old and older races.

For those who can’t make it to the track, they can catch all of the action on Fox Sports as part of the network’s “America’s Day at the Races” show. Friday’s telecast, which will be hosted by Acacia Clement and Greg Wolf and co-hosted by Paul Verderosa, can be seen on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) from 12:30-5:30 p.m. On Saturday, FS2’s coverage will go from 7:30-11 p.m., with Chris Griffin and Verderosa on set from Aqueduct Racetrack.

The first of two Breeders Crown finals shows will be telecast on Friday, Oct. 25 on FS1 from 8-11 p.m., while the Saturday, Oct. 26 broadcast can be seen on FS2 from 7:30-11 p.m. Clement and Verderosa will anchor both shows from The Meadowlands.

All four presentations will feature selections, analysis and interviews from Meadowlands’ TV talent Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt.

“Fox Sports and NYRA [New York Racing Association] are very excited to partner with The Meadowlands and the Hambletonian Society to present 15 hours of Breeders Crown coverage between FS1 and FS2,” said Eric Donovan, NYRA’s Sr. Director of TV Broadcast Operations. “We look forward to showcasing all the top horses, drivers, owners, trainers and breeders in Standardbred racing at this championship event.”

Friday will provide something special for on-track Big M regulars, as after the completion of the harness races, a card of Thoroughbred turf racing will take place with a first-race post time of 7 p.m.

Only two of the 12 Crown divisions require no eliminations, as the Breeders Crown Open Trot (11 entrants) and Breeders Crown Mare Trot (nine) will have one dash for the cash.

The Crown finals for two-year-olds take place on Friday, Oct. 25, with the three-year-olds and older horses to battle in their respective finals on Saturday, Oct. 26. Post time for both race cards is 6:20 p.m.

“We are looking forward to welcoming back our faithful fans and our horsemen,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track's Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “And what better way to do it than with a rare Friday Breeders Crown afternoon program to kick off The Meadowlands’ Championship Fall Meeting broadcast live on FOX.

“Having these races shown to a national television audience is remarkably important to us at The Meadowlands as well as everybody at the Hambletonian Society. With a continuing presence coast-to-coast, we are raising our visibility to new heights while getting an audience that has been mainly focused on Thoroughbred racing interested in our game as well.” 

“The Meadowlands has been home to the ultimate in championship racing since the doors opened in 1976,” said John Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and administers the Breeders Crown. “We are delighted to continue the Society’s long-term relationship with Meadowlands management by partnering in hosting the top-class events in the sport.”

The Breeders Crown will feature the four $700,000 USD finals for two-year-olds, the richest events offered in the division, while the eight three-year-old and open races will have purses ranging from $400,000 USD to $700,000 USD. Total purses are estimated at $7 million USD. 

“The next seven weeks at The Big M will undoubtedly go a long way toward determining who will be harness racing’s [Dan Patch Award] Horse of The Year, along, of course, with divisional honours,” said Settlemoir. “Beginning with the Breeders Crown and culminating with the FanDuel Championships and Fall Final Four on Nov. 30, you will see the greatest stars in the world right here.”

Here is the current Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown weekly Top 10 Poll. Many of the sport’s top starts will be craving a crown:

1. Twin B Joe Fresh (race 11, Saturday)
2.  Jiggy Jog S (retired)
3. Chantilly (ineligible)
4. Captain Albano (race three, Saturday)
5. Karl (race nine, Saturday)
6. Nijinsky (race six, Saturday)
7. Maryland (Peter Haughton winner earned a Breeders Crown final bye)
8. Sig Sauer (race two, Saturday)
9. Legendary Hanover (eligible, did not enter)
10. Fallout (race 10, Friday)

The wagering menu for the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands will undoubtedly fire up the mile oval’s loyal fan betting base, as there will be $400,000 in guaranteed pools up for grabs. On Saturday, Oct. 19 there will be a guaranteed pool of $50,000 on both the Early 50-cent Pick-4 (races six through nine) and Late 50-cent Pick-4 (races 10 through 13). Then, on both Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, the Early Pick-4 is guaranteed at $100,000 while the Late Pick 4 will be at least $50,000.

Here is a look at what bettors can expect night in and night out when playing Meadowlands’ races for the foreseeable future:

• 20-cent Pick-5: Race 1-5
• 20-cent Survivor Pick-7: Races 3-9
• 50-cent Pick-4: Races 6-9
• 20-cent Pick-6: Races 8-13
• 50-cent Pick 4: Races 10-13
• 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5): Race 14 (or final race)

The Meadowlands has added two superfectas to each card. There will now be 10 superfecta opportunities on 14-race programs. The minimum wager is a dime.

To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free programs on every race of every race card on its website at playmeadowlands.com.

Time is running short to secure dining reservations for the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands. Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BIGM (201-843-2446). All reservations must be prepaid.

Friday’s $49.95 USD (plus tax and gratuity) lunch buffet includes pulled pork sandwiches, sausage and peppers, cheesesteak egg rolls and chili with sweet jalapeno-honey butter cornbread. Keep in mind, Friday’s card has a special early post time of 12:30 p.m. Saturday’s $49.95 USD (plus tax and gratuity) dinner buffet features Swedish meatballs, hand-carved roast beef, lemon-herb salmon and ginger soy chicken.

Pink Restaurant’s buffet on finals night, Friday, Oct. 25, features shrimp cocktail, gouda-stuffed arancini and grilled Caesar salad. Guests can also dine on a chili-rubbed New York strip, baked Mahi Mahi with a lemon dill sauce and moist carrot cake. Friday’s menu is $74.95 USD per person, plus tax and gratuity. The Saturday, Oct. 26 buffet is $79.95 USD plus tax and gratuity and is highlighted by a seafood tower filled with shrimp, clams, oysters and crab legs. Other menu features include lobster bisque, roasted ribeye and sweet-and-sour chicken.

Guests looking for ala carte dining can head to the second-floor Lounge, which is the place to be to watch and wager all the racing and the day’s sports action. Guests can dine on delicious Victory Sports Bar fare, which includes wings, burgers, lobster mac and cheese, salads, wraps and more. The purchase price is a food credit that will be applied to the food and beverage bill. Tax and gratuity are not included in this credit and are additional.

Available seating/dining options for purchase include:

• Grandstand Bar Seat: $50 USD per seat
• Grandstand Lounge Table: $100 USD per two-person table; $200 USD for a four-person table.
• Grandstand Lounge Couch: $200 USD per two-person section, complete with couch.  

Tables are now available for purchase on the Meadowlands website.

On Friday, Oct. 18, fans will also have the oppoortunity to meet New York Yankees World Series legend Jim Leyritz, who is the special guest for a special Q&A that will be moderated by New York Times bestselling author Todd Ehrlich. Leyritz will provide career highlights, speak about the current Yankees and their playoff chances and take questions from the audience. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the second-floor Lounge. Guests will also receive copies of Ehrlich’s 20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports History: Our Generation of Memories, From 1960 to Today, and be entered into a drawing to win autographed Leyritz baseballs.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)