Meadowlands Racetrack announced on Friday, Dec. 26 that purses for its biggest races will increase in 2026.

During 2024, Meadowlands stakes purses totalled $17.2 million USD -- not including the Breeders Crown which rotates from venue-to-venue every year. This year, that number rose to $17.6 million USD, an increase of $400,000 USD, but that upgrade pales with what’s coming up in 2026.

During the upcoming calendar year, stakes purses at The Meadowlands will total $18.6 million USD, an increase of $1 million USD, with several of the more famous events getting a boost.

Assuming all nominations and stakes payments are the same, the purse of the Cane Pace will go from $227,000 USD to $300,000 USD while the Del Miller Memorial will jump from $283,000 USD to $338,000 USD.

There are several other events where the money will be greater, particularly the track’s signature event, the Meadowlands Pace. One of the most influential stakes races for the glamour boy three-year-old male pacing division, the Meadowlands Pace went for $656,000 USD in 2025. In 2026, it will go for $806,000 USD – an increase of 23 per cent – in the event there are no eliminations for a second straight year.

“All of us at The Meadowlands are always pleased to offer the very best in harness racing when it comes to the big days, and the purses for those races confirms that,” said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “And we hope that continues for a long time to come.

“Something new we’ll be offering in 2026 is a second level – for horses of a more modest caliber – for New Jersey Sire Stakes participants, giving those owners a chance to race their horses who might not be good enough to go in the tougher division to still race and make some good money.”

The New Jersey Sire Stakes “Silver Series” will be for those lesser-caliber two- and three-year-olds, and will offer total purses of $670,000 USD, with the possibility of that number increasing to $750,000 USD.

The better horses will go in the New Jersey Sire Stakes “Platinum Series” and compete for purses totalling $2.7 million USD.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)