For a fifth consecutive year, the TV teams at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Meadowlands will combine forces to bring high-caliber harness racing stakes events to a national television audience over the networks of FOX Sports as part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” telecasts.
Currently, there are eight shows scheduled, which will feature virtually every major event at the mile oval during the track’s Championship Meet, which kicks off Kentucky Derby Weekend (May 2-3).
“All of us at The Meadowlands are so pleased to once again be able to bring our biggest events to a national television audience,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The broadcast crew at NYRA has plenty of experience with shows like these, and that experience shows. The telecasts are always first-rate, and they have had a great effect on getting our races into the living rooms of people who might not otherwise watch them. They have created added interest, as well as added handle, on our races, which proves the shows give us precisely what we are looking for.”
“America’s Day at the Races is proud to be the broadcast home for harness racing’s marquee events, including The Meadowlands’ signature races, the Meadowlands Pace on July 12 and the historic 100th Hambletonian on August 2,” said NYRA Vice-President of Communications Pat McKenna. “NYRA is dedicated to growing viewership and wagering on horse racing, whether it be Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds. Our partnership with the Meadowlands supports these goals by bringing the best racing has to offer to a broader audience on the FOX Sports family of networks.”
Here is the schedule for the 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:
· May 17 – Cutler Memorial, 8-11 p.m., TBA
· June 28 – Perfect Sting, Brower Memorial, Crawford Farms, Six Pack, 8-11 p.m., TBA
· July 5 – Stan Bergstein Graduate finals; Meadowlands Pace eliminations, 8-11 p.m., TBA
· July 12 – Meadowlands Pace Night (multiple stakes), 8-11 p.m., TBA
· August 2 – Hambletonian Day (multiple stakes), 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
‘HUNT’ TAKES FIFTH STRAIGHT: I’ll Hunt You Down has been a remarkably dominant force at The Meadowlands over the last two months. So dominant, in fact, that when he won Saturday (April 5) night, he extended his winning streak to five, the longest such stretch at The Big M during 2025.
The 5-year-old gelded son of Huntsville-Crazy On You began his season with a fifth-place finish racing in a $10,000 claimer. He then dropped down to the $7,500 class and put together a four-race period where he won by 5 ¾, three-quarters, three and 4 ¾ lengths, never paying less than $3.20 to win and no more than $4.20.
On Saturday, trainer Michael Posner bumped his prized pupil up to the $10,000-$12,500 claiming handicap class, but the result remained the same, as I’ll Hunt You Down and his regular driver, Johnathan Ahle, romped by 5 ½ lengths in 1:52 3/5, two-fifths-of-a-second slower than his lifetime best, which was established on March 28. Finally, the betting public caught on, as I’ll Hunt You Down, who is taking this week off, paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.
Pick 6 Carryover: A $5,007.31 carryover awaits bettors in the Pick 6 on the Friday card. The Wager begins in race eight.
17 QUALIFIERS ON SATURDAY: For handicappers who love to watch qualifiers, Saturday is the day for them, as there will be 17 of the one-mile dashes contested at The Big M. Post time for the first qualifier is 9 a.m.
The qualifiers can be seen live on The Meadowlands website (playmeadowlands.com) or rtn.tv (Racing Television Network). To see the entries, go here.
There will be big names participating throughout the morning, but one horse certain to attract a lot of attention is Louprint, who leaves from post four in the ninth qualifier.
The Ron Burke trainee, who is driven by Northfield Park standout Ronnie Wrenn Jr., was the top 2-year-old male pacer in training a year ago, taking home a Breeders Crown championship before being named his division’s Dan Patch trophy winner.
Leaving from post six is his stablemate, Sippinonsearoc, who will be driven by Yannick Gingras. He was the 2024 Ohio Sire Stakes champion and took a mark during the season of 1:48 2/5 at The Red Mile, the fastest mile ever by a 2-year-old male pacer.
A GRAND NIGHT: The fourth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping contest takes place on Saturday, April 19. The event goes for prize money totaling $1,000.
For those interested in taking part, these are the details:
There is a $1,000 prize pool and the top two finishers earn entry into a December invitation-only tournament that will go for $10,000 in prize money.
Contestants must be on-site to participate.
For complete information, and to enter, go here.
-edited release (Meadowlands)