Meadowlands Harness (and Flats) Profile

For a racetrack that has existed only since September 1^st, 1976, Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, nee Meadowlands Racetrack of East Rutherford, New Jersey, has enjoyed a history as varied and storied as many of racing’s more iconic venues.

Intended to be America’s most prestigious harness track, especially after Roosevelt Raceway, the track that introduced harness racing to the New York metropolitan area, shuttered for good, the Meadowlands has filled its role admirably.

In an era that pre-dated cable television, Meadowlands routinely drew five-figure crowds on weekends, a trend that continued when Thoroughbred racing was introduced to northern New Jersey the following year. Proximity to New York City helped guarantee its success.

In its Thoroughbred days, the track hard by the Jersey Turnpike attracted many top New York outfits. Hall of Famers Woody Stephens and Phil Johnson shipped over frequently; Angel Cordero Jr. and the late Chris Antley rode their share of double-headers.

The “The Big M” was a training ground for future world-class talent. Dave Johnson was already known when former theatrical agent, New York Jets president and Chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority, Sonny Werblin, credited with the construction of both Meadowlands Racetrack and Giants Stadium, hired Johnson to call both sports in 1977.

When Johnson moved on, he was replaced by another future Voice of New York Racing, Tom Durkin. After Durkin moved to New York, the late Sam McKee took over behind the mic, sharing announcer duties with present race caller, Ken Warkentin.

Noted harness historian and handicapping analyst Bob Heyden made Racing From the Meadowlands must-see TV for harness racing fans and bettors. Bruce Beck parlayed his cable host role into a position as sports anchor for NBC-TV in New York City.

Meadowlands eventually gave up its Thoroughbred race meet and now conducts a short boutique session each fall, offering only grass racing on its seven-furlong turf course. The one-mile dirt track is now dedicated exclusively to harness racing.

The Meadowlands has prospered because it always changed with the times. It survived Gov. Chris Christie’s attempt to get it sold to investors who hoped to build a track for auto racing, and later tried without success to shut it completely and sell the land to developers.

There have been momentous latter-day occasions that enabled the track to survive the perilous times in the horse racing world. Privatizing the NJSEA and partnering with Jeff Gural in 2011 was one, breathing life into the track on the former Jersey wetlands.

The original racetrack was imploded and a new facility was built in the former barn area on the old backside of the racetrack just off Patterson Plank Road.

A new receiving barn was built to house approximately 140 horses who ship in to race nightly from farms and training centers throughout the state. President and CEO Gural took pains to heighten security to ensure racing would be conducted on a level field, even hiring private investigators to keep a watchful eye.

In 2018, Paddy Power Betfair announced that it had partnered with the Meadowlands to open a sportsbook at the track after New Jersey legalized sports betting.

With the Meadowlands sports book leading the way, New Jersey booked $6 billion in wagers in 2020, many bettors crossing the Hudson to place a wager at the FanDuel Sportsbook.

From its inception, Meadowlands has showcased the best in harness racing. Legendary John Campbell became fabled in the bike Racing With the Moon. Brian Sears, Ron Pierce, George Brennan, and Tim Tetrick all won meet titles here.

The Meadowlands has honored the extraordinary horsemen that helped pave the way for the sport. Races such as the Del Miller Memorial Trot, the Stanley Dancer Memorial, The William R. Haughton, and Peter Haughton Memorials are celebrated for that reason.

The wide turns of a mile oval, along with lighter, state of the art sulkies produce world-record times. On opening night, fabled Ramblin’ Willie set a record, pacing a mile in 1:55 3/5. In 2019, Lather Up matched the world-record mile of 1:46 4/5 set by Always B Miki at Lexington’s Red Mile.

Finally and best of all is that the Meadowlands became the home of the storied Hambleton Stakes, the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, and the Hambletonian Oaks, in 1981.

According to tradition, the race is held on the first Saturday in August. In 2015, the Cane Pace, first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, joined the famed trot on the Hambletonian Day program.

Campbell, now President of the Hambletonian Society, is celebrated for winning the trotting classic more than any other driver, winning it six times. Dancer and Haughton the elder are next with five each.

The aforementioned Sears became the first driver to sweep the Hambletonian and Oaks double in 2009 and repeated that feat four years later. Brennan swept the duo in 2011.

Linda Toscano became the first woman to train a Hambletonian winner in 2012, four years before Paula Wellwood became the second to do so. It is said records are made to be broken. The odds are that in the harness space, Meadowlands will be leading the way.