The racetrack at Meadowlands, in the East Rutherford area of New Jersey, opened in the second half of the 1970s where racing is administered by the New Jersey Sports Authority. It first hosted Harness racing under floodlights on 1st September 1976, yet it was a year later before it ran its first thoroughbred races on 6th September 1977. The racetrack is ideal for harness racing with its long straights and sweeping curves. A programme of improvements to the Grandstand facilities is planned, although negotiations are continuing. If this programme is initiated then a Grandstand with the capacity to seat over 2,250 spectators would materialise. Its racing circuit is a mile oval track, but it has an inner 7 furlong turf track. It is most famous for hosting the Hambletonian in August, which is the second leg of the Triple Crown for trotters. The race is named after Hambletonian 10 which is a foundation sire for trotters, and was first contested in 1926, although it was run at the New York State Fair track. It first was run at Meadowlands in 1981 and has been at the track ever since.
The Hambletonian is part of the Triple Crown of trotting races alongside Yonkers Trot and the Kentucky Futurity. Its other feature races are the Meadowlands Pace, The Breeders Crown Trot, The New Jersey Classic and the Stanley Dancer Trot. One of the principal thoroughbred races at the track is the Meadowlands Cup, first run in 1977, over about 8.5 furlongs. It was run at Meadowlands until 2010 whence it moved to Monmouth Park and has been renamed The Monmouth Cup. Another highly significant race contested at the track each June is the Grade III Pegasus Stakes for 3 year olds over 8.5 furlongs. Although towards the end of 2009 the track was suffering a downturn in its fortunes, a new owner brought fresh ideas and renewed vigour. On 23rd November 2013 a new harness track was launched at the venue, which now has an 8 furlong oval dirt track, with 7 furlong inner turf track as well as separate 7 furlong and 11 furlong chutes, all sharing a 302 metre home straight.

I am grateful to Richard Gauthier for the badges shown on this page.

Meadowlands Cup winners when contested at the track from 1977 to 2010 (It has now been renamed the Monmouth Cup and moved to Monmouth Racecourse)
1977 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Pay Tribute trained by Ron McAnally and ridden by Angel Cordero jnr
1978 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Dr Patches trained by John Nerud and ridden by Angel Cordero jnr
1979 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Spectacular Bid trained by Bud Delp and ridden by Bill Shoemaker
1980 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Tunerup trained by Fernando Fernandez and ridden by Jacinto Vasquez
1981 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Princelet trained by John Campo and ridden by William Nemeti
1982 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Mehmet trained by Robert Frankel and ridden by Ed Delahoussaye
1983 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Slewpy trained by Sidney Watters and ridden by Angel Cordero jnr
1984 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Wild Again trained by Vincent Timphony and ridden by Richard Migliore
1985 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Bounding Basque trained by Woody Sedlacek and ridden by Robbie Davis
1986 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Broad Brush trained by Richard Small and ridden by Angel Cordero jnr
1987 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Crème Fraiche trained by Woody Stephens and ridden by Laffit Pincay jnr
1988 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Alysheba trained by Jack Van Berg and ridden by Chris McCarron
1989 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Mi Selecto trained by Gil Rowntree and ridden by Jose Santos
1990 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Great Normandi trained by Jorge Romero and ridden by Carlos Lopez snr
1991 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Twilight Agenda trained by D Wayne Lukas and ridden by Chris McCarron
1992 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Sea Cadet trained by Ron McAnally and ridden by Alex Solis
1993 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Marquetry trained by Robert Frankel and ridden by Kent Desormeaux
1994 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Conveyor trained by Ben Perkins and ridden by Mike E Smith
1995 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Peaks and Valleys trained by James Day and ridden by Julie Krone
1996 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Dramatic Gold trained by David Hofmans and ridden by Kent Desormeaux
1997 The Meadowlands Cup was not contested
1998 The Meadowlands Cup was won by K Js Appeal trained by Frank Alexander and ridden by John R Velazquez
1999 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Pleasant Breeze trained by H James Bond and ridden by Jorge Chavez
2000 The Meadowlands Cup was won by North East Bound trained by William Perry and ridden by Jose Velez jnr
2001 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Gander trained by John Terranova and ridden by John R Velazquez
2002 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Burning Roma trained by Heather Giglio and ridden by Eibar Coa
2003 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Bowmans Band trained by H Allen Jerkens and ridden by Ramon Dominiguez
2004 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Balto Star trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John R Velazquez
2005 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Tap Day trained by Mark Hennig and ridden by Eibar Coa
2006 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Master Command trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John R Velazquez
2007 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Diamond Stripes trained by Richard Dutrow jnr and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez
2008 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Arson Squad trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Edgar Prado
2009 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Etched trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Alan Garcia
2010 The Meadowlands Cup was won by Etched trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Eddie Castro

Meadowlands Pace winners since its inception in 1977
1977 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Escort trained by Carl LeCause and ridden by Carl LeCause
1978 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Falcon Almahurst trained by Billy Haughton and ridden by Billy Haughton
1979 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Sonsam trained by George Sholty and ridden by George Sholty
1980 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Niatross trained by Clint Galbraith and ridden by Clint Galbraith
1981 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Conquered trained by John Hayes jnr and ridden by John Hayes jnr
1982 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Hilarion trained by Jerry Silverman and ridden by John Campbell
1983 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Ralph Hanover trained by Stewart Firlotte and ridden by Ron Waples
1984 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by On The Road Again trained by Harry Poulton and ridden by Buddy Gilmour
1985 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Nihilator trained by Billy Haughton and ridden by Bill ODonnell
1986 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Laughs trained by Charles Sylvester and ridden by Buddy Gilmour
1987 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Frugal Gourmet trained by Blair Burgess and ridden by Trevor Ritchie
1988 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Matts Scooter trained by Harry Poulton and ridden by Michel Lachance
1989 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Dexter Nukes trained by George Gilmour and ridden by John Campbell
1990 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Beach Towel trained by Ray Remmen and ridden by Ray Remmen
1991 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Precious Bunny trained by William Robinson and ridden by Jack Moiseyev
1992 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Carslbad Cam trained by Carl Allen and ridden by Rod Allen
1993 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Presidential Ball trained by William Robinson and ridden by Jack Moiseyev
1994 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Cams Card Shark trained by William Robinson and ridden by John Campbell
1995 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Davids Pass trained by Brett Pelling and ridden by John Campbell
1996 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Hot Lead trained by Brian Magie and ridden by George Brennan
1997 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Dream Away trained by Brett Pelling and ridden by Ronald Pierce
1998 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Day in a Life trained by Monte Gelrod and ridden by Luc Ouellette
1999 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by The Panderosa trained by Brett Pelling and ridden by John Campbell
2000 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Gallo Blue Chip trained by Mark Ford and ridden by Daniel Dube
2001 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Real Desire trained by Blair Burgess and ridden by John Campbell
2002 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Mach Three trained by Monte Gelrod and ridden by John Campbell
2003 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Allamerican Theory trained by Des Tackoor and ridden by Michel Lachance
2004 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Holborn Hanover trained by Mark Harder and ridden by Jim Morrill jnr
2005 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Rocknroll Hanover trained by Brett Pelling and ridden by Brian Sears
2006 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Artistic Fella trained by Steve Elliott and ridden by Catello Manzi
2007 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Southwind Lynx trained by George Teague and ridden by Tim Tetrick
2008 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Art Official trained by Joe Seekman and ridden by Ronald Pierce
2009 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Well Said trained by Steve Elliott and ridden by Ronald Pierce
2010 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by One More Laugh trained by Ray Schnittker and ridden by Tim Tetrick
2011 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Roll with Joe trained by Edward Hart and ridden by Ronald Pierce
2012 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by A Rocknroll Dance trained by Jim Mulinix and ridden by Yannick Gingras
2013 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Captaintreacherous trained by Tony Alagna and ridden by Tim Tetrick
2014 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Hes Watching trained by David Menary and ridden by Tim Tetrick
2015 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Wiggle It Jiggleit trained by Clyde Francis and ridden by Montrell Teague
2016 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Control the Moment trained by Brad Maxwell and ridden by Brian Sears
2017 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Huntsville trained by Ray Schnittker and ridden by Tim Tetrick
2018 the Meadowlands Pace over a mile was won by Courtly Choice trained by Blake MacIntosh and ridden by David Miller