Meadowlands Racetrack
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Meadowlands Racetrack 1 Racetrack Drive East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Year Opened: 1976
In the Shadow of Metlife
Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey is located on the same property as the NFL’s Metlife Stadium, home of the Giants and Jets. In fact, when standing on the apron (the sitting/standing area next to the racetrack) you can see Metlife Stadium in the near distance. I actually drove thru the Metlife parking areas on my way to the track, which is possible because racing doesn’t often happen on Sunday.
While it does offer live horse racing, Meadowlands Racetrack is much more a sports betting destination than a horse track. There is a very heavy FanDuel presence, and more TVs showing college football and other sports than showing horse racing.
Food & Beverage 5
There are multiple food and beverage options inside the huge facility, including a full bar in the center of the first level. There is also a full restaurant on the 4th level done up wholly in pink – this eatery is even named Pink, not coincidentally.
Concessions on the main level include cheesesteak, hot dogs, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, chicken tenders, wings, pizza, salad, and fried fish as mains, accompanied by popcorn, pretzels, soup, French fries, onion rings, and fruit as sides. There is even a breakfast menu, which blew me away – I have never been to a horse track that opened early enough to warrant that. There is also a Dunkin on the main level if you are interested in coffee or donuts; other beverage options on site include soda, juice, and a full selection of alcoholic drinks.
Atmosphere 2
Meadowlands Racetrack seems like a great, modern facility, but that impression ends as soon as you walk through the door. The problem is that the horse racing here is treated entirely as an afterthought, with all the money apparently being made from gambling on other sports instead. To be honest I didn’t even know that non-horse sports gambling facilities even existed; I assumed it was all done online.
That said you will see most of the TVs inside show other sports, with very little focus on the horses. There is a small set up where you can see the two horse racing announcers recording their show live – you can watch them while you are literally hearing their voices via the facility loudspeakers.
The horse betting here is also very pricey, and set up such that it is very difficult to cash tickets. Trifectas cost $1, and most races only offer pentafectas instead of superfectas, making it almost impossible to win any money.
Neighborhood 3
There are plenty of restaurants and hotels in the area, but the facility itself is located on an asphalt island mostly surrounded by Metlife Stadium and its many parking lots, meaning there is not much within walking distance. You can of course try to catch a Giants or Jets game if you plan it right – races at Meadowlands happen almost year-round, with most months featuring harness racing and a few months offering turf thoroughbred racing instead. The races here are usually held on Fridays and Saturdays, with Thursday and Sunday racing happening only occasionally.
The closest attraction is probably American Dream, a massive “entertainment-first” shopping mall that features a full-on amusement park and water park. American Dream is about a 10-minute walk from Meadowlands Racetrack, or 2-3 minutes via car (you will likely drive right by it when you get off the freeway on your way to the track).
Fans 2
Very few fans show up for the horse racing here – the seating areas next to the track are almost deserted, as is the 4th floor restaurant which overlooks the track. There are plenty of people sitting around watching other sports, as mentioned above, but almost no one is here for the horses.
Access 3
Traffic is pretty bad in the area as you might imagine, being this close to New York City. On the plus side there is free parking right next to the facility. You can use public transit to get here, but that typically means taking a bus to American Dream and having to walk 10 minutes to the track.
The first level is the most crowded, with the crowds getting smaller and smaller as you proceed further upstairs. The first floor is where the non-horse sports watching and betting happens, although there are a few cashiers around if you do want to bet on the ponies. The second and third floors are focused almost exclusively on the horses, and feature tall windows overlooking the track, with a long row of cashiers and betting machines.
I actually spent most of my time sitting in the 4th floor restaurant, which was completely deserted during my visit. There is an elevator facing the restaurant, so I was able to quickly pop downstairs between races to place my bets (there are no cashiers or betting machines on the 4th floor). I enjoyed the peace and quiet on the 4th floor, and enjoyed some great views of the track from there as well.
Return on Investment 1
I would definitely not recommend visiting Meadowlands Racetrack if you want to see horse racing. There is too much focus on non-horse gambling, and the bets on offer are frustrating and expensive. There are some other horse tracks that are within driving distance of East Rutherford, so I would recommend you check one of those out instead.
If you do go see racing at Meadowlands, programs only cost $3, and there is no cost to get in the door. Parking is also free, so the only thing you have to pay for is food, if you purchase any.
Extras 2
The is some great horse race decor inside, including paintings and statues. There is also a great display of racing helmets above the bar.
Final Thoughts
The evidence is right there on the outside; you can clearly see the FanDuel logo and name on the exterior of the facility. Meadowlands Racetrack is much more about non-horse sports betting than it is about anything else, so if you really want to see horse racing, this is likely not the best place to watch it.
