Shark Meet

What is Shark Meet?

The Tapeta surface will be used exclusively for winter racing, allowing Belmont to take over Aqueduct’s former winter schedule as NYRA consolidates its operations at Belmont and Saratoga.

The Belmont Stakes, which was staged at Saratoga during construction, will return to its traditional Long Island home in 2027. Belmont will also host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in October 2027, bringing the event back to New York for the first time since 2005.

Belmont represents NYRA’s vision of a new operating model for racing in the state—a smaller, modernized venue capable of absorbing the entire downstate racing calendar. And with almost $14 million wagered on its opening card, it’s off to a flying start.

How to play Shark Meet

From the ash, three phoenix rise, and each one guards a different force. Their tears hold old magic, and when those tears are gathered the heat returns to the embers below. The more phoenix wake, the more there is to play for. When all three rise together, their combined force reshapes what happens next. A 5-reel, 4-row video slot built around three phoenix-driven Hold and Spin features. Collect coloured Tear Scatters to wake each phoenix, stack their modifiers, and climb the GO Guaranteed ladder.

About Shark Meet

The submission form will close on 1 October, at which time nominations will be put to our esteemed panel of judges for final review.

More information on judges, submissions and deadlines can be found here. You can also access interviews with last year’s winners and the final list for 2025, as well as for every year prior.

We look forward to working with our judges, and once again shining a light on some of the gaming industry’s best talents!