Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With a pair of wagers sporting
carryovers that promise to offer huge pools and likely payoffs to match, a
signature stakes event that offers a purse of $701,830 and the long-awaited
birth of the sports betting era, this weekend will be one to remember at the
Meadowlands.
First up is Friday, which has a first-race post time of 7:15
p.m.
For just the second time in 2018, the 50-Cent Pick-5 sports a
carryover ($28,976), which is significant, because the last carryover – one
that was nearly identical to the current one – served as the catalyst for a final
pool of over $250,000.
Track management has put a guarantee on the pool of $100,000,
but the final tally figures to be far more than that. The wager offers a low 15
percent takeout and will be offered on races three through seven.
Based on last weekend, the track’s signature 50-Cent Pick-4
(races eight through 11) is likely to have an overflow pool once again, one
that far exceeds the guarantee of $50,000. Last Friday (July 6) and Saturday
(July 7), the pools surpassed the $100,000 mark for the first time since
mid-May, averaging just a tad more than $110,000.
The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five pool, which should push
past the seven-figure mark given the carryover of $276,939, will be available
on the 13th and final race of the evening. Instead of one needing to
be the only holder of a winning ticket to take down the jackpot, the wager has
a mandatory payout Friday, meaning that all of those with winning combinations
will take home a slice of the pie. And that slice figures to be a hefty one.
In the event the final pool is $1 million, it breaks down this
way:
·
Carryover -- $276,939
·
New money -- $723,061
·
15 percent takeout on new
money -- $108,459
·
Total payout -- $891,541
·
Surplus to winners --
$168,480
Thus, a final pool of $1 million creates an enormous windfall
for those who cash winning JSH5 tickets, giving them a 23 percent advantage.
The United States Trotting Association will partner with the Big
M on all guaranteed pool totals.
A little less than 12 hours after Friday’s last race, an
historic Saturday gets underway at the mile oval.
At 11 a.m., bettors will be able to place Las Vegas-style wagers
on professional sports events. Action on Major League Baseball, World Cup
Soccer, the National Football League, college football, etc. will be offered.
If one was accustomed to betting on those events on the Vegas Strip, they will
be able to now bet them at the Big M.
“This promises to be one of the most exciting weekends ever for
our fans,” said Big M chief operating officer and general manager Jason
Settlemoir. “In addition to a star-studded Saturday stakes card that includes
our signature event, the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace, the ability to offer
our patrons the chance to also bet on professional sports is a game-changer.
All of us at the Meadowlands are extremely excited and hope all of our patrons
take at least a few minutes to visit our new Fanduel Sports Book @ Victory
Sports Bar.”
Saturday evening’s live
card of harness racing gets underway at 6:35 p.m. and offers a Murderer’s Row
of stakes events: The $701,830 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-old
open pacers, $405,850 Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-old open trotters,
$191,800 Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old fillies on the pace, $189,750 Golden
Girls for filly and mare pacers 3-years-old-and-up, $257,000 Del Miller
Memorial for 3-year-old fillies on the trot (divisions), $362,000 Stanley
Dancer Memorial for 3-year-old open trotters (divisions) and $471,100 William
Haughton Memorial for open pacers 3-years-old-and-up.
On what promises to be
the biggest night of the year in terms of handle, two treats for players await:
the 50-Cent Pick-5 (races three through seven) will have a guaranteed pool of
$40,000 while the 50-Cent Pick-4 (races eight through 11) has a $75,000
guarantee. Both bets are likely to have pools that double (and possibly more)
the promised amounts.
