Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Still basking
in the afterglow of a Hambletonian Day card that saw the fourth-highest
single-card total handle (combining North American and international outlets)
in the history of the track, The Meadowlands returns with live racing tonight
(Thursday, Sept. 1) when an eight-day fall “mini meet” kicks off. Post time is
6:20 p.m.
Betting on the 16-race, Aug. 6 Hambo
Day card totaled $8,555,851. Only 2002 ($8,819,235), 2005 ($9,015,019) and 2014
($8,739,953) saw more money pushed through the windows on the “Greatest Day in
Harness Racing”.
There will be eight live programs at
The Big M over the next three weeks before harness racing goes on hiatus for
six weeks. Thoroughbred action will take place from Sept. 23 through Oct. 22.
Live harness will then return on Nov. 4.
Harness racing at The Meadowlands
will take place on two Thursdays (Sept. 1 and 8) and three Fridays and
Saturdays (Sept. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17) during September.
This weekend’s action will feature
the Kindergarten and NJ Classic Series. In mid-November, the Kindergarten will
have four finals that will go for estimated purses totaling $1 million. The
brand-new NJ Classic Series for horses bred in the Garden State will no doubt
help to keep the breeding industry rolling. The series will have six finals on
Sept. 16 for horses of high – and moderate – calibers vying for total purses
estimated at $1.25 million.
The harness racing spotlight will
shift to out-of-town Grand Circuit events when Big M harness is down. Some of
the bigger races that Meadowlands’ simulcast patrons can look forward to are
the Little Brown Jug at the Delaware (OH) Fairgrounds on Sept. 22, the Kentucky
Futurity at Lexington’s (KY) Red Mile on Oct. 9 and the 12-race, $6.7-million
Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 28-29.
Once the Crown trophies have been
doled out, live harness racing will then return to The Meadowlands on Nov. 4
for the “Fall Championship Meet”.
The Kindergarten finals will take
place Nov. 12. Two weeks later, the Big M will host its third biggest card of
the year – after Meadowlands Pace Night and Hambletonian Day – when “Fall Final
Four/TVG Finals Night” takes center stage on Nov. 26. That evening, divisional
titles, and, quite possibly, Horse of the Year honors will be determined on a
card where estimated total purses are $2.6 million.
SPECTACULAR SIMULCASTS: On Saturday (Sept. 3), Flightline is
out to remain unbeaten when he heads the field for the $1-million TVG Pacific
Classic Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack.
The top-rated dirt horse in the
world, Flightline, perfect in four starts, is the 1-5 morning-line favorite in
the mile-and-a-quarter event. The Classic will be the first time the John
Sadler trainee will go longer than one mile. Post time for the race is 8:35
p.m. EDT.
At Saratoga, seven horses – four from
Todd Pletcher’s barn – will get in the gate for the $1-million Jockey Club Gold
Cup at a mile-and-a-quarter. Untreated, Americanrevolution, Keepmeinmind and
Dynamic One makeup Pletcher’s “Fab Four”. Post time is 5:45 p.m.
Harness enthusiasts will be checking
out the action at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where huge stars will be on the track
in a pair of big-money events.
Bulldog Hanover, whose 1:45.4 win in
the William Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands last month was the fastest
mile in the history of the sport, will try and up his win streak to nine in the
$650,000 Canadian Pacing Derby (post time, 10:20 p.m.), while Alrajah One IT, who
is unbeaten in three starts since coming to North America, tops the $610,000
Maple Leaf Trot (post time, 9:30 p.m.).
Three-time defending Dan Patch
award-winning Driver of the Year Dexter Dunn will pilot both horses, who figure
to go off as heavy favorites at post time.
WHHC CHAMPIONSHIP: The World Harness Handicapping
Championship takes place at The Meadowlands on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Players who did not earn a seat
through qualifying events can directly buy in for $1,000. The fee includes a
$300 bankroll with the remaining $700 going into the prize pool.
Entry includes a live racing program
and a dinner buffet.
The top 10 finishers will earn cash
prizes.
For complete information, go to https://playmeadowlands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2022WHHCFinal.pdf
CHECK OUT THE PAST MASTERS: On Saturday, Sept. 10, enjoy live
harness racing and live music as The Past Masters will be playing on Victory
Terrace up on the roof at The Big M. The music begins at 5:30 p.m.,
approximately one hour before racing kicks off.
FREE PROGRAMS: Free past performances for every race
of every Meadowlands program are available 48 hours before a given card. To
access the no-cost official program pages, go to playmeadowlands.com.
GET ON TWITTER: Everything Meadowlands is available
by going on Twitter. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes,
racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or
#playbigm.
On race nights, stay in touch with
Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little
(@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and Edison Hatter
(@Edison_1999_).
CHECK OUT THE SHOW: On live racing nights, tune in to the
track’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show, which kicks off at
5:47 p.m.
IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON! It’s the best time of the year for
sports bettors, as the National Football League season begins on Thursday, Sept.
8, when the Buffalo Bills travel to Los Angeles to take on the defending Super
Bowl champion Rams at 8:20 p.m.
Players know that one of the best
places to get their action is the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is located inside
the grandstand at The Big M.
The Bills, who are the +600 favorites
to win the upcoming Super Bowl, are a 2½-point favorite. The Rams, +1100 to
repeat as champions, are +114 on the money line in the game that has an
over/under of 52½.
On the local front, those who like
betting under/overs for wins can get in the game.
The New York Giants are +125 to win
more than 7½ games and -145 to win less than 7½.
The New York Jets are -145 to win
more than 5½ times and +125 to win less than 5½.
Before you get your bets down, go to https://www.fanduel.com/sportsbook-meadowlands for
up-to-dates lines on any sporting event the book offers.
The sportsbook is open for business Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-12 a.m.
