The
Meadowlands Racetrack will undergo some changes for the upcoming standardbred
meet. Post time will move to 7:15 PM each racing night with the exception
of Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 3rd which will begin at 12
noon.
The
most significant changes are to the Meadowlands wagering platform. The
Meadowlands Pick 4 has long been the most popular bet in harness racing.
Now, bettors will have the opportunity to wager on two versions of that popular
bet. Beginning on opening night, the Meadowlands will institute an
Early Pick 4, beginning in race 3 each racing night. The pool will
be guaranteed at $25,000 each night. As a result, the late pick 4 will
slide back a spot in the program and begin in race 7. The
guaranteed pool for the Late Pick 4 will be $50,000 on Thursday and Friday and
$75,000 on Saturday. The Early Pick 4 will replace the Pick 6
wager.
Director of
Racing Operations Darin Zoccali feels this is a move the bettors will
appreciate. “The Meadowlands Pick 4 has a proven track record and
it is clearly the favorite bet for The Meadowlands player. So, in
an effort to give our bettors more of what they want, we have added a second
pick 4 wager to our program. While the Pick 6 pool does bring buzz
and excitement whenever there is a substantial carryover, on a nightly basis
the bettors don’t seem interested in that wager, unless there is a large
carryover. For the few, if any times that happens, we would rather
give the bettors a wager they will look forward to playing every
night.”
The
fifty-cent Meadowlands Pick 5 has been a popular wager since it debuted and
will maintain its placement in the first race of the program. It
will be given a $15,000 guaranteed pool.
This
forthcoming meet, the Meadowlands is pleased to be offering free admission and
a free live program every Thursday and Friday night. Saturday evenings,
guests will be asked to pay a $2 admission. Simulcast bettors will notice
a difference in the simulcast programs as the Meadowlands has made the change
to the Daily Racing Program (Thoroughbreds) and the Daily Harness Racing
Program (standardbreds). Additionally, simulcast programs will be
available free of charge for the entire month of December, beginning Monday,
December 3rd.
Meadowlands
Racetrack General Manager and CEO, Jason Settlemoir believes these changes are
not only positive, but will be well-received by our customers. “One
of the major goals of The New Meadowlands Racetrack has always been to give our
bettors and patrons what they want. Going forward into a new era at The
Meadowlands, with a new facility on the horizon, giving our customers more of
what they want is of the utmost importance to us. We feel these changes
do just that and we look forward to our customers’ feedback on these
changes.” All changes are pending regulatory approval by the New Jersey
Racing Commission.
Opening night
for the Meadowlands meet is Friday, December 28, 2012. The track will
race Thursday, Friday and Saturday through March 16th. Racing
will then revert to a Friday through Saturday schedule for the duration of the
winter meet and the championship meet, which concludes on Hambletonian Day,
Saturday, August 3rd. In 2013, the Meadowlands will offer a
fall meet that begins on Saturday, November 23rd and will race on
Friday and Saturday through Saturday, December 28, 2013.
