It
starts Friday, long before first post at 7:15 p.m. with advance Derby wagering
throughout the afternoon.
The
night kicks off with a driver autograph session from 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. while the
“Winners at the Wedge” hosted by Gary DiLeo gets underway at 6:30 p.m. with a
DJ and an opportunity to meet and greet a driver.
It
doesn’t stop there.
There
will be a 60-second wagering spree in which four lucky fans place as many $2
exacta bets as they can in a minute. World Free Poker will be underway on the
Clubhouse level.
On
the track, the first of 28 programs in the Championship Meet sees the return of
Somwherovrarainbow, the Dan Patch Award winner last season as the leading
2-year-old filly pacer, in the $38,415 John Simpson Memorial.
Saturday
is Derby Day and there is no better spot than the Big M to watch and wager on
the Run for the Roses.
All
paid admissions starting at 9:30 a.m. receive a free “I survived Derby Day”
t-shirt and an entry in the Captaintreacherous Drawing.
The
best way to enjoy Derby Day is the $19.95 Lunch Buffet in Longshots on the
Clubhouse Level. Reservations are recommended at 201-thebigm.
In
keeping with the Derby tradition of fancy headwear, The Meadowlands will offer
a $500 Grand Prize Hat Contest. Signup at the Promotions Table ends at 4:45
p.m. and the judging starts 15 minutes later. Ladies can purchase a hat from
Kathy Jeanne’s display table on the Paddock Level.
Entries
for the Captaintreacherous Grand Prize Drawing close at 8 p.m. The drawing, held
after the 10th race, works in reverse order. Names 1 through 17
receive a $100 betting voucher. The 18th name gets a $150 voucher
while the 19th selection wins a $250 voucher.
The
20th and final name hits the jackpot: a 1 percent share of the
future earnings of Captaintreacherous, the sensation of last season at 2 when
he won of 8-of- 10 starts, including the Big M’s Woodrow Wilson Pace. His
career bankroll already stands at $918,253.
He
was honored as harness racing’s Pacer of the Year and will soon be launching
his sophomore season.
The
winner will share in all future purse money and is not responsible for any
expenses.
The
Saturday night racing program features a standout field of 4-year-old trotters
in the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity.
The
Championship Meet runs through Aug. 3 as the Meadowlands features many of the
richest and most prestigious stakes in the sport. The Big M serves up the
action on Friday and Saturday nights starting with the exception of an
afternoon card on Hambletonian Day, the final program of the meet.
