EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The temperatures may have been
unseasonably cold, but wagering on the Meadowlands’ popular multi-leg bets was
hot during April, with the track’s signature Pick-4 and 20-Cent Survivor
Pick-10 leading the way.
“Our Pick-4 pool averaged $97,768 during April,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track's chief operating officer and general manager. “And three times during the course of the month, the pool topped $100,000.
“Our Survivor Pick-10 has hit its stride, with the pools surpassing $20,000 on each of the final three race cards of the month, which included an all-time high of $25,788 on April 21. In addition, for the month, the average Survivor pool was $22,959.”
Wagering on the Pick-5 averaged $56,132 per pool while the total wager per race for the month was $223,029, approximately $5,000 more per race than the corresponding eight race cards from the year before.
CARRYOVER CARRIES ON: This Friday’s ninth and final race will be one of big interest for players as the Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five has a monstrous carryover pool of $208,090.
Derby Day at the Big M
The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby is the
marquee simulcast event at the Meadowlands on Saturday. There will be a big
crowd on hand at the Big M, so plan to be there early.
Some things to know:
·
Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
·
Post time for the first of
14 races at Churchill Downs is 10:30 a.m.
·
Post time for the Kentucky
Derby (Race 12) is 6:50 p.m.
·
Justify has been installed
as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the “Run for the Roses” for trainer Bob
Baffert and jockey Mike Smith
·
The Big M’s Victory sports
bar will offer a Derby-themed buffet for $49.95 starting at 11:30 a.m. Call
201-THE-BIG-M for reservations
·
There will be a $1,000
Derby Hat Contest. The wearer of the most outrageous lid will walk away with
the $500 first prize. Sign up between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Judging takes place
in the Meadowlands winner’s circle at 5 p.m.
Championship Meeting starts up
After the Derby, the Meadowlands live
harness card gets underway at 7:15 p.m. with a superb 11-race program that
features the return of 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover, who heads a
bulky field of 12 in the $182,500 Arthur J. Memorial for trotters at a mile and
an eighth.
The Cutler is the first in a long line
of stakes events during the course of the Big M’s Championship Meet, which
includes the July 14, $650,000 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace as well as the
August 4, $1 million Hambletonian.
