Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Andy McCarthy
is currently leading the driver colony at the Meadowlands with 30 wins and
admits it “would be nice to be the leading driver at the Meadowlands without a
doubt”, but a final opportunity – for a while anyway – to visit his homeland
will find McCarthy’s name missing from the Big M program for two or three
months after this week’s race cards have concluded.
“I’ll be back in February or March,”
said McCarthy. “But my oldest son (4-year-old) Finn starts school next year, so
I’ve got to make the most of it.”
McCarthy, wife Katrina, Finn and
youngest son, 2-year-old Olly, will be making a trip home to Australia to visit
McCarthy’s mom, dad and siblings, who live near Sydney.
“I’m not much of a cold-weather
person,” said McCarthy, 32, of the current chilly conditions in New Jersey.
“It’s summertime down there. We hang out at the beaches quite a bit. Looking
forward to enjoying life a little bit.”
McCarthy will get an opportunity to
pad his lead in the standings before he goes, as he’s listed to drive seven
horses on Thursday and 10 more on Friday.
SETTLEMOIR TO CALL: Big M Chief Operating Officer and
General Manager Jason Settlemoir, who called his first race at the age of 12 in
his native Ohio, is the next man up on the second of four “Borrow Ken’s
Binoculars” Thursdays at the Meadowlands, as guest announcers fill in for the
voice of the Big M, Ken Warkentin, on Thursday nights during December.
NO RACING ON SATURDAY: During December, racing will be
conducted on a Thursday through Saturday basis at the Big M with the usual 7:15
p.m. post time.
But there is one exception: This
Saturday, Dec. 15, with the New York Jets hosting the Houston Texans at MetLife
Stadium, there will be no live racing at the Meadowlands. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m.
CAN YOU PICK WINNERS? On Saturday, Dec. 22, the Big M is
hosting a handicapping tournament, and patrons are sure to love the entry fee:
Nothing!
The rules: Each participant makes mythical $2
across-the-board wagers (win, place and show) on selections for races 2 through
10 at the Meadowlands. Contestants must make their mythical selections prior to
the second race on the official contest entry form and turn them into a contest
official.
If a horse is scratched, the participant receives the
post-time favorite, and if the Meadowlands cancels due to inclement weather,
the contest is cancelled. The winner will be determined by the highest total
mythical bankroll at the conclusion of the 10th race and will
receive a $1,300 spot in the World Harness Handicapping Championship Final on
April 6, 2019.
