Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – If your
Christmas bankroll needs a boost, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to cash a
big ticket this weekend at the Meadowlands.
The mile oval will serve up a 10-race
‘appetizer’ on Thursday, before a pair of cards that would qualify anywhere as
a ‘main course’, with 14 races on both Friday and Saturday. Post time for all
three evenings of live racing is 7:15 p.m.
Big fields will rule throughout the
next-to-last three-card race week of the year at the Big M, with 29 of the 38
races featuring full 10-horse fields.
“Big fields are what bettors want,”
said Jason Settlemoir, the track’s chief operating officer and general manager.
“Our fans will have plenty of chances to make a score over the course of the
three programs.”
Settlemoir also had this message: “At
this time, I’d also like to wish everyone on staff here at Meadowlands Racing
and Entertainment, as well as all of our owners, trainers, drivers and grooms,
and, of course, our faithful fans, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.”
GUARANTEED DEEP POOLS: On Friday and Saturday night, the
track will offer its $25,000 guaranteed 50-Cent Pick-5 as well as its 50-Cent
Pick-4, which has a $50,000 pool promise. Both wagers have a low 15 percent
takeout and free program pages are available at both www.playmeadowlands.com and www.ustrotting.com.
HIGH-FIVE CARRYOVER IN TORONTO: Simulcast fans are sure to have big
interest in the final race on the Saturday (Dec. 22) card at Woodbine Mohawk
Park. Assuming the Jackpot Super High-Five is not hit Thursday or Friday,
Saturday will bring a gigantic pot of gold since the track will have a
mandatory payout on the wager.
The current carryover (before the
start of Thursday’s card) is at C$324,890.
THE BIG WINNERS: Last weekend, driver Andy Miller and
trainer Nick Surick, who are a remarkably potent pair at Freehold Raceway, did
plenty of damage at the Meadowlands.
During the course of last week’s two
programs (Dec. 13-14), Andy Miller visited the winner’s circle five times.
Leading driver Andy McCarthy won four while Brett Miller had three victories.
Surick topped all trainers with three
scores after taking the final three races on the Thursday (Dec. 13) card. Jamie
Gerard had a pair of horses visit the winner's circle.
KLEINHANS TO CALL: Tonight marks the third of four
“Borrow Ken’s Binoculars” Thursdays at the Big M as the voice of the track, Ken
Warkentin, takes a seat on the set of the live “Racing from the Meadowlands”
simulcast show as well as the SportsNet New York recap production.
Serving as track announcer will be
Pete Kleinhans, a longtime horseman and occasional fill-in on the Big M’s TV
shows. Kleinhans has called at many tracks over the years, including stints as
the regular announcer at the now-defunct Lakeshore Meadows, as well as Hoosier
Park, Chester Downs (now Harrah’s Philadelphia) and The Red Mile.
NFL SATURDAY ACTION: A pair of National Football League
games with playoff ramifications take place on Saturday (Dec. 22), and
Meadowlands’ fans cannot only bet on a superb card of harness racing, but also
make wagers on the NFL doubleheader.
The track’s FanDuel Sportsbook will
take action on the Washington Redskins-Tennessee Titans tilt (which kicks off
at 4:30 p.m.) as well as the Baltimore Ravens-Los Angeles Chargers game (8:20
p.m.).
Sports betting enthusiasts are
reminded that the hours at the sports book are Monday-Thursday, 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.-1 a.m. (the
sports book will close when all live U.S. events have been completed).
PAY NOTHING, HIT BIG: 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 two 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 canceled. 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.
For
more details on the WHHC, go to http://playmeadowlands.com/contest_detail.aspx?id=8240.
