Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Business was brisk at the
Meadowlands as the 2019 racing calendar year kicked off last weekend (Jan. 4-5)
at the mile oval with bettors pushing a little more than $5.6 million through
the windows over the course of the two-card race week.
Wagering was almost identical on the pair of 13-race
programs, with $2,831,028 bet on Friday before $2,856,661 in action was taken
Saturday. The average handle per race was a strong $218,757.
The 50-Cent Pick-4, the track’s signature bet, took in
$106,836 in wagers Friday before Saturday saw $92,512 in action. For those
handicappers sharp enough to use 27-1 shot Whittaker in Saturday’s 11th race,
the Pick-4 returned a handsome $4,393. The first three legs of the wager were
taken by ‘havable’ 5-1, 8-1 and 6-5 shots, respectively.
The 50-Cent Pick-4 has a low 15 percent takeout and a
guaranteed pool of $50,000. Free program pages are available at www.playmeadowlands.com and www.ustrotting.com.
Twenty-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five players have a
pair of carryovers to shoot for Friday night, as the fifth race will begin with
$22,265 in the hat while race 13 will have $26,504 to start.
‘ORANGE’ CRUSHES, ‘HORNET’ STINGS: Andy Miller, aka ‘The Orange Crush’, was the man on
Saturday (Jan. 5) night, driving six winners on the program. Yannick ‘The Green
Hornet’ Gingras won five times over the course of the weekend.
NFL FAN? GO TO THE BIG M: For National Football League playoffs lovers who love
to bet the games, the Meadowlands is the place to be.
The track’s FanDuel Sports Book will offer action on
all of this weekend’s divisional round with the first game kicking off Saturday
(Jan. 12) at 4:35 p.m. with the Indianapolis Colts traveling to Kansas City to
take on the Chiefs. Then, at 8:15 p.m., the Los Angeles Rams host the Dallas
Cowboys.
On Sunday (Jan. 13) at 1:05 p.m., the Los Angeles
Chargers travel to New England to play the Patriots while the late game (4:40
p.m.) has the New Orleans Saints hosting the defending Super Bowl champion
Philadelphia Eagles.
SKIP LUNCH, GO TO PINK: On Friday (Jan. 11), a sumptuous Italian-themed buffet
will be available in the Meadowlands’ Pink restaurant during the live race
card. The buffet is $29.95 and features all classic Italian dishes.
Reservations can be made by calling 201-THE-BIGM.
WHHC KICKOFF: On Saturday (Jan. 12), the Meadowlands will host the
first 2019 contest of the World Harness Handicapping Championship, with four
spots to the April 13 WHHC Final on the line.
The competition, which
is presented by DerbyWars.com, has a cost of $400 ($200 entry fee/$200
bankroll). Interested patrons should check-in at the Clubhouse Main Entrance
(across from the Players Club Desk). The entry fee comes with a live racing
program and food voucher and walk-up entries are welcome with unlimited entries
per person. Contestants should sign up between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The rules: Players must
bet a minimum of 10 Meadowlands races with a $20 minimum (no maximum bet per
race). Win, Place, Show or WPS wagers only. One horse per race.
Click here to take a
look at the contest brochure: http://www.playmeadowlands.com/uploadedFiles/2019_January_WHHC_qualifier.pdf
