Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The
father-son, trainer-driver team of Erv and Marcus Miller won both featured
events – the Preferred Handicaps for trotters and pacers – and horsemen and
track regulars otherwise made it through a rough Saturday night of inclement
weather unscathed over the course of an eventful two days (Jan. 18-19) last
weekend at the Meadowlands.
Trolley defeated arch-rival Muscle
Diamond in 1:53.1 in the featured trot on Friday, winning the event for a third
time in four tries before the Millers completed their “Weekend Double” Saturday
with Geez Joe, who held off nemesis K Ryan Bluechip by a nose in 1:50.2 in the
marquee pacing event.
Saturday’s weather forecasts saw
tracks opt to cancel their live action, but Meadowlands management – armed with
a more favorable forecast that morning – hosted their 14-race card. There were
21 scratches on the program, but wagering remained strong at over $2.3 million,
and the Big M saw over $5 million pushed through the windows over the course of
the two-card race week.
“We are extremely appreciative of
what our horsemen, staff and fans had to do to make Saturday night’s card a
success,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason
Settlemoir, “and we were so pleased that the weather did not turn out to be as
bad as what was forecast earlier in the week.”
This weekend, there will be a typical
January chill in the air, but weather figures to be no problem for the Friday
and Saturday (Jan. 25-26) programs. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
The Big M’s signature wager – the
50-Cent Pick 4 – figures to take plenty of action both nights. The wager has a
low 15 percent takeout and sports a guaranteed $50,000 pool. Free program pages
are available at www.ustrotting.com
and www.playmeadowlands.com.
Fans of the Early 20-Cent Jackpot
Super High-Five will have a $29,081 carryover to shoot for in Friday’s fifth
race.
TACO TUESDAY? NO. TACO FRIDAY? YES! On Friday (Jan. 25), the Big M’s Pink
restaurant will host a fiesta in the form of a buffet that will include all
Mexican favorites. The cost is $29.95. To make reservations, call 201-THE-BIGM.
CALLING ALL CHILI COOKS: The Meadowlands’ fourth-annual
home-style chili and salsa cookoff takes places this Saturday (Jan. 26).
Contestants will be shooting for a first prize of $1,000 and a spot in the
International Chili Society’s World Championship in Reno, Nevada.
There is a $500 prize for the
second-place finisher and $250 for third.
For those who would like to
participate, go to http://chilicookoff.com/register.
There is also a separate side contest
for homemade salsa that carries a $500 first prize.
For complete details, go to http://playmeadowlands.com/event_detail.aspx?id=13416.
SUPER SIMULCAST: A pair of huge events from Gulfstream
Park will headline the Big M’s Saturday (Jan. 26) simulcast menu.
The $7,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Turf
is race 11 and has a post time of 4:51 p.m. The Bill-Mott trained Yoshida is
the 5-2 morning-line favorite with jockey Jose Ortiz.
The Pegasus World Cup sports a
$9,000,000 purse and will go as race 12 at 5:36 p.m. Breeders’ Cup Classic
winner Accelerate will start at 9-5 for trainer John Stadler and jockey Joel
Rosario.
RAMS-PATRIOTS COUNTDOWN: Football’s biggest game, which will
pit the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots, takes place on Sunday, Feb.
3, at 6:30 p.m.
Get your action not only on the point
spread and under/over, but also try your luck on a wall full of prop bets at
the Big M’s FanDuel Sports Book, where you can watch the game live.
-30-
