Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –
Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke and big action highlighted a huge weekend of racing
at the Meadowlands last Friday and Saturday (Feb. 1-2).
Formal records aren’t
available, but when it comes to what Burke and Gingras combined to do last
week, they likely aren’t necessary. Since the inception of the Big M racing
primarily twice a week in 2013, it’s hard to imagine any trainer-driver team
winning 11 times (in only 13 starts) over the course of a weekend, as Burke and
Gingras did a week ago, combining to win five times Friday before taking a
half-dozen winner’s circle trips Saturday.
“Yannick thought we had won
six in a night once before,” said Burke, “but to go back-to-back like we did is
really hard to do.”
Burke won’t be able to equal
his win output during this weekend’s action at the Big M, however – he only has
10 horses entered.
“The more you win with conditioned
horses there’s more of a chance the next losing streak is coming,” said Burke,
“because they are up in class after winning. I don’t need to win that many in
any weekend anyway, I just need to be consistent.”
Gingras won twice driving
horses for someone other than Burke on Friday to total seven victories, one
short of the single-card record shared by Brett Miller and Mike Lachance.
Again, with formal records unavailable, it’s not known if after winning six
more on Saturday that his 13 wins (25 starts) over the weekend are a Big M
best, but it’s extremely likely.
While Burke and Gingras were
winning at a white-hot pace, betting was like a wildfire in high winds during
the two 13-race programs. All-source wagering on Friday was $2,874,831, the second-highest
total of 2019. The next night, play reached the magic $3 million mark for the
first time this year, as $3,147,209 was pushed through the windows.
“What a great weekend of
racing it was,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason
Settlemoir, “and we are grateful to our fans, who supported us in a big way by
betting over $6 million during the two cards.”
The Big M’s popular 50-Cent Pick-4
wager took in a meet-high $110,700 on Saturday, and those who were sharp enough
to cash a winning ticket walked away with $1,083.80. Free program pages for the
upcoming Pick-4s this Friday and Saturday are available at www.ustrotting.com
and www.playmeadowlands.com.
The wager is offered on races eight through 11 and sports a low 15 percent
takeout.
STUDY YOUR FIVE COURSES: On Saturday (Feb. 9), come on out to the Big M’s Pink
restaurant and enjoy an incredible Italian feast. All five dinner courses will
be paired with a wine that compliments each course perfectly. The cost is $70.
To make reservations, call 201-460-4079.
STUDY FOR THE WHHC: The World Harness Handicapping Championship rolls on
at the Meadowlands on Saturday (Feb. 16) with a $200 entry fee and two spots to
the April 6 WHHC Final on the line. Based on 100 entries, there will be $10,000
in prize money. For complete information, go to http://www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/uploadedFiles/2019_February_WHHC_qualifier.pdf.
