Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – This Friday
(March 29) and Saturday (March 30), the choices for Meadowlands’ players will
be plentiful, whether it’s top-flight harness or thoroughbred racing or the
NCAA college basketball tournament’s Sweet 16, the action will be constant.
The second purse increase of the year
at the Big M goes into effect this weekend, thanks to Gov. Phil Murphy and
state legislators.
One year ago, the corresponding race
cards had purses that totaled $250,500. This weekend, that number will increase
50 percent, as $375,750 will be up for grabs.
Wagering at the Big M has been strong
all year long. Last Saturday (March 23) marked the fifth time betting exceeded
the magic $3-million mark ($3,082,637) during 2019 not only at the mile oval,
but in the entire industry.
Races one, four and five all saw
wagering of over $300,000 with the three races accounting for a little more
than $976,000 of action. The single-pool highlight of the night was the fourth
race Exacta, which saw $103,276 in play despite the race being for maidens.
The 50-Cent Pick-4 pool reached six
figures for the seventh time in 11 tries ($101,640) and those who held winning
tickets walked away with $4,699.
Free program pages for the 50-Cent
Pick-4 are available at www.playmeadowlands.com and www.ustrotting.com.
Last Friday’s debut of the Can-Am
Pick-4 was a big success, as the wager that requires a bettor to select two
winners at the Meadowlands and two more at Woodbine Mohawk Park took in $57,489
of action. The bet, which has a 20-Cent base and low 15 percent takeout,
returned $596.51. Three of the winners’ odds were 7-2 or less. It was just one
11-1 shot that separated many of those who cashed from those who didn’t.
The wager, which will be offered on
Fridays, gets underway with the 10th race at WMP followed by the 10th
at the Big M, the 11th at WMP and 11th at the
Meadowlands. It is accessed by going to a separate pool on a separate race
card. Go to “select track” on betting terminals then go to “Can-Am Pick-4” to
play.
“All of us at the Meadowlands are
pleased with how things are going,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and
General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Our higher purses have created increased
interest by our horsemen, which creates big fields on which to wager, which our
fans love. In addition, with the Can-Am Pick-4, we now have the two biggest tracks
in harness racing – ours and Woodbine Entertainment’s – combining forces on a
bet that created quite a stir in its initial offering and we are optimistic
that trend will continue.”
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS: In addition to a big 13-race
Meadowlands live card, Saturday will be a huge day for simulcast players.
The 20-Cent Jackpot High-5 at
Woodbine Mohawk Park will have a mandatory payout. The carryover stands at
$525,140 for the last race on the card at WMP (Race 10, post time 10:10 p.m.).
Check your Meadowlands live program for the past performances.
Entering Thursday’s card, the Rainbow
Six carryover at Gulfstream Park stood at $2.4 million. In the event the bet is
not hit Thursday or Friday, there will be a mandatory payout of the wager on
Saturday (March 30), which just happens to be the same day as one of the major
preps for the Kentucky Derby, the $1-million Florida Derby (Race 14, post time
6:30 p.m.).
But that’s not all.
For those who don’t mind getting up
early, the $12-million Dubai World Cup will be simulcast from Meydan Racecourse
in the United Arab Emirates.
The first of nine races on the card
is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. EDT. Gates at the Meadowlands open at 8:30 a.m. with
the third race at Meydan slated to go at 8:50 a.m.
The Dubai World Cup (Race 9) is
scheduled to go off at 12:40 p.m.
Purses on the Meydan card total an
incredible $35 million.
SWEET 16 UP NEXT: The NCAA college basketball
tournament is down to 16 teams and there are likely many brackets still in good
shape since all four No. 1 seeds – Duke, North Carolina, Gonzaga and Virginia –
are still alive.
Watch and wager on all of the action
in the Meadowlands’ FanDuel Sportsbook, with games set to tip-off on Thursday
(March 28) and Friday (March 29) at 7:09 p.m. before continuing through Saturday
(March 30) and Sunday (March 31) with action in the Elite Eight round.
CHECK YOUR SCORECARD: There will be some lineup changes this
weekend on “Racing from the Meadowlands”, the live simulcast show seen
coast-to-coast that begins every Friday and Saturday night at 6:42 p.m. EDT.
On Friday (March 29), Jessica Otten,
normally seen conducting interviews in the back paddock or hosting promotions
in the grandstand, will sit alongside host Dave Brower and serve as co-host of
the Big M’s live presentation that will take a look at that evening’s feature
races. In addition, the team of Brower and Otten will analyze the second
edition of the Can-Am Pick-4.
The announcers’ booth will find
owner, amateur driver and musician Peter Kleinhans on the microphone calling
the races on both Friday and Saturday, while Mike Bozich, one-half of the “Post
Time with Mike and Mike” podcast team and track announcer at Harrah’s
Philadelphia, will serve as the on-the-set co-host Saturday evening.
Post time on Friday and Saturday is
7:15 p.m.
A REAL DELIGHT: On Friday (March 29), head to the Big
M’s Pink restaurant for a spectacular buffet, the “Seafood D*Light”.
The cost is just $29.95. For
reservations, call 201-THE-BIGM.
SPRING BREAK FEVER: On Saturday (March 30), enter the
Meadowlands’ Spring Break Sweepstakes for your chance to win a vacation
sponsored by FantaSea Resorts.
For complete details, see the entry form
in the live racing program.
