Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – When
legislators and Gov. Phil Murphy said yes to a $20 million yearly appropriation
to support horse racing in the State of New Jersey, Garden State horsemen were
predictably pleased that the purses they would go for would increase
considerably.
But would the fans react in a way
that would make one think harness racing’s lifeline would lengthen? Thus far,
the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’.
The Meadowlands has been able to
withstand the yearly opening of Pennsylvania’s harness venues unscathed having
been able to battle them on a level playing field for the precious horse
population with purses that have experienced two significant increases in the
last two months.
The proof? Last Saturday (April 20),
Big M players wagered $3,046,148 on the 13-race card, as betting exceeded the
$3 million mark for the seventh time this year. In addition, over the course of
the 32 race cards contested at the Meadowlands in 2019, 29 have seen handle of
at least $2.5 million.
Big fields and big competition in
evenly-matched races are what the Big M faithful crave. “Over the last four
racing programs, only nine favorites have won from 52 races,” said track Chief
Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The current percentage
of winning favorites at the Meadowlands is 38. Of harness tracks currently
racing, the median percentage is 46. In fact, our 38 percent compares right
there with some of the top thoroughbred tracks. Often, the knock on harness
racing is how easily horses make the lead and win, but we’ve had great racing
with non-stop action, which makes it possible for horses to win from anywhere.”
According to Brisnet, Santa Anita (36
percent), Tampa Bay (36) and Gulfstream (37) are right there with the Big M
when it comes to winning chalks.
Last Friday (April 19), despite bad
weather that arrived early in the evening, the action was plentiful.
A new wagering high was established
in the Can-Am Pick-4, which saw $65,333 in action. Those who went four-for-four
cashed in for $87.17 for the bet with the 20-Cent base wager and low 15 percent
takeout.
One lucky patron wagering on the
Meadowlands' signal into the Oregon hub went home with a huge smile on his or
her face in the 13th race 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five.
After 10-1 shot Knightofvictory held off 5-2 favorite Prince Of Minto after a
stirring stretch duel, that player holding the only ticket with the winning
combination of 6-8-1-10-3 cashed in for $68,059.
When live action
resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m., racing fans will have a big carryover to shoot
for, as the ‘other’ 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five will start out with $82,307
in the hat in race five.
For 20-Cent Can-Am
Pick-4 and Meadowlands’ 50-Cent Pick-4 players, free program pages are
available at www.playmeadowlands.com
and www.ustrotting.com.
Saturday’s
$3-million night was highlighted by the eighth race, when a total of $341,302
was pushed through the windows, with the always prolific 50-Cent Pick-4
accounting for $116,859 of the pot. Only once in 2019 has the Pick-4 had a
larger pool, when $134,614 was put in play on March 2.
1 MILLION PENNY GIVEAWAY: On all live racing nights during
April, make sure to try and win one or more of many prizes totaling $10,000 in
the Big M’s “1 Million Penny Giveaway”.
Guests may enter once per live race
day. The month-long contest concludes Saturday (April 27).
For complete information and a list
of prizes, go to http://playmeadowlands.com/event_detail.aspx?id=16148
HORSEPLAY ALLOWED: Come on out to the Meadowlands on Friday
(May 3) and take your best shot in the track’s Horseplay Giveaway.
To play, contestants must complete an
entry form and grab a free toy horse at the Players Club Desk or the outdoor
Horseplay table.
If you throw your horse into the
window of the target car, you qualify to win a $100 betting voucher. In the
event you win the voucher, you will then be entered in a drawing on Friday,
August 2, when the prize is a 2019 Toyota C-HR.
In addition, for each horse that
makes it into the target car, the Meadowlands will donate $10 to a designated
charity. During May, the money will go to A Lot to Grow.
COUNTDOWN TO THE DERBY: The 145th running of the
Kentucky Derby is one week from Saturday on May 4. Come on out to the Meadowlands
and bet the entire Churchill Downs card, which gets underway at 10:30 a.m. (Big
M gates open at 9 a.m.)
Post time for the Kentucky Derby is
6:46 p.m.
In the Gallery, there will be a
special Derby Day lunch buffet for $39.95. Food service begins at 11:30 a.m.
That evening in Pink restaurant,
there will be a southern inspired buffet for $54.95 that begins at 4:30 p.m.
Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations.
You better hurry!
There will be a $100 Derby win-wager
contest with entry forms available in the Derby program and at the Players Club
Desk. Contestants must enter by 5 p.m.
In addition, there will be a $100
live win wager contest beginning at 6 p.m. with those entry forms available in
the live harness program as well as the Players Club Desk. Ten winning
contestants will be selected throughout the evening.
It wouldn’t be Derby Day without a
hat contest for the ladies who come out to the Big M. Contestants can register
from 2-4:45 p.m. at the Clubhouse Main Entrance. Judging will take place in
front of the winner’s circle at 5 p.m. There are five cash prizes up for grabs,
ranging from $50 up to $500.
