Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Meadowlands
Pace Night (July 13) at the Meadowlands featured many things that bettors
apparently like, as total wagering on the 13-race, stakes-laden card topped $4
million, the first time in 2019 wagering reached that lofty level at the mile
oval.
Five favorites did emerge victorious
on the program on which $4,044,303 was bet, but some of the post-time choices
that went down clearly raised some eyebrows – and helped some to handsome
scores – as odds-on choices Green Manalishi S (3-5 odds), Atlanta (1-5),
Captain Crunch (1-2) and Warrawee Ubeaut (4-5) all tasted defeat in major
stakes events.
Large fields at an added distance are
always a big draw at the Big M, and on Saturday night, the Golden Girls (11
horses), Hambletonian Maturity (11), William Haughton (12) and Mistletoe Shalee
(12) were all contested with overflow fields at a mile and an eighth. Betting
on those four races totaled just under $1.6 million, good for an average of
$397,614 per race.
“The betting public embracing the
added distance races with larger fields on Meadowlands Pace Night should
definitely be considered a big positive step forward for our sport,” said
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hambletonian Society John
Campbell. “The atmosphere in the building was electric. You could tell it was a
special night.”
Big M management decided to double up
on the track’s signature wager – the 50-Cent Pick-4 – and both times big pools
were the result. In the initial Pick-4 (Races 6-9), a total of $146,229 – the
most of any Pick-4 this year – was pushed through the windows, while in the
Late Pick-4 (Races 10-13), wagering totaled $122,070.
The 50-Cent Pick-5 total of $116,401
was by far the largest non-carryover pool of 2019. Both the Pick-4 and Pick-5
both offered a low takeout of 15 percent.
Not surprisingly, the race on which
the most wagering dollars were plunked down was the Crawford Farms Meadowlands
Pace, where $499,925 was put in play. Finishing a close second was the Golden
Girls, which saw total action of $480,757.
“We are so appreciative of our
owners, trainers, drivers, and of course, our faithful fans for a big
Meadowlands Pace Night,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager
Jason Settlemoir. “And we look forward to that support continuing through the
end of the meeting, which concludes on Saturday, Aug. 3 with the $1 million
Hambletonian serving as the centerpiece.”
SIX TO GO: Just six race cards remain for the
2018-19 meeting at the Meadowlands. Racing will continue to be conducted on a
Friday-Saturday basis with a 7:15 p.m. post time through Friday, Aug. 2.
The final program takes place on
Saturday, Aug. 3, Hambletonian Day. Post time is noon.
IT’LL BE CORN-TASTIC: Come out to the Meadowlands on Friday
(July 19) and have some free corn (one ear per guest) before taking part in the
Corn Carrying Contest (after Race 2) and Corn Husking Contest (Race 4).
Sign up for the events at the
promotions table for the competitions that take place in the Backyard. Winners
receive a $100 betting voucher while all participants get a $25 voucher.
SINATRA TRIBUTE: Also on Friday (July 19) night, Frank
Sinatra impersonator Jessa Posa will entertain all who come to the Big M’s Pink
restaurant with many hits of the “Chairman of the Board”.
The cost for the show and buffet
dinner is $39.95. Call 201-THE-BIG-M for reservations.
BLUEGRASS BROWER: Dave Brower, lead TV personality for
the nightly “Racing from the Meadowlands” live in-house simulcast show, has
picked up another gig.
In addition to the current two
high-profile positions he holds on the side – co-host of the Hambletonian live
production on the CBS Sports Network and serving as host of the live simulcast
from the Little Brown Jug – earlier this week, Brower got the job working with
track announcer Gabe Prewitt – a Big M Championship Meeting TV personality – in
providing race analysis and commentary for all eight afternoons of racing
during the Red Mile’s two-week Grand Circuit meeting that begins Sept. 26.
