Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The final major
date for big-time stakes racing in 2019 on the harness racing calendar is just
nine days away as the sport’s top venue, the Meadowlands Racetrack, will host
eight events certain to have impact on many divisional honors – as well as
Horse of the Year – on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The lineup on Fall Final Four/TVG
Finals Night is a stacked one. The four events for 2-year-olds are the $505,050
Valley Victory for trotting colts and geldings, $475,100 Goldsmith Maid for
trotting fillies, $401,850 Governor’s Cup for pacing colts and geldings and
$411,000 Three Diamonds for pacing fillies.
In addition, some of the sport’s
biggest names will be on the track in four TVG Finals. They include the
$350,000 Open Pace, $175,000 Mares Pace, $350,000 Open Trot and $175,000 Mares
Trot. Two of the stars expected to compete are presumptive Horse of the Year
front-runner Shartin N (Mares Pace) and the top horse in training right now –
the great mare Manchego – who is likely to get an invitation to the Open Trot
as she seeks a seventh straight score in her quest to beat the boys.
Purses for the eight races total
$2,843,000.
Not only will there be plenty of
action on the track, but there will be off it as well. There will be a special
early post time of 7 p.m. and they’ll also be an enhanced wagering menu, which
includes:
·
20-cent Survivor Pick-6
(Races 1-6)
·
$40,000 guaranteed
50-cent Pick-5 (Races 3-7)
·
$75,000 guaranteed
50-cent Pick-4 (Races 8-11)
·
Rolling Pick-3s
“All of us at the Meadowlands are
looking forward to Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night,” said Meadowlands’ Chief
Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Our loyal fans are
sure to enjoy our expanded wagering menu on what promises a spectacular card of
racing, where divisional honors and Horse of the Year will be decided on the
track. In addition, we’ll expand our simulcast presence by adding Gabe Prewitt
of Pompano Park and the Red Mile and Ft. Erie Racetrack’s Ashley Mailloux, who
has also done work for TVG, the Breeders’ Cup and ‘Post Time with Mike and
Mike’ to our TV team that night.”
BUILD YOUR BANKROLL: This weekend, the Big M will have its
usual live race cards on Friday (Nov. 15) and Saturday (Nov. 16), with post
time at 7:15 p.m.
Faithful players will have plenty of
opportunities to hit big throughout the 26-race weekend, as 17 of the races
will have full 10-horse fields, while six others will have nine behind the
gate. The three remaining races will have eight-horse fields.
The average field size, assuming
there are no scratches, will be 9.54 horses per race.
BUILD YOUR HAND: “Free Poker Fridays” at the Big M
continue Nov. 15. The event, which is sponsored by World Free Poker, begins
trackside at 7 p.m. Players must be 21 years of age.
GOBBLE, GOBBLE: On Saturday (Nov. 16), enter to win
one of 25 vouchers (worth $20) to get a Thanksgiving turkey. Entry forms will
be in the live racing program.
TOYS FOR TOTS: Come on out to the track on Monday,
Dec. 2 and bring an unwrapped toy for a child at Harlem Grown. Not only will
you help a youngster have a happy holiday, but you will also get to greet New
York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa – the honorary Captain of the 2019 Toys
for Tots Campaign – as the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Annual Holiday Toy Drive
Reception takes place at the Meadowlands.
FOX5 sportscaster Tina Cervasio will
host the event, where some of Enunwa’s Jets teammates are expected to attend.
For those who cannot make it but
would like to help, they can bring a new, unwrapped toy to the track between
Friday (Nov. 15) and the night of the event.
MORE ACTION: In addition to the world’s best
harness racing, Big M fans can also bet all NFL, NBA, NHL and college
basketball and football games in the track’s FanDuel Sportsbook.
This weekend’s local gridiron action
finds the Jets traveling to take on the Washington Redskins on Sunday (Nov. 17)
at 1 p.m. while the Giants have a bye week.
