Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – It was neither
Hambletonian Day nor Meadowlands Pace Night, but you couldn’t tell that from
the betting at the Big M Saturday night.
Wagering surpassed the $4-million
mark for the first time on a “non-event” card since March 1st of
2014, as a total of $4,100,386 was pushed through the windows on June 20. The
track did program 18 races – five more than usual – to get some horses raced
who had been on the sidelines during the coronavirus shutdown, but the average
action per race was still a rock-solid $227,789.
“Last weekend was a good one for us,”
said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “It
was gratifying to be able to afford our horsemen more opportunities to race and
make some much-needed money for their connections as we waited for some of the
neighboring states to open up. We were also happy to see the response of our
fans, who bet vigorously throughout the weekend.”
The total wager for last Friday (June
19) and Saturday was $7,582,203 for 36 races, good for an average per race of
$210,616.
This weekend, when racing will be
conducted on the usual Friday (June 26) and Saturday (June 27) at the usual
post time of 7:15 p.m. with the usual 13 races, bettors will be shooting for a
pool that figures to be far bigger than usual in the 20-cent Pick-6.
Pick-6 players will be adding to a
pot that will start out with a carryover of $8,948 Friday night. The Pick-6 is
one of the track’s betting “Big 4”.
The wagers, which all offer a low 15
percent takeout and will also have $160,000 in guaranteed pools, are the
20-cent Pick-5 (race one, $40,000 guaranteed pool), the aforementioned Pick-6
(race four, $30,000), the Early 50-cent Pick-4 (race six, $50,000) and Late
50-cent Pick-4 (race 10, $40,000).
Twenty-cent Jackpot Super High-Five
players will no doubt continue to chase their pot of gold, given some serious
carryovers. Friday’s fifth race will begin with $54,154 in the hat, while the
13th and final has a carryover of $65,202.
Last Saturday, despite nine winning
favorites on the card, Pick-5 players hit big, cashing in for $32,943 when two
double-digit-odds winning horses scored during the sequence, including a 38-1
chance in the opening leg (race one).
TIM ON TOP: Tim Tetrick led the way last week in
the driver’s colony, scoring nine times. Dexter Dunn, Yannick Gingras and
Jordan Stratton were next with four winners apiece.
Nancy Takter and Shane Tritton were
the leading trainers, as each sent three to victory lane.
FAST, FASTER, FASTEST: Saturday night saw eight of the 17
pacing events go in sub-1:50. On Friday, when Manchego nosed Atlanta in 1:50 in
the first leg of the Miss Versatility Series, she established the fastest mile
on the trot in the sport this year. She bested her own mark – set on June 5 –
by three-fifths of a second.
COMING UP: This weekend, there will be plenty of
good racing to go around, as the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds rolls
on. In addition, 4-year-old trotters will go at it in “harness racing’s
traveling road show”, the Graduate Series. There will also be a 3-year-old open
trot, where some Hambletonian contenders will get in behind the gate.
HOW TO WATCH, HOW TO BET: Since fans are still not allowed to
attend the races, for those anxious to be a part of the Big M action, they can
watch the races on the Roberts Television Network (rtn.tv)
or on the Television Games Network (TVG). To bet the races in New Jersey, go to
4njbets.com, and if out of state, go to tvg.com or your favorite ADW (advance-deposit
wagering) platform.
FREE STUFF: For free past performances of some
key wagers, go to playmeadowlands.com.
On Friday, the 20-cent Pick-6 (race four) and Late 50-cent Pick-4 (race 10)
will be available. The Late Pick-4 will be available for Saturday’s races.
CHECK OUT THE TEAM: For those who need to get a leg up on
the action, go to playmeadowlands.com
to see track oddsmaker and analyst Dave Brower’s selections and commentary. Go
to the “handicapping” drop down and then go to “race reviews”.
Additionally, track announcer Ken
Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.
Last week, Big M handicappers did good
things, as Brower led the way with 15 winners. Dave Little and Warkentin tabbed
13 and 12, respectively.
This weekend’s pre-game shows get
underway at 6:45 p.m., and the team – which includes Jessica Otten – will give
out best bets and value plays. Little and Brower will do some news and notes
and will also look at each evening’s feature races. They will give out Pick-4
selections during the evening before saying good night after the 11th-race
replay with the segment “Little’s Late Double”, where the former Daily News
handicapper tries to send everybody home a winner.
During the evening, look for Otten’s
interviews with horsemen from the back paddock after race replays.
TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big
M’s Brower (@eedoogie), Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and
Otten (@JessicaOtten1) anytime, but especially on race night. Check in everyday
for Meadowlands news and updates at those handles, as well as at
@TheMeadowlands.
