Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ –
The stream of stakes races will overflow as a small creek would after a
tropical storm, just like the money that will flood the pools at The Meadowlands
on Saturday (August 8), when the 95th edition of the $1,000,000
Hambletonian takes center stage on “Harness Racing’s Greatest Day”. Post time
for the first race is noon.
Sitting atop the list
of betting opportunities will be the 20-cent Super High-Five. With Saturday
bringing a mandatory payout, a low 15 percent takeout and a $109,280 carryover,
the sky’s the limit for the wager’s total pool since the race will have a bulky
field of 11.
“We have a unique
wagering and investment opportunity for all players caused by the low takeout
and big carryover,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager
Jason Settlemoir. “We have placed the wager on Race 14, which will take place
30 minutes before the prestigious Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
“The opportunity for
the player is superb, as the mathematics of this carryover wager have swung the
advantage to the player, arguably making the mandatory payout on the High-Five
the best bet offered at any race track or sports book on Hambletonian Day. There
will be more money paid out Saturday than the money wagered on the High-Five if
the final pool is under $800,000.”
His point is a valid
one. In the event there is $190,720 in “new money” bet into the High-Five,
which is a low-end guess, that would create a total payout of $271,392 (good
for a surplus of $80,672), which would result in a staggering 42 percent edge
for the bettor.
If there is $290,720 in
new money, that would create a total payout of $356,392 (surplus, $65,672),
creating a 22 percent advantage for the player.
But, naturally, on the
16-race program that will conclude The Big M’s “Championship Meet”, that
opportunity to make a score is merely one of many.
In fact, there will be
five other wagers on the program which will undoubtedly take big action while
offering the small 15 percent rake:
·
20-cent Pick-6 (Race 1)
·
20-cent Pick-5 (Race 3, $75,000
guaranteed pool)
·
50-cent Pick-4 (Race 8, $100,000)
·
20-cent Pick-5 (Race 11, $50,000)
·
50-cent Pick-4 (Race 13, $50,000)
CHECK YOUR WATCH: Friday (August 7) night’s races will
begin at the usual 7:15 p.m., but on Saturday (August 8), Hambletonian Day, the
huge 16-race program gets underway at noon.
The Hambletonian Oaks has a post time
of 3:30 p.m., while the Hambletonian is slated to go at 4:35 p.m.
NATIONAL TV: The Hambletonian and the Hambletonian
Oaks will be presented on a tape delayed one-hour broadcast that will be seen
on the CBS Sports Network beginning at 6 p.m.
The show will be hosted by Gary
Seibel remotely, with the Big M’s TV team of Dave Brower and Dave Little
serving as the primary on-site players. Gabe Prewitt, Ashley Mailloux and
Jessica Otten will handle interviews during the 60-minute show. Ken Warkentin
will call the race for the 21st time in his career as the voice of
The Big M.
STAKES MENU: In addition to the $1,000,000 Hambo,
the $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks, $273,125 Cane Pace, $90,525 Shady Daisy,
$229,660 Sam McKee, $177,100 Lady Liberty, $284,200 John Cashman, $166,550 John
Steele, $339,000 Peter Haughton and $350,300 Jim Doherty will also be on the
Saturday card.
WANT TO BET THE HAMBO ON FRIDAY? Wagering on the entire Hambletonian
Day card will be available all day long on Friday, August 7. Check wherever you
normally get your action as all 16 races should be available for those who want
to bet 24 hours in advance.
WANT TO BET THE HAMBO “ON THE GO”? The Meadowlands will offer wagering
for those who need the convenience of a walk-up window given the track’s
reduced capacity.
There will be a betting window in Lot
M off Berry’s Creek Road. Tellers will take action from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on
Saturday.
Programs will be available for sale
for not only the Meadowlands races, but for simulcast action as well.
COMING TO THE TRACK? For those interested in coming out to
the track on Hambletonian Day, they should go to this link for complete
information: http://playmeadowlands.com/News.aspx?id=20611
FREE STUFF: For free past performances, go to playmeadowlands.com, where race fans can
access Races 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 for Friday. For Friday’s PPs, go to this
link: http://playmeadowlands.com/uploadedFiles/Handicapping/Past_Performances/mxx0807x.pdf
Saturday’s entire 16-race program
will be available free of charge. For those PPs, go to this link: http://playmeadowlands.com/uploadedFiles/Handicapping/Past_Performances/mxx0808x.pdf
CHECK OUT THE PICKS: For those who need to get a leg up on
the action, go to playmeadowlands.com
to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on
this link to check out Friday’s card: http://playmeadowlands.com/RaceReviews.aspx?racedt=8/7/2020
Additionally, track announcer
Warkentin’s blog is available on the site and offers his picks and analysis.
On race nights, access picks and
plays from the Big M TV team at #playbigm or at @TheMeadowlands.
TWEET THE TEAM: Stay in touch on Twitter with the Big
M’s Brower (@eedoogie), Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Warkentin (@kenvoiceover),
Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Prewitt (@gabe_prewitt) and Mailloux
(@ashley_mailloux). Check in everyday for Meadowlands news and updates at those
handles, as well as @TheMeadowlands and #playbigm.
HOW TO WATCH, HOW TO BET: For those fans who prefer to not
attend the races but are still anxious to be a part of the action, they can
watch the races on the Roberts Television Network (rtn.tv)
or on the Television Games Network (TVG). To bet the races go to 4njbets.com, tvg.com
or your favorite ADW (advance-deposit wagering) platform.
READ ALL ABOUT IT: Go to the following harness racing outlets on the internet for everything Hambletonian, before and after the race: playmeadowlands.com, ustrotting.com, drf.com/harness/, harnessracing.com, standardbredcanada.ca, harnessracingupdate.com and harnesslink.com. Also check out Hambletonian Facebook livestream, @Hambletonian_ and hambletonian.com.
