Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – All racetracks
benefit from Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown Series as people head to the
nearest venue to bet the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Many of
those customers then make a day and night of it by remaining to bet the live
card.
Based on the numbers, one track that
benefited from the TC Series in a big way was The Meadowlands, which is a
destination for both Thoroughbred simulcast bettors as well as those who like
to play the best live harness racing anywhere.
“The Triple Crown Series returned to
its normal spring format after a rescheduled pandemic version in 2020,” said
Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The three
great Thoroughbred events were the huge spark that saw The Meadowlands’ handle
soar to heights the mile oval has not seen in a long time.”
All-source Big M betting topped the
$4-million mark the same evening after all three Triple Crown daytime cards
were contested, topped by the $4,451,363 wagered on Kentucky Derby Day (May 1).
On the Derby Day card one year ago, total action was $2.5 million, meaning the
increase this year was a gigantic 72 percent.
Meadowlands’ wagering on the three
Triple Crown cards totaled $12,587,081 over 41 races, good for an average per
card of $4,195,693 and an average per race of $307,001. Betting in 2020 and
2019 was solid at just over $9 million but paled when compared to this year.
“We would like to thank horseplayers
around the world who have responded in a big way to our low-takeout wagers,” said
Settlemoir. “The positive response has allowed us to have more low-takeout
wagers, which creates more winning players. In 2021, our horseplayer friendly
business model and wagering menu is just blowing up.”
The handle comparisons are even more
startling when you look back at 2018. The three Meadowlands’ Triple Crown Day
cards took in a total of $7,225,182. The increase from 2018 to 2021 was 74 per
cent.
Much of the track’s success, which
trickles down to a state that provides a good living for all involved in the
game from the breeders to the owners to the grooms, can be attributed to the
intervention of Garden State politicians. The New Jersey State Legislature
passed and Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill to support New Jersey horse racing in
February of 2019.
“Let’s be perfectly honest here,”
said Settlemoir. “On most nights in 2018, we did not have the excellent product
that could cultivate many sports bettors and Thoroughbred players to cross over
and wager on Standardbred racing at The Meadowlands. Three years later, thanks
to Gov. Murphy, the members of the New Jersey State Legislature and a growing
legion of loyal fans, we have the horse racing product that the wagering public
wants. The horses have been spectacular, the pools have been enormous and the
drivers, trainers and owners that compete every weekend at The Big M have
become the most recognizable faces in all of nighttime horse racing.”
TAKE A DIP IN THE POOL: The Meadowlands’ signature wager, the
50-cent Pick-4, is one of the most popular in all of harness racing, and that
was never more apparent than last weekend.
On Friday (June 4), the Early Pick-4
(race six) pool took in a 2021-high of $138,450. After nearly $127,000 was
wagered on the Late P4 (race 10), the grand Pick-4 total for the night was
another year’s best, at $265,439.
But those marks lasted only 24 hours.
The Late P4 on Saturday (June 5) saw
total action of $144,278 to set a new season’s standard. After adding in the
$133,955 put in play on the Early P4, total action on the bet was $278,233, a
new 2021 best.
THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN: Friday night will mark the return of
racing to Canada’s top harness racing venue, as Woodbine Mohawk Park makes its
return after a little more than two months of inactivity due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Racing will take place this Friday
and Saturday with a first-race post time of 7 p.m.
“The Meadowlands welcomes back our
friends North of the Border,” said Settlemoir. “We are extremely pleased that
all of their horsemen and horsewomen can get back to work after what has been a
most challenging year.”
COME ON OUT TO THE TRACK! With virtually all coronavirus
protocols now relaxed or gone (Big M management asks that unvaccinated patrons
wear a mask), people should now get out and enjoy the spring weather by coming
out to the track and catching all the action at The Big M live.
Live racing continues at The
Meadowlands every Friday and Saturday night. Post time is 6:20 p.m.
SIX CHANCES TO HIT BIG: Here are the six popular Meadowlands’
wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout on a nightly basis:
·
Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5
·
Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
·
Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4
·
Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6
·
Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4
·
Race 13: 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta
GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS, HERE! Need a program but would rather not
spend any green?
The Big M has you covered, with free
programs of every race of every race card. Just go to playmeadowlands.com to get your no-cost
past performances.
GET ON TWITTER: You can always check in with the team
at The Meadowlands on Twitter.
For early changes, racing information
and staff selections, go to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.
On race nights, stay in touch with
the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken
Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1).
CHECK OUT DAVE AND DAVE: Make that Jessica and Little.
While the Big M’s usual TV duo of
Dave Brower and Dave Little will be on hand to take racing fans through the
Saturday program, the track’s social media maven and back paddock interviewer
Jessica Otten will join Little on set Friday.
Big M TV’s live “Racing from The
Meadowlands” pre-game show, which provides news, notes, features, staff
selections and a look at that evening’s marquee races, gets underway at 5:47
p.m.
Live racing continues every Friday
and Saturday with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.
BROWER’S BEST BETS: For those who like 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
the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.
Brower’s input is generally available
48 hours before every card.
BIG NBA ACTION: The Brooklyn Nets will continue their
quest for the NBA championship Thursday night when they take on the Milwaukee
Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and for bettors who like to put
down a wager or two, they can watch and bet the Nets – as well as the
Clippers-Jazz game – in one of the top sportsbooks in the country, the FanDuel
Sportsbook at The Meadowlands.
If you like the Nets to win, you can
get 3½ points and get odds of -106. Don’t like to play point spreads? Get the
Nets at +138 even up. The under/over for total points, which is -110, is 234.
Of course, there is also wagering on
the NHL playoffs, Major League Baseball, professional tennis’ French Open,
professional golf’s Palmetto Championship and much, much more.
The sportsbook is open Sunday-Friday
from 10 a.m.-midnight and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 a.m. The cash counter is open
from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
