Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – When live harness racing makes
its return to The Meadowlands this Friday (Oct. 22), there won’t merely be some
ripples in the trotting and pacing waters, but rather a giant wave, as the
Breeders Crown will make its long-awaited return to The Big M for the first
time since 2016.
The Meadowlands’ Fall Championship Meeting kicks off
Friday at 6:20 p.m. with eliminations for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait in
the spotlight. Then, less than 24 hours later, 3-year-olds and older horses
will take center stage on a Saturday (Oct. 23) elimination-laden card that has
a special early post time of noon.
One week later, all 12 divisions for horses of all
ages, sexes and gaits will compete for purses totaling $7.2 million over the
course of the weekend. On Friday (Oct. 29) at 6:20 p.m., the four finals for
2-year-olds will take place, then on Saturday (Oct. 30), a total of eight
championship events will be contested on the mile oval, with the four races for
3-year-olds and four dashes for the older horses topping the bill with a second
consecutive early Saturday post time of noon.
“The Meadowlands has been the scene of many of the
greatest Breeders Crown races in the history of the sport,” said track Chief
Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, “and we are honored and
thrilled to kick off this incredible fall meet with the return of the Crown,
which begins a sensational five-week stretch, which includes the Kindergarten
Finals [on Nov. 13] before culminating with Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night
[on Nov. 20].”
DOUBLE VISION: The Breeders Crown will get plenty of live television exposure on
Saturday, Oct. 30, as Fox Sports 2 (FS2) and SportsNet New York (SNY) will both
provide extensive Breeders Crown Finals coverage.
FS2’s coverage will take place from noon-4:30 p.m.
while SNY’s broadcast will go from 3-5:30 p.m.
Big M TV’s Jessica Otten will provide pre-race
thoughts and post-race interviews on the telecast.
SUPER SUPPLEMENTS: The connections of four horses put their money where
their mouths are, ponying up some big green to supplement their horses to the
Breeders Crown.
Jujubee, the Kentucky Futurity champion whose winning
time of 1:49.3 equaled the fastest of the season for a sophomore trotter, is in
the 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Trot while Katie’s Lucky Day, off a thrilling
nose win over division leader Bella Bellini in the Kentucky Filly Futurity,
will go in the 3-Year-Old Filly Trot.
Scandinavian import Ecurie D, a winner in 1:50.4 in
his first-ever start in the U.S. when he took the Allerage Trot, has paid his
way into the Open Trot while early-season sensation Racine Belle, who defeated
division top dog Lyons Sentinel earlier this year at The Meadowlands in 1:48.1
in the Kissin In The Sand, will take on her rival again, in the Mares Pace.
All supplements cost their connections $62,500, with
the exception of Racine Belle, whose pay-in check was written in the amount of
$31,250.
TOP TEN AT THE BIG M: This looks like a remake of the “Magnificent 7”.
The weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Standardbred Poll that came out Tuesday revealed the current Top 10 in the
harness game. They are Lyons Sentinel, Venerable, Test Of Faith, Allywag
Hanover, Jujubee, Niki Hill, Atlanta, Hot Mess Express, Captain Corey and
Manchego.
The top seven horses in the poll will all be racing in
the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands either in eliminations this week or have
opted for a bye to next week’s finals. Hot Mess Express (ineligible) will not
race in the Crown and Captain Corey (injured) and Manchego (retired) are done
for the year.
GET YA FREE PROGRAMS HERE! Talk about a great deal! Free program pages for every
race of every Meadowlands race card are always available. All one has to do is
go to playmeadowlands.com to
access the no-cost past performances.
$100,000 GUARANTEED: One of the more exciting wagers at The Meadowlands is
the 50-cent Pick-4, and fans of the popular perplexing puzzle will get to shoot
for a nice pot, as each of the two times the bet is offered this weekend –
beginning in race nine – there will be a guaranteed pool of $50,000.
LOW TAKEOUTS, HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Here are the popular Meadowlands’ wagers that offer a
low 15 percent takeout on a nightly basis. Bettors should be aware that this
weekend, the programs have 12 races, instead of the usual 13:
· Race 1: 20-cent
Pick-5
· Race 3: 20-cent
Survivor Pick-7
· Race 6: 20-cent
Pick-6
· Race 9: 50-cent
Pick-4
· Race 12: 10-cent
Hi-5/Pentafecta
TRICK OR TWEET: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on
Twitter. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing
information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.
On race nights, stay in touch with Jessica Otten
(@JessicaOtten1), Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken
Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Shades Demsky (@ShadesOnRacing) and Edison Hatter
(@Edison_1999_).
WHO DOES BROWER LIKE? For expert selections and analysis of every Big M
card, check out track oddsmaker Dave Brower’s race reviews.
For Brower’s input, which is generally available 48
hours before every card, go to playmeadowlands.com, then click on the “handicapping” tab
and go to “race reviews”.
BETTORS’ CUP RUNNETH OVER: The always popular simulcast of Thoroughbred racing’s
Breeders’ Cup will take place at The Meadowlands on Friday, Nov. 5 and
Saturday, Nov. 6.
The 14-race event – which will take place at
California’s Del Mar Racetrack – will have five races Friday (post time, 2:55
p.m.; first BC race, 5:50 p.m.) before the final nine take place Saturday (post
time, 1:15 p.m.; first BC race, 3:05 p.m.). The featured event – the $6-million
Breeders’ Cup Classic – has a post time of 8:40 p.m.
HOW TO GET IN THE GAME: The best way to experience the rush of racing on the
track and at the windows is to go to The Meadowlands, but for those who can’t
make the trip, they can still tune in and get their action.
One of the best ways to watch what’s happening at The
Big M – as well as all other races at venues around the country and the world –
is to get a subscription to Roberts Television Network. All you need to do is
go to rtn.tv for an
affordable way to bring the action to your desktop, laptop, TV, smartphone or
other device.
A good way to get your bets in is to use the
Television Games Network (tvg.com)
or your favorite Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) site.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME (THURSDAY NIGHT)
FOOTBALL? Meadowlands fans need
not travel far to get their action in the top sportsbook of its kind in the
country.
That’s because the FanDuel Sportsbook is located in
the grandstand at The Big M.
On Thursday (Oct. 21) night, the Denver Broncos travel
to Cleveland for an 8:20 p.m. game with the Browns. Cleveland is currently a
1-point favorite (-112). If you prefer the money line, the Browns are -120.
Like prop bets? How about betting on Broncos
quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to throw (or not to throw) for 229½ yards? Both
the under and over are -110.
The book is open Monday through Thursday from 10
a.m.-1 a.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-12
a.m.
For more information, call 877-689-0662.
