The Meadowlands Racetrack has released a preview of what will be on tap this coming weekend at the East Rutherford, NJ oval.
Effective immediately, racing reverts to the usual two programs per week schedule of Friday and Saturday, with a first-race post time of 7:15 p.m. (the next live Thursday card will take place on July 16).
The action figures to be hot and heavy for the second week of racing in 2020, as both cards will offer 14 races. Of the 28 races, 24 will offer full 10-horse fields, three will have nine participants, while one will have eight at the gate.
Driver Dexter will be Dave Little’s ‘In the Sulky’ guest during Friday night’s ‘Racing from the Meadowlands’ pre-race show at 6:45 p.m.
The carryover for the late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five on Friday is nearing six figures. The pot will start out at $94,800 for Friday night’s 14th race. The wager that offers a $50,000 guaranteed pool and low 15 per cent takeout is available nightly on Race 8. Free program pages for the bet are available at playmeadowlands.com and ustrotting.com. Last weekend’s 50-cent Pick-4s averaged over $100,000 a night for the second straight Friday-Saturday, as $109,614 was wagered Friday before another $94,701 was pushed through the windows Saturday.
The popular Can-Am Pick-4 – which links up two races from the top harness venues in the game – will resume Saturday night and will be offered every Saturday thereafter. During 2019, pools for the wager that is comprised of two races from the Meadowlands and two from Woodbine Mohawk Park averaged better than $50,000. It has a 20-cent base and a low 15 per cent takeout. Expert selections for the CAP4 will be offered by the TV teams of both tracks on their respective simulcast signals.
The next qualifier for the World Harness Handicapping Championship and the long-awaited return of the Can-Am Pick-4 give Meadowlands fans plenty to look forward to this Saturday (Jan. 11). For complete information on the WHHC qualifier, click here.
The year 2019 was a good one for business at the ‘Big M,’ with total handle up $44.5 million over 2018.
“We had a great year during 2019 due to several factors,” said Meadowlands Racetrack Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “First, all of us at the Meadowlands are so appreciative of the purse appropriation earmarked for the horse racing industry that was approved by New Jersey legislators, Gov. Phil Murphy, President of the New Jersey Senate Stephen Sweeney and Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Craig Coughlin.
“Second, with that money in our purse account, it created more of a level playing field in the competition for horses from nearby states. Third, combine that with the great support our horsemen have given to our entry box, it creates an environment of big fields and competitive racing, which our faithful fans – who we could not do without – go for in a big way.”
(With files from the Meadowlands Racetrack)