It has been announced that Andrew McCarthy, who is currently the leading reinsman at the Meadowlands Racetrack, will soon be out of action.

McCarthy, who is sporting 30 wins during the current ‘Big M’ meet, has admitted that it “would be nice to be the leading driver at the Meadowlands, without a doubt,” but that he is stepping aside for a brief hiatus.

The Meadowlands Racetrack’s publicity arm has explained that a final opportunity – for a while, anyway – to visit his homeland will find McCarthy away from the East Rutherford, New Jersey raceway for two or three months. McCarthy’s absence will begin once this coming weekend’s races at the track are in the books.

“I’ll be back in February or March,” McCarthy has been quoted as saying. “My oldest son (four-year-old) Finn starts school next year, so I’ve got to make the most of it.”

McCarthy, wife Katrina, Finn and youngest son, two-year-old Olly, will be making a trip home to Australia to visit McCarthy’s mom, dad and siblings, who live near Sydney.

“I’m not much of a cold-weather person,” said McCarthy, 32, of the current conditions in the Garden State. “It’s summertime down there. We hang out at the beaches quite a bit. Looking forward to enjoying life a little bit.”

McCarthy will get an opportunity to pad his lead in the standings before he heads Down Under, as he’s listed to drive seven horses on Thursday and 10 more on Friday.

SETTLEMOIR TO CALL: Big M chief operating officer and general manager Jason Settlemoir – who called his first race at the age of 12 in his native Ohio – is the next man up on the second of four “Borrow Ken’s Binoculars” Thursdays at the Meadowlands. The promotion sees guest announcers fill in for the voice of the Big M, Ken Warkentin, on Thursday nights during December.

NO RACING ON SATURDAY: During December, racing will be conducted on a Thursday through Saturday basis at the Big M with the usual 7:15 p.m. first-race post time – although, there is one exception. This Saturday, Dec. 15, with the New York Jets hosting the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium, there will be no live racing at the Meadowlands. Kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m.

CAN YOU PICK WINNERS? On Saturday, Dec. 22, the Big M is hosting a handicapping tournament, and patrons are sure to love the entry fee: Nothing!

The rules: Each participant makes mythical $2 across-the-board wagers (win, place and show) on selections for Races 2 through 10 at the Meadowlands. Contestants must make their mythical selections prior to the second race on the official contest entry form and turn them into a contest official.

If a horse is scratched, the participant receives the post-time favourite, and if the Meadowlands cancels due to inclement weather, the contest is cancelled. The winner will be determined by the highest total mythical bankroll at the conclusion of the 10th race and will receive a $1,300 spot in the World Harness Handicapping Championship Final on April 6, 2019.

(With files from the Meadowlands Racetrack)