The Meadowlands Racetrack has always been known as a place where bettors can play against favourites with confidence, and those who are anti-chalk must have loved wagering at the ‘Big M’ last weekend (April 12-13), as 23-of-26 post-time choices went down to defeat during the course of the two-card race week.

After the odds-on favourite won the first race, the remainder of Saturday’s card went chalk-free, as race after race saw horses and drivers mixing it up through contentious first halves that were reached in an average time of :55.2, leading to anything but wire-to-wire winners.

Shrewd handicappers who came up with one extraordinary winner – a 16-1 chance – in the 50-Cent Pick-5 cashed in for $1,048 on Saturday night, while 50-Cent Pick-4 players needed a 24-1 outsider in the leadoff spot followed by three straight 3-1 shots to hit for $1,328.

At evening’s end, total wagering stood at $3,025,740, the sixth time this year that betting at the industry’s handle leader had exceeded the magic $3-million mark.

Several wagers with average payouts that pleased their backers to no end last weekend included the Exacta ($88.57), Double ($127.04) and Pick-3 ($944.50).

Friday night’s special wager – the Can-Am Pick-4 – was again popular with players, who poured better than $55,00 into the pot. After a formful sequence saw three 5-2s and one 4-1 shot win, those who cashed put $158.76 in their pockets for the 20-cent base bet that requires one to pick a pair of winners at the Big M and two more at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Can-Am Pick-4 is offered every Friday evening, and free program pages for the CAP4 – as well as the Big M’s Pick-4 – are available at ustrotting.com and playmeadowlands.com.

It’s been quite some time since there’s been a single-ticket winner in either of the Big M’s 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Fives, so when racing resumes Friday, the fifth race will offer a carryover of $79,350, while Race 13 will begin with $59,504 up for grabs.

Yannick Gingras led the driver’s colony with six weekend wins while David Miller was next with five. Ron Burke was the top trainer with three victories.

Live racing will take place this Friday and Saturday. Post time is 7:15 p.m.

SLADER LOVES CAMWISER: Russell Slader of Nutley, NJ wagered $50 to win and place on 10-1 shot Camwiser in Saturday night’s 13th race to catapult him to victory in the World Harness Handicapping Championship, presented by DerbyWars.com.

His final bankroll of $2,518 was best of 108 entries in the contest as Slader took home the top prize of $43,200. The total prize pool of $108,000 was the largest ever offered in the WHHC.

The Meadowlands Racetrack would like to thank all WHHC sponsors, partner outlets and contest participants for a successful 2019 World Harness Handicapping Championship.

1 MILLION PENNY GIVEAWAY: On all live racing nights during April, make sure to try and win one or more of many prizes totaling $10,000 in the Big M’s ‘1 Million Penny Giveaway.’

Guests may enter once per live race day. The month-long contest concludes Saturday (April 27).

For complete information and a list of prizes, go to playmeadowlands.com.

COUNTDOWN TO THE DERBY: The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby is two weeks from Saturday on May 4. Come on out to the Meadowlands and bet the entire Churchill Downs card, which gets underway at 10:30 a.m. (Big M gates open at 9:30 a.m.)

Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:46 p.m.

In the Gallery, there will be a special Derby Day lunch buffet for $39.95. Food service begins at 11:30 a.m.

That evening in Pink restaurant, there will be a southern inspired buffet for $54.95 that begins at 5 p.m.

Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations.

There will be a $100 Derby win wager contest with entries available at the Players Club Desk. Contestants must enter by 5 p.m.

There will also be a $100 live win wager contest beginning at 6 p.m. with those entries available in the live harness program.

It wouldn’t be Derby Day without a hat contest for the ladies who come out to the Big M. Contestants can register from 2-4:45 p.m. at the Clubhouse Main Entrance. Judging will take place in front of the winner’s circle at 5 p.m. There are five cash prizes up for grabs, ranging from $50 up to $500.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)