It’s been a good four months for business at the Meadowlands thus far in 2019, and April was the best month yet when you consider where things were just one year before.

An identical total of eight race cards were contested at the ‘Big M’ in both April of 2018 and 2019, but the similarities end there.

A year ago, all-source handle totalled $18,288,404, which was good for an average per race card of $2.286 million. During 2019, $22,342,097 was put in play, which works out to an average of $2.792 million.

“On Saturday (April 27), we handled $3 million,” said track chief operating officer and general manager Jason Settlemoir. “A year ago, on the corresponding card, we bet $2.3 million, so we were up 31 per cent. We are hoping to keep that momentum this Saturday (May 4) as we expect a big Kentucky Derby Day crowd to bet the ‘Run for the Roses’ as well as the Graduate and Cutler, which are on our live harness card at night.”

The Big M has always been a track where players can bet against favourites with confidence, and that was on display during April as a mere 26 per cent of post time choices (28 from 104 races) hit the wire first. Out of the harness tracks currently racing, the median percentage of winning chalks is 46 per cent, according to statistics provided by the United States Trotting Association.

Friday nights at the Big M feature a new wager – the Can-Am Pick-4 – that’s been a big hit. It requires a player to pick two winners at the Meadowlands and two more at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Since its inception on March 22, the ‘CAP4’ has averaged a little over $61,000 per pool; and last week, after a pair of favourites and two longshots won, the payout for the bet with the 20-cent base and low 15 per cent takeout was $361.70.

The CAP4 is a great value play when you consider that a player can single a horse in one leg and use five in the other three and only spend $25.

The Big M’s 50-Cent Pick-5 and Pick-4 continue to attract steady action week after week, and that was clearly the case over the last eight racing programs. The popular Big M puzzles had average pools of $59,980 and $99,532, respectively, during April.

Free program pages for the 20-Cent Can-Am Pick-4 and Meadowlands’ 50-Cent Pick-4 are available at playmeadowlands.com and ustrotting.com.

DERBY DAY IS HERE: The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday (May 4). Come on out to the Meadowlands and bet the entire Churchill Downs card, which will get underway at 10:30 a.m. (Big M gates will open at 9 a.m.).

Post time for the Kentucky Derby has bee set as 6:46 p.m. Players are reminded that morning line favourite Omaha Beach has been scratched allowing Bodexpress to draw in from the also eligible list.

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

That evening in Pink restaurant, there will be a southern-inspired buffet for $54.95 that will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations.

There will be a $100 Derby win-wager contest with entry forms available in the Derby program and at the Players Club Desk. Contestants must enter by 5 p.m.

In addition, there will be a $100 live win-wager contest beginning at 6 p.m. with those entry forms available in the live harness program as well as the Players Club Desk. Ten winning contestants will be selected throughout the evening.

It wouldn’t be Derby Day without a hat contest for the ladies who come out to the track. 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.

TAKE AIM AT HORSEPLAY: On Friday (May 3), take your best shot in the Big M’s Horseplay Giveaway.

To play, contestants must complete an entry form and grab a free toy horse at the Players Club Desk or the outdoor Horseplay table.

If you throw your horse into the window of the target car, you qualify to win a $100 betting voucher. In the event you win the voucher, you will then be entered in a drawing on Friday, August 2, where the prize is a 2019 Toyota C-HR.

In addition, for each horse that makes it into the target car, the Meadowlands will donate $10 to a designated charity. During May, the money will go to ‘A Lot to Grow.’ The contest will be conducted each night of live racing until the end of the meeting.

For complete contest details, head to playmeadowlands.com/event_detail.aspx?id=11075.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)