There’s one surefire way to lure more people to the track: offer a big cash prize for something everybody thinks they’re good at.

A total of $10,000 will be up for grabs on Saturday, June 10, when The Meadowlands offers a free-to-enter handicapping contest for those 18 years of age and older.

The contest details:

• Limit one entry per person
• On the day of the contest, players must check in and register at the Players Club Desk by 6:30 p.m. and complete the “official contest” form prior to race two
• No live money will be wagered into the pari-mutuel pools
• Each contestant will receive a $10 betting voucher and a free live racing program
• Each participant will make a mythical $2 across-the-board wager on Big M races two through 11
• Contestants must make their selections for races two through 10 prior to the second race on the official contest entry form and then turn them in to contest officials
• If a horse is scratched, contestant receives the post-time favourite
• If the track cancels the race card, the contest is cancelled
• The winner will be determined by the highest total mythical bankroll at the conclusion of the 11th race at The Meadowlands
• In the event of a tie, payouts for the placings will be combined and divided
• The payouts: 1st-$2,500; 2nd-$2,000; 3rd-$1,250; 4th-$1,000; 5th-$750; 6th through 10th-$500

“With the Belmont Stakes taking place that day, we are expecting a big crowd in our simulcast area, so we should be able to create some buzz for the contest since the race at Belmont is slated to go at 6:50 p.m., which is 20 minutes after the deadline for entries for the handicapping contest," said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. "Hopefully, for us, that creates customers who spend both day and night with us.”

Wiener Takes All

Fans are invited to come on out to the track on Saturday, June 3 and cheer on your favourite pooch in the fifth annual running of The Big M’s Wiener Dog Derby.

The event is free to attend but the fun is priceless. The wiener dog races begin at 6:45 p.m.

For those interested in registering for the event, click here. For more information, email Rachel Ryan at [email protected].

More National Exposure

Last weekend, The Big M joined forces with the TV team at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to present live harness racing to a national television audience on both Friday and Saturday on the networks of Fox Sports.

This week, it was determined that the two TV entities would add a show to the current lineup. On Saturday, June 17, live racing from both Churchill Downs and The Meadowlands will be seen on either Fox Sports 1 (FS1) or Fox Sports 2 (FS2) from 6 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Big M TV’s Jessica Otten will provide the harness commentary.

The remaining schedule for when Meadowlands’ races will be shown on either FS1 or FS2 is as follows (with highlighted races, when applicable):

• Saturday, June 17 (6-9:15 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 1 (9-11 p.m.) - Crawford Farms and Six Pack FFA Trots, Dave Brower Memorial and Perfect Sting FFA Paces
• Saturday, July 8 (9-11 p.m.) - Meadowlands Pace eliminations, Graduate finals
• Saturday, July 15 (10 p.m.-12 a.m.) - Meadowlands Pace, William Haughton Memorial, Hambletonian Maturity plus other stakes for total purses of $2.5 million)
• Saturday, Aug. 5 (1-5 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.) - Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks plus other stakes for total purses of $3.5 million
• Friday, Sept. 8 (9-11 p.m.) - New Jersey Classic Series finals

“Our partnership with the New York Racing Association continues to be one that all of us at The Meadowlands appreciate,” said Settlemoir. “Bringing the live action from historic Churchill Downs to harness fans and Meadowlands races to those who like Thoroughbred racing is the way to create customers who will go on to be fans of both sports. The Fox Sports shows are a great way to accomplish that goal.”

Meadowlands To Host Fan Appreciation Weekend

Meadowlands will host Fan Appreciation Weekend on Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1. 

Fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, popcorn, soda and $2 Bud/Bud Lights on both nights.  Plus, following the races, fans on Friday night are encouraged to stay for a free fireworks show. 

A Memorial Weekend

Before the calendar turns to June, this Memorial Day Weekend, live racing will be conducted on the normal Friday and Saturday schedule. The first of 13 races both nights will get underway at 6:20 p.m.

Saturday’s card sports co-features that have a Garden State flavour, as there will be a pair of $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for three-year-old pacers.

In the filly split, Two Pistol Annie, victorious in both leg one and leg two of the series, is the one to beat.

Voukefalas, an easy winner of both preliminary legs, will look for the sweep in the division for colts and geldings as he continues his season, which has a handful of Grand Circuit stops on the schedule, including the $700,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace on July 15.

(With files from Meadowlands)