The 20-cent Pick-8 wager at The Meadowlands has started to build its identity as a pari-mutuel puzzle that was made for the carryover crowd.

In fact, the last two times the bet yielded a ticket or tickets with eight correct selections, it came after a triple carryover on both Nov. 4 and Nov. 18 that yielded payouts of $3,975.10 and $12,079, respectively.

Since the inception of the Pick-8 on Oct. 20, the biggest pool has totalled $12,295, with one winning shrewd player walking off with the payout of more than $12,000 at the conclusion of the sequence.

The anticipated pool for this Friday, Dec. 15 will crush the previous best because it is nearly three times the size already. The current number of race cards when the Pick-8 has yet to be hit is five. The carryover heading into Friday’s program is $35,785.74, which sets up some very interesting possibilities.

“The record Pick-8 carryover creates what figures to be an enormous negative takeout advantage for our players,” said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands’ Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “Carryover mania will hit another fever pitch on Friday night. The Pick-8 is a non-jackpot wager, offered on races four through 11.  A minimum bet of 20 cents allows everyone the chance to play, and a low takeout of 15 per cent creates the perfect storm for a negative takeout, which creates an enormous edge for our players.”

Take last Saturday, Dec. 9, for example.

A carryover of $22,581 sparked enough interest in players to wager $20,740 in “new money.” Only the new money is subject to the low takeout, which left $17,629. When you add the carryover, you get a grand total of $40,210. So, the return to the winning players – had there been any – would have been an unbelievable 194 per cent for a wager that normally returns 85.

“Low takeouts are a big component in making these dream scenarios for horseplayers possible,” said Settlemoir. “Add in full, competitive fields and the chances for making a score increase tremendously.

“Thanks to our loyal horseplayers, big pools have been the norm this year. Going into the final three weekends of 2023, the average nightly handle this season is north of the $3-million plateau. None of this is possible without the support of horseplayers around the world and we want to thank each and every one of them.”

If $35,000 in new money is pushed through the windows on the Pick-8, that would create a total pool of approximately $65,000, which computes a return to the players of 182 per cent.

Jenna Otten is back on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set this Friday and will be sitting next to big-sister Jessica on the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show, which gets underway at 5:45 p.m.

The Past Masters will be back at the track this Saturday, Dec. 16 playing a live show of classic rock and roll in Trackside. The show, which is free to attend, kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live music, live harness racing plus food and drink specials.

One of the most-popular players in New York Jets history, 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Klecko, will be at the track Saturday signing autographs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nineteen years ago, the Jets honoured Klecko by retiring his No. 73 jersey. Klecko became just the third Jets player to have his number retired, joining two other Hall of Famers: Joe Namath (No. 12) and Don Maynard (No. 13).

There are just six live racing days left on the 2023 calendar at The Big M. Live action will take place every Friday and Saturday through the end of the year. Post time for every program is 6:20 p.m. with the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show at 5:45 p.m.

(With files from The Meadowlands)