Talk about a great time to be a fan of both racing and sports.

As the National Football League applied the final brush strokes to its who’s-in-the-playoffs easel, the 2024 calendar year got off to a rousing start at The Meadowlands as did the track’s popular Winter Meet Survival Challenge.

A total of $3,228,728 was pushed through the windows on the 14-race program on Friday, Jan. 5, good for an average per race of $230,623.

The Saturday, Jan. 6 card was cancelled due to inclement weather.

“The Big M continues to offer some of the most challenging and competitive racing in the industry,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track's Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “When you combine that with the largest pools, low takeouts, a mile track and a wagering menu that allows bankrolls both big and small the ability to make scores, you can see why The Meadowlands continues to be one of the most desirable wagering destinations in racing.

“As far as Saturday is concerned, we simply took into consideration the welfare of our horsemen, patrons and employees. We wanted to keep them safe, and given how far some people travel to the races for business or pleasure, we felt that was the correct move.”

This weekend, when racing will be conducted on the usual Friday-Saturday basis with 14-race programs that will begin at 6:20 p.m., once again, it’ll be a big-fields bonanza. In fact, both programs will have one field with eight horses and another with nine. The other 12 races are all slated to head to the gate with 10 noses behind the starter car. Thus, over the 28-race weekend, there will be 274 horses who will start (if there are no scratches), for an average field size of 9.78 per race.

“When it comes to racing at The Meadowlands, it’s all about full fields,” said Settlemoir. “And when we can provide them like we will this weekend, it gives our customers something they go for in a big way. The big fields make for less-predictable outcomes. That’s what the people want.”

Last Friday also marked the first day of the track’s Winter Survival Challenge. The challenge, which is powered by 123Racing, offers cash prizes and Meadowlands swag in the free competition. The winner is determined by the highest total bankroll at the end of the challenge based on a $2 across-the-board wager on selections for three designated races on each program. The grand prize is $750, while $500 and $250 go to the second and third-place finishers, respectively.

After three postponements, it’s finally time to save the date. On Saturday, The Big M’s calendar giveaway, likely the most popular freebie The Big M offers, will take place. The first 500 guests will receive a 2024 commemorative calendar, filled with images of the sport’s greatest horses and drivers in action from the 2023 racing season. Photos are courtesy of Big M track photographer Lisa Photo, DRF Harness’ Nikki Sherman, Walter Wlodarczyk and Jessica Hallett. The giveaway begins at 6 p.m. at the Players Club Desk in the Clubhouse Lobby. One per person.

The 20-cent Pick 5 continues to deliver value. Two weeks ago, one lucky winner took home over $56,000 for the bet with the 20-cent base bet. Last Friday, the Pick-5 returned $5,156, despite a sequence that included two winning favourites. The average pool sizes from Friday prove that patrons love to swim in the deep end:

• 50-cent Pick-4: $78,449
• Exacta: $70,550
• 20-cent Pick-5: $63,695
• Trifecta: $55,313
• WPS: $54,060
• Superfecta: $34,804
• 20-cent Hi-5: $23,146
• Daily Double: $23,086
• Pick-3: $14,624

This Friday night, multi-leg-bet lovers will have two carryovers to shoot for. A week ago, the 20-cent Pick-8 failed to yield a winning ticket for a third straight program, creating a carryover of $5,022. Those with six correct collected $25.68. The 20-cent Pick-6 will start out with $3,699 in the hat after no winning tickets were sold. Those with five winning selections were exchanged for $1,233.30.

The potential for negative takeouts is always on the table. This Friday, were the Pick-8 to attract $4,000 in “new money,” that would mean players would be betting into a pool that totals approximately $8,400. The significance for value players? The return would be 210 per cent – instead of the usual 85 – in the event there are any winning tickets.

On Saturday, there will be two divisions of the Martin Luther King Remembrance Race contested in races two and four on The Big M program. The event, which features all African American drivers, pays tribute to the slain civil rights icon. At the conclusion of the King races, there will be photos and blanket presentations in the winner’s circle.

Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.

Racing will be conducted every Friday and Saturday throughout January with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

Big M TV’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show begins at 5:45 p.m. On Friday, the track’s “A”-team of Jessica Otten and Dave Little will be on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set, while on Saturday, Mike Bozich – the voice of Harrah’s Philadelphia – will join Little for the night at the races.

Also on Saturday, Little will interview driver Matthew Athearn on the pre-game show “In the Sulky” segment, which takes place shortly after the broadcast begins.

(With files from The Meadowlands)