If there’s one thing that’s consistent about The Meadowlands, it’s the track’s ability to offer patrons different options to not only get their action, but to go out and experience a good night’s worth of entertainment as well.
There should be plenty of action this weekend at the mile oval, when racing takes place on Friday and Saturday with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.
Friday’s 14-race program features a pair of TrackMaster Series finals as well as the Fall Harvest Series final, and punters figure to be very appreciative that a pair of multi-leg wagers will be reinstating guaranteed pools that total $100,000. There will be a $50,000 total-pool promise provided on both the Early 50-cent Pick-4 (which begins in race six) and Late 50-cent Pick-4 (race 10).
“In addition, there is a double carryover of $2,657 on the brand-new 20-cent Pick-8,” said Jason Settlemoir, Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “The Meadowlands offers eight wagers every night that have had their takeouts reduced significantly to a low 15 per cent. This makes our payouts higher, which returns more money to the horseplayers so they can stay in action.
“The Meadowlands caters to horseplayers with big fields and big pools, and we want our faithful to know that we are always thinking of them and that we very much value their business. The Big M presents another extraordinary weekend of entertainment, where racing, sports, food and fun provide the festive Big M fall atmosphere.”
Saturday’s card will mark the return of many of the drivers who make up the strongest colony in the sport and those pilots will go at it in four Crawford Farms Kindergarten Series finals for two-year-olds of each sex and gait, with those four dashes – plus one consolation – going for purses totalling $953,800.
There is a superstar participating in the colts and geldings trot, as Breeders Crown winner Karl (pictured above), who defeated Mohawk Million champion T C I at Hoosier Park last weekend, will depart from post 10. A Kindergarten win would go a long way toward a possible divisional trophy for Karl, a son of Tactical Landing-Avalicious, who has won seven of eight starts, his only loss coming to T C I by a nose in the International Stallion Stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile.
Thoroughbred fans can catch the year-end industry spectacle in the simulcast area when the 40th edition of the Breeders’ Cup takes place at California’s picturesque Santa Anita Park. There will be five events on Friday and nine on Saturday. If you’d like to catch all of the action of the Breeders’ Cup in the simulcast areas, great, but if you’d like to have an exceptional dining experience as you watch and wager, check out the special Southern-themed buffet that will be offered. Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations. Dining begins at 4:30 p.m. with salads and appetizers before main dishes and sides are offered at 5:30 p.m.
It’s time, once again, for one of the most popular promotions The Meadowlands offers as, on Saturday, all chili and salsa chefs who think they have the right stuff can enter the track’s “Chili and Salsa Cook-Off.” So, you’re not a chef? No problem. Free samples will be given for the People’s Choice vote following the 8 p.m. turn-in. The event takes place in the Food Court and outdoor East Apron.
The Meadowlands will race every Friday and Saturday through the end of the year, with two exceptions. There will be no live racing on Friday, Nov. 24, while there will be live action on Thursday, Dec. 7. Post time for every program is 6:20 p.m.
Every live racing night, tune in at 5:45 p.m. for the track’s live simulcast “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show, with 30 minutes of harness news, analysis and staff selections to get you ready for the night. This weekend, back from the Breeders Crown where they provided the commentary on the live Fox Sports 2 (FS2) broadcast, Big M TV’s Jessica Otten and the Red Mile’s Gabe Prewitt will be on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set on Friday before Prewitt joins Dave Little on Saturday. Michael Carter, who will be doing some TV work at The Big M from time-to-time in the coming weeks, will provide the coverage for the track on FanDuel TV (FDTV) on Saturday after Little handles the commentary Friday.
Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.
(With files from The Meadowlands)