It’s no secret that when it comes to betting on Standardbred races, The Meadowlands is far and away the industry leader.
With an average nightly handle of $2.966 million USD through the first 75 race cards of 2024, no track is even close. In fact, when the sun goes down, The Big M is the North American betting leader at night, regardless of breed.
Big fields might be the biggest factor in lubricating The Meadowlands’ well-oiled parimutuel machine. The mile oval can accommodate 10 horses behind its gate and this weekend there will be no shortage of long fields, which are more likely to create the big payouts that Big M players crave.
On Friday, Nov. 22, there are 136 horses scheduled to compete on the program, good for an average of 9.71 betting interests per race. On Saturday, Nov. 23, the numbers are diminished, but only slightly, as 127 horses are slated to race, an average of 9.07.
Overall, during the weekend, the average field size will be 9.39, a number unmatched at any harness venue.
“We are extremely appreciative of our horsemen for always supporting the entry box here at The Meadowlands,” said Jason Settlemoir, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager at The Meadowlands. “Big fields plus big pools equal opportunity for horseplayers to make a score.”
The Meadowlands’ signature wager is the Pick-4, a popular puzzler with a 50-cent minimum that has a guaranteed pool of $50,000. Its offered twice every night, on races six through nine and 10 through 13.
The Meadowlands wagering menu offers the little guy a shot at making a score throughout the evening. Just like the Pick-4, these wagers have a player friendly low 15 per cent takeout.
The Pick-5 wager opens up the program every night as it’s offered on races one through five and has a minimum investment of 20 cents. The low minimum allows everyone to get right into the action without depleting their bankrolls.
For those who like to play more aggressively, let’s say a $1 ticket, the average pool of $54,676 allows one to do that. The average $1 payout is just shy of $3,000 at the all meeting.
Next up is the Survivor Pick-7, which is offered on races three through nine.
The Pick-7 also has a 20-cent minimum, but unlike some multi-bet wagers offered elsewhere, this one has a mandatory payout every night.
The fall meet average return is $4,795 for 20 cents and the Early Pick-4 can also be used to hedge your Pick-7 wager.
Last weekend’s Survivor payouts were strong, despite many short-priced horses taking walks down victory lane. On Friday, the Survivor returned $6,410 despite a sequence that had five of the winners go off at odds of 2-1 or less. The other two winners weren’t exactly big longshots, as both scored at 7-1. The Saturday Survivor started with a 7-2 chance before none of the final six winners won and paid off at odds greater than 5-2. That payout was $1,042.
The Pick-6 kicks off the second half of the 14-race program nightly. The 20-cent wager starts in race eight and concludes in race 13. The Late Pick-4 can also be used to hedge your Pick-6. A payout of $6,407 and a pool of $18,535 is what the Pick-6 has been averaging at the fall meet.
The 10-cent Pentafecta is offered every night on the finale. The ultimate “get out bet” is exactly that, and the 10-cent minimum allows everyone a chance to get even for the night. If horseplayers are ahead going into the 14th dash, hitting the Hi-5 is a culmination of a great night. During the meet, the bet has averaged a payout of $932.41.
The Meadowlands also offers 10-cent Superfectas on 10 races per night. With the large field sizes offered, lightning could strike at any time. The low minimums allow horseplayers to play all night long, increasing their chances to make a score.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)