A pair of fabulous 14-race programs and an explosive fireworks show on Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday (Dec. 31) will allow Meadowlands’ regulars to ring in 2023 with a bang.
Racing will be conducted on Friday (Dec. 30) and Saturday night. Post time is 6:20 p.m.
“The wagering public wants 10-horse fields and The Meadowlands delivers,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track's Chief Operating Officer and General Manager.
The weekend will consist of 28 races, 24 of which will have 10-horse fields. The average field size for the two race cards is 9.79.
But super betting opportunities merely scratch the service of what’s being offered.
Fan Appreciation Night has much for fans to get excited about, beginning with free live racing programs, which will be available starting at 5 p.m. Then, from 6-11 p.m., fans can head over to the Café, Rooftop Terrace or Backyard for concession items that will be available for just $1. The items that will be offered at the low price are hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda. There is a limit of five of each item per transaction.
For just $2, fans can enjoy Bud/Bud Light drafts at the Café.
And for those who want some fine dining, there will be a buffet available for just $64.95, and that includes a complimentary champagne toast.
For a look at the full menu, go to the Meadowlands website. For reservations, call 201-THE-BIG-M.
Then, to ring in the New Year, approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of the races, there will be a fantastic fireworks show for patrons to enjoy.
Last weekend (Dec. 23-24) marked the last time racing at The Meadowlands will be dark for a long time to come, and given the frigid temperatures, horsepeople were no doubt appreciative of the chance to take a week off and miss racing in the bitter cold.
Effective immediately, live action is scheduled to be conducted every Friday and Saturday night – post time 6:20 p.m. – through Hambletonian Day, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. In addition, there are a pair of Sundays on the calendar – Jan. 22 and 29 – that have a post time of 12:30 p.m. Post time on Hambo Day is noon.
This weekend, temperatures are expected to reach 55 degrees on Friday and 52 on Saturday, which are well above seasonal norms.
While many still find that chilly, the action will be hot whatever temps you prefer, with large fields and large pools leading to many chances to make a score.
The Big M remains the place where players can bet small and hit big.
On Friday (Dec. 16), betting was sizzling from the start, as a total of $585,154 was wagered on the first race, with a 20-cent Pick-5 carryover serving as the accelerant. Those with winning tickets walked away with a payout of $21,196 after $383,942 in “new money” was poured into the P5 pot. When all the returns were counted at the end of the night, a total of $3.1 million was wagered on the card, the first time in nearly six months betting went past the $3-million mark on a Friday.
Other big payouts during the course of the last weekend of racing – which saw a two-day total handle of $6 million – include the Friday 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 ($7,303) and Saturday’s third- ($1,783) and ninth-race ($4,119) Superfectas, Pick-7 ($9,868) and 20-cent Pick-6 ($2,953).
(The Meadowlands)