Hot on the heels of a record-breaking month of February, the Meadowlands Racetrack shall endeavour to continue the current streak of nine consecutive cards with total handle in excess of $3 million.
The Meadowlands will kick off another weekend of exciting live harness racing on the evening of Friday, March 4 with 13 races beginning at 6:35 p.m. The various guarantees have initiated large payoffs for horseplayers, especially in the low-takeout multi-race wagers. The Pick-5 saw an average return of $21,594 for a 50-cent wager, while the two nightly 50-cent Pick-4s returned an average of $4,216. Both wagers feature a low takeout rate of 15 per cent. The last race Super Hi-5 Jackpot pool is now at $116,448 to open the weekend.
Friday's racing features are again a solid field of eight top-class conditioned pacing mares assembled for Race 9 and the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot has been carded as Race 8. The trot includes a couple of new shooters among the field of seven accomplished square-gaiters.
Owner/trainer Cozette McAvoy has had her veteran trotter Worth The Money AS in career form this winter. He now moves into the top class off a win two back and a fourth last week, where he rallied from well back via an impressive closing kick. Anthony Napolitano has picked up the drive as he continues to impress the locals with his talents.
Handicapped with Post 7 in his first start of the 2016 campaign is the solid journeyman performer DWs NY Yank. Overcoming his less than fashionable pedigree, DWs NY Yank has employed unusual grit and determination to be among the most dependable open types in the metropolitan area over the past few seasons.
He's now less than $28,000 from the million-dollar mark in career earnings on the strength of 38 wins in 117 starts for Burke Racing Stable, Howard Taylor and Weaver Bruscemi. Ron Burke is the trainer and Joe Bongiorno has the driving assignment on the 2-1 morning line favourite.
This week's promotions are the ever popular 'Change Your Luck' on Friday and the 'Mystery Mutuel Voucher' gig on Saturday where some lucky customer could win a $500 voucher.
To view entries for Friday night's card of harness racing at The Meadowlands, click the following link: Friday Entries - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(with files from The Meadowlands)