This Saturday, May 18 will mark the first time this year that stakes racing from The Meadowlands will be shown to a national television audience as FOX Sports will broadcast live The Big M's first major event of the season, the $145,150 USD Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for open trotters, on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) at 9 p.m.
In addition to the Cutler, Karl, the early favourite for the 99th edition of the Hambletonian, will be in the spotlight as the team at FOX will not only show his New Jersey Sire Stakes race on the show, but also begin to chronicle the Nancy Takter’s trainee road to the Hambo, which takes place on Saturday, Aug. 3.
“We are very much looking forward to Saturday night,” said Eric Donovan, the senior director of TV broadcast operations at the New York Racing Association (NYRA). “The Cutler has come up a strong race with two 2023 Breeders Crown winners in Southwind Tyrion and the mare, Jiggy Jog S. Additionally, one race earlier, in the New Jersey Sire Stakes, the presence of two-year-old trot champ and budding superstar Karl makes the show a must-watch as he sets course for the Hambletonian.”
As if that weren’t enough, the premier show, which will once again feature Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt on-site at The Meadowlands, will have a fresh face on-set from NYRA’s TV headquarters at Aqueduct Racetrack, as special guest John Campbell, the president and chief executive officer of the Hambletonian Society as well as a two-time winner of the Cutler, will sit alongside show host Acacia Clement and provide commentary during the night.
“All of us at The Meadowlands are excited about our races being shown to a national television audience once again,” said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands' Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “Teaming up with the top-flight TV crew at the NYRA has been a great way to show our races to an audience that previously only had access to Thoroughbred racing for the most part. What the shows on FOX have done is create players who like watching and wagering on both breeds, and that’s something that’s good for everyone involved.”
Click here to view the schedule for the Meadowlands marquee events that will be broadcast this season.
Live harness racing takes place every Friday and Saturday at The Meadowlands with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m. The Big M’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show begins every live race night at 5:45 p.m. On Friday, The Red Mile’s Gabe Prewitt will make his Big M return and will join Jessica Otten on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set, while on Saturday, DRF Harness Editor Derick Giwner will sit alongside The Big M’s Dave Little.
The Meadowlands has announced that John Rallis, 28, who has become an impactful personality of late on the Big M’s live simulcast show with his interviewing and handicapping skills, has now come on board as the track’s morning-line odds maker and program analyst.
“We knew John was the goods from the time we hired him to work for us on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night last November,” said Settlemoir. “To get someone as young as John who has the passion and expertise he brings to the table will be a big plus for us.”
Rallis, who currently is the associate editor of Standardbred Canada's TROT Magazine, is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
“I think I have a fairly good understanding about the odds and handicapping nuances of the sport at The Meadowlands,” said Rallis. “You’re never going to be 100 per cent right doing the morning line, but you want to be close. I’m sure I’ll be humbled, but am so appreciative at the opportunity to do this at the top track in the sport. My role at Standardbred Canada has helped me with a deeper understanding of the sport.”
On Saturday, Meadowlands’ patrons can also watch and wager on the 149th Preakness Stakes Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course in The Big M’s expansive simulcast area. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Post time for the first race at Pimlico is 10:30 a.m. The Preakness has a post time of 6:50 p.m.
After the big Thoroughbred race on Saturday, Big M fans can turn their attention back to the live 14-race harness card, and maybe make themselves some money along the way by participating in a free handicapping contest with a guaranteed prize pool of $10,000 USD. The contest is open anyone 18 years old or older and is limited to one entry per person. Players must check-in and register at the Players Club Desk by 6:30 p.m. and complete the “official contest” form prior to Race 2. There is no entry fee and no live money wagered into the pari-mutuel pools. Each contestant will receive a $10 betting voucher and free live racing program. Each participant makes mythical $2 across-the-board wagers [win, place and show] for Meadowlands Races 2-11. The winner is determined by the highest total mythical bankroll at the conclusion of the 11th race at The Meadowlands and must be present to claim prizes. The prize payouts are as follows: 1st – $2,500; 2nd – $2,000; 3rd – $1,250; 4th – $1,000; 5th – $750; 6th through 10th – $500.
The Meadowlands HorsePlay Giveaway and Summer Survival Challenge will also continue. For complete rules and regulations for all Meadowlands promos, visit playmeadowlands.com.
Past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available free of charge on the Meadowlands website.
The complete field for Saturday's Cutler is listed below in post position order.
$145,150 USD Arthur J. Cutler Memorial Trot
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Dover In Motion - David Miller - Jamie Macomber - 6-1
2. Asteroid - Tim Tetrick - Ake Svanstedt - 10-1
3. Periculum - Mattias Melander - Marcus Melander - 10-1
4. Hillexotic - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 5-1
5. Southwind Tyrion - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt - 4-1
6. Venerate - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander - 7-2
7. Jiggy Joggy S - Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt - 2-1
8. Delayed Hanover - Jordan Stratton - Kevin McDermott - 20-1
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)