Harness racing aficionados know that many of the game’s biggest nights take place at The Meadowlands. Without question, last Saturday (May 21) was one of those memorable evenings. And world-class harness racing wasn’t the only thing fans enjoyed.
The feature was the $170,450 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for free-for-all trotters, named for the famed restaurateur and harness racing enthusiast who passed away in 1997 at the age of 53.
“I just can’t believe it’s been 25 years since we lost Artie,” said Jeff Gural, Meadowlands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “I really miss him. For people who didn’t know him, he was a great guy. He loved the races, loved The Meadowlands. It was a big loss, but we’ve been able to honour his memory all these years.”
There’s little doubt Cutler would’ve loved what went down in the race named for him.
The Ake Svanstedt-trained and driven Ecurie D DK was simply amazing in his seasonal debut, putting up the fastest mile in history for an older trotting stallion on a mile track after hitting the finish line in 1:49.1. The time also equalled the fastest trotting mile in the history of The Big M, which was set by Atlanta in 2020.
Was the Cutler the main event? Of course. Was there plenty more to keep an overflow on-track crowd entertained on a sweltering, summer-feel Saturday? Surely.
During the live harness card, racing fans were treated to the 147th edition of the Preakness Stakes, simulcast from Baltimore’s Pimlico Racecourse, and those who bet on the Chad Brown-trained, Jose Ortiz-ridden Early Outing collected $13.40 to win for the 5-1 second choice in the betting. Epicenter, second in the Kentucky Derby, finished second again in the second jewel of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown. Epicenter was favoured in both races.
As the racing toggled between the Thoroughbreds and the Standardbreds, local fans were cheering loudly – and cashing tickets – on the New York Yankees and New York Mets after making their wagers in a top sports betting facility, the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is located inside the grandstand at The Big M.
The Yankees, far in front of the field in the American League East standings, took down the Chicago White Sox 7-5 as DJ LeMahieu hit a grand slam home run. The National League East-leading Mets beat the Rockies in the first game of a doubleheader 5-1 as Starling Marte hit a two-run homer and Carlos Carrasco recorded his fourth win of the year before the Rockies took the nightcap by a score of 11-3.
Betting on harness racing. Betting on Thoroughbred racing. Betting on sports. It’s enough to make someone thirsty.
Good thing the track’s annual “Beer Fest” took place that night, with over 60 local breweries on hand to please the palate of beer lovers.
“After a rainy Friday, the beer crowd was treated to one of the most beautiful nights of the year on what was nothing short of a fantastic night to be at The Meadowlands enjoying all we have to offer,” said Jason Settlemoir, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager.
THE CLOCK GETS ROCKED: Ecurie D DK’s performance was the fastest mile of the year in the sport on the trot. But the fastest mile of the year on the pace? That was lowered three times on the Saturday program.
Primary Colors started the speed show in the first race, stopping the clock in 1:48, one-fifth of a second faster than Workin Ona Mystery and Red Right Hand, who established their seasonal bests at The Big M, and Jimmy Freight, who paced his mile at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
In the very next race, Bettors Donttell hit the finish in 1:47.3, one of four winners on the night for the terrific team of driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke.
But there was one more amazing mile to come.
In the 10th race Open for pacers, Nicholas Beach paced his back half in a sensational :52.3 on the way to a 1:47 mile. Only Allywag Hanover (2021) and Cattlewash (2020) have gone faster over the last 29 months, by recording 1:46.4 efforts.
SATURDAY’S NUMBERS: The two races on the trot Saturday went in an average time of 1:50, while the 11 paces averaged 1:48.4.
Betting on the 13-race card was extremely vigorous, as a total of $3,412,840 was put in play, highlighted by race seven, which took in $444,633 worth of action.
Wagering averaged $262,526 per race.
It marked the 11th time this year that betting busted the $3 million barrier at The Big M. The only time wagering was higher than Saturday’s program was on March 5, when the all-source handle totalled $3,755,422.
Betting for the weekend was just over $6.1 million.
The 20-cent Pick-6 started with a modest carryover of $6,167, leading to a total pool of $57,610. Those who had six winners on their tickets cashed in for $779.32.
GSY? BIG BETTING! The GSY (Gural Settlemoir Yarock) Amateur Driving Club races have been a hit with bettors all meeting long. The combination of full fields and enormous wagering value make them popular with players.
Last Friday (May 20), the four GSY events took in handle totalling $935,798, an average per race of $233,949. (For some perspective, if the average per race on a 13-race card is $233,949, the total handle would be $3,041,337.)
The four-race total of $935,798 was significantly higher than the handle of the entire program of any harness track in the U.S.
The race average of $233,949 was more than four times higher than the per race average of any other harness track in the U.S.
In what was just another non-chalky night at the salt mine for the GSY, zero favourites won Friday, with the average win price on the four dashes a healthy $17.80.
LIVE RACING SCHEDULE: Racing at The Big M is conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis and has a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.
The track’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show kicks off nightly at 5:47 p.m.
Friday night, Big M TV’s Dave Little will interview Marcus Melander on the pre-game show “In the Sulky.”
HORSE PLAY: Patrons attending the races at The Meadowlands can participate in “Horseplay” for a chance to win a 2022 Toyota Corolla.
The contest takes place every live racing night through Friday, Aug. 5. Participants will attempt to throw a numbered horse into the window of a moving car. Of those that land inside the vehicle, one winner will be chosen at random and will receive a $100 betting voucher.
Each night’s winner will be entered into the grand prize drawing, which will take place on August 5. Guests can pick up a free horse to toss at the Players Club Desk or the Horseplay table in front of the winner’s circle.
There is a bonus for the kids who are at the track. The youngsters who help pick up the horses left on the track will receive a free ice cream.
For every horse that makes it into the Horseplay car, Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment will donate $5 to a designated monthly charity. May’s charity is Act Now Foundation, June’s is Bluemont Sanctuary and the July/August recipient is Allaire Community Farm. An additional $5 for every horse that makes it into the car will also be donated to the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program.
SCORE SOME SWAG: The Meadowlands Racetrack is kicking off the summer season with drawings for sports memorabilia, summer swag and a trip to Hawaii this Saturday, May 28 in the Summer Fun Drawings.
Racetrack guests can enter to win jerseys and signed memorabilia from local teams including the NY Yankees, NY Mets, the New York football Giants, NY Jets, NY Rangers and more. An outdoor pizza oven, cooler and outdoor fire pits furnished by Northern Eagle Beverage are other cool prizes. The grand prize drawing for one lucky fan is a trip for four to Hawaii for eight days and nights with an airline travel stipend.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)