The Meadowlands Racetrack’s signature Pick-4 wager – always popular with the ‘Big M faithful’ – has experienced an especially good run over the last three weeks, as the bet with the 50-Cent base (and low 15 per cent takeout) has seen at least $90,000 pushed through the windows each of the last six times it has been offered.
After a two-month stretch that saw the pool fail to reach the $100,000 mark, a total of $112,478 was wagered on July 6. That started a streak of four straight six-figure pools that was completed on Meadowlands Pace Night (July 14), when the total reached a meet-high $142,198.
For the month of July, the Pick-4 pool is averaging $108,673.
The players of the Pick-4, as well as the Pick-5 and Survivor Pick-10, are privy to something special: information available exclusively to Meadowlands bettors.
“We take pride that we are the only harness or Thoroughbred track that shows how many tickets are live to every horse after each multi-race leg,” said Jason Settlemoir, the Big M’s chief operating officer and general manager. “This new Meadowlands innovation has created multi-race wagers with total transparency, and most importantly, lets the players know what kind of ticket they are live to after every race in the sequence.”
The Pick-4 will be available on races eight through 11 when live action resumes Friday night. Free program pages for the Pick-4, courtesy of Track Master, are available on the Meadowlands’ website (playmeadowlands.com) and on the handicapping section at ustrotting.com.
JUST FOUR CARDS LEFT…..
FRIDAY: It’ll be ‘Christmas In July,’ as those attending the live card can enter to win $50 and $100 gift cards to local department stores. Guests can enter the contest at the Clubhouse entrance and the Players Club Desk.
Live racing will begin at 7:15 p.m. and will feature two eliminations for the Jim Doherty Memorial for two-year-old trotting fillies.
SATURDAY: The fifth annual Food Truck Seafood Festival will pay a visit to the mile oval. Fans can have their food in the backyard and watch the races up close.
For those that prefer a more refined experience, patrons can feast in the track’s Pink restaurant and enjoy a seafood buffet.
The first of 12 races on the card will head to the gate at 7:15 p.m., and the marquee dashes will be a pair of Hambletonian Oaks eliminations for three-year-old trotting fillies.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3: The final night-card of the 2017-18 Meadowlands meet will get underway at 7:15 p.m.
HAMBO DAY: The biggest day of harness racing not only at the Meadowlands, but in the entire industry, will take place on Saturday, August 4, when the $1 million Hambletonian for three-year-old trotters will take centre stage. Post time for the first race will be at noon.
In addition to the 93rd edition of the Hambletonian being simulcast around the world by the Meadowlands TV department, it will also be seen live by a national television audience on the CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) from 4-5:30 p.m. The show will be hosted by Gary Seibel with Dave Brower providing colour commentary. Greg Blanchard will handle the interviews.
In addition to the $1,000,000G Hambletonian, other stakes on the star-studded card include: the $500,000G Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old trotting fillies, $300,000E Cane Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings, $200,000E Lady Liberty for filly and mare pacers three years old and up, $225,000E Sam McKee Memorial for open pacers three years old and up, $300,000E John Cashman Memorial for open trotters three years old and up, $350,000E Jim Doherty Memorial for two-year-old fillies on the trot, $114,000E Shady Daisy for three-year-old fillies on the pace, $175,000E John R. Steele Memorial for filly and mare trotters three years old and up, and $350,000E Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old colts and geldings on the trot.
(G – guaranteed purse; E – estimated purse, exact purse to be determined after number of starters is determined)
(With files from the Meadowlands Racetrack)