The Meadowlands has already hosted a pair of special events on Saturday nights in September – the Wiener Dog Derby and BeerFest – and this Saturday (Sept. 18), The Big M continues its array of powerhouse promotions – accompanied by a great 14-race card of exciting harness racing – for fans to come and enjoy on a late summer/early fall night where weather forecasts are calling for a great night to be outside.
This week, patrons should bring an appetite for horse and sports betting, as well as an even bigger appetite for great food.
The sixth annual “Battle for the Best Burger” is a popular yearly event that takes place this Saturday.
If you think you make the best burger anywhere, you can try to impress the judges for a chance to win $1,500. A total of $3,000 in prize money will be up for grabs.
The event takes place from 5-11 p.m. in the Backyard. Fans are welcome and are encouraged to come out, purchase and taste some of the best burgers anywhere. Admission is free. Fans can enter to win a spot at the judging table (one entry per person). Two fans will be selected to be judges. Entry forms will be available at the Players Club Desk.
There will be many vendors on hand serving up some great eats, so don’t miss the “Battle for the Best Burger.”
CLASS IS IN SESSION: The Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds of each sex and gait rolls on Friday night (Sept. 17) with nine divisions of leg three. The Kindergarten will have two more legs before the finals and consolations will be contested on November 13 for purses that total an estimated $700,000.
Thus far on the trot, By The Book (45 points) and Stride The Hill (40) sit atop the point standings in the colt division while Just Bee Awesome (50) and Primadonna Deo (40) lead the fillies.
On the pacing side, Early Action’s 37 points lead the colts, followed by Caviart Camden and Jo Pas Warrior, who each have 35. Niki Hill tops the fillies with 70 points, followed by Dont Fence Me In and Gotthegreenlight, who have 35 apiece.
Last Friday (Sept. 10), the Chris Ryder-trained Niki Hill impressed all who saw her 3-1/4-length romp in 1:51.1 to stay perfect in three lifetime starts. The daughter of Always B Miki is taking this week off.
CARRY ON, CARRYOVER AGAIN: For a second consecutive week, there will be a Pick-6 carryover heading into the Friday night card. The bet with the scant 20-cent base and low 15 per cent takeout will start out with $3,576 in the pool and past performances for not only the Pick-6, but all races for all Meadowlands cards, are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.
Last week, the total pool was just under $40,000 and those who correctly selected all six winners walked away with a handsome $5,889.
CHECK OUT THE SHOW: On live race nights, tune in to Big M TV’s “Racing from the Meadowlands” pre-game presentation at 5:47 p.m., which is generally available everywhere Meadowlands races can be seen.
The show provides notes, news, features, staff selections and a look at that evening’s marquee races.
Live racing, as usual, will be conducted this Friday and Saturday. Post time is 6:20 p.m. After next weekend, the track will go dark for the three weekends that follow.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Week 2 of the NFL season kicks off Thursday (Sept. 16), and for those who want to watch and wager on the action, all they need to do is go to one of the leading sportsbooks in the country, the FanDuel Sportsbook, located in the grandstand at The Meadowlands.
At 8 p.m., local fans will likely be backing the New York Giants (+3) as they take on the Washington Football Team. For those who prefer the money line, the Giants are +152 while Washington is -180.
Do you think Saquon Barkley will score a TD? You can get +135 for that prop. How about Daniel Jones throwing for 227½ yards? You can get -114 on both the under and the over.
Sports betting enthusiasts can get in on all the action at “The Book” Sunday-Friday from 10 a.m.-midnight and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 a.m. The cash counter is open from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
JUG HANDLES: The 77th edition of the Little Brown Jug from the Delaware (OH) County Fairgrounds takes place on Thursday, Sept. 23. Take in all the action as “The Voice,” longtime track announcer Roger Huston, calls his 54th Jug. Watch and wager on the Little Brown Jug program at one of the premier simulcast facilities anywhere, the one located at The Meadowlands.
NEXT WEEK, CHILI! The fourth and final Saturday of September brings another popular promotion to the Big M as the track’s Chili and Salsa Cook-Off takes place on September 25.
For those who like to eat chili while not necessarily preparing it, free samples will be given for the “People’s Choice” vote following the 8 p.m. turn in.
For information about how to enter, go to playmeadowlands.com.
(With files from Meadowlands)