Big M da place for money, miles and McCarthy

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Things kept rolling along at The Meadowlands last weekend (May 14-15) as the handle topped the magic $7-million mark, harness racing driver Andy McCarthy stayed hot by driving five winners and Saturday’s average winning time was under 1:50.

Total betting was $3,485,163 on Friday and $4,088,468 on Saturday to run The Big M’s number of $7-million weekends to seven this year. For all of 2020, that number was three.

As for $4-million race cards, last Saturday marked the fifth time during 2021 that lofty barrier was busted. That plateau was reached three times last year.

While things are good at The Big M, track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir is still thinking of Ontario, where things remain at a standstill with no racing.

“Although The Meadowlands has done very well this year,” said Settlemoir, “our thoughts and prayers are with the horsemen and women – and their cherished horses – in Canada. This has been an extraordinary hardship for our two- and four-legged friends North of the Border, and we hope that Canadian horse racing can restart as soon as possible.”

As for McCarthy, he was named The Big M’s Driver of the Week a week ago after winning four races on Friday (May 7) and Saturday (May 8) and likely will win the award for a second consecutive week after tallying five victories last weekend, which included a four-winner night – his third over the last four programs – on Saturday (May 15).

Of McCarthy’s four-pack, two stood out. American History recorded the fastest mile in harness racing this year when he stopped the clock in 1:47.2 in a high-end conditioned pace while his other big win came with Ruthless Hanover, who got roughed up through a :53.4 half before scoring in 1:48 in one of two divisions of the Graduate Series.

Poseidon Seelster (with George Brennan driving) scored in the other division of the Graduate in 1:47.4 and Soho Burning Love A (Tim Tetrick) took the Preferred for pacing fillies and mares in 1:48.2 to become the first female sub-1:49 performer of the year to help establish the 2021 mark for fastest average winning time for an entire race card at 1:49.2.

THREE FOR THE MONEY: McCarthy has recorded 14 wins thus far in May, good for earnings of $206,097, but two other Big M drivers have earned even more.

Dexter Dunn, who is the dash leader at the track with 79 victories, has banked $272,343 thus far this month while Tim Tetrick’s drives have earned $208,592.

SMALL BETS, BIG GETS: Once again, the proof was in the payouts over the weekend that Meadowlands’ players can hit big while betting little.

Last weekend saw nine payouts of over $1,000 on wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

Friday’s big returns came in the 20-cent Pick-5 ($3,101), Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($1,303), 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 ($13,368), Late 50-cent Pick-4 ($1,624) and 20-cent Pick-6 ($8,761).

Saturday saw large payoffs in the Early Pick-4 ($2,133), Pick-7 ($11,070), Pick-6 ($2,367) and 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta ($4,396).

STAKES ARE ON: On Friday night, the featured action at The Big M will be four $25,000 divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds on the trot, two divisions for fillies and two for colts and geldings.

Saturday will have a pair of $50,000 divisions of the first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-olds on the trot, leg one of the $37,500 Kissin In The Sand for Open Mare pacers as well as a $30,000 Open/Preferred on the pace, featuring American History.

GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS, HERE! Need a program but don’t want to spend any green?

The Big M has you covered, with free programs of every race of every race card. Just go to playmeadowlands.com to get your no-cost past performances.

GET SOCIAL, NOT DISTANT: You can always check in with the team at The Meadowlands on Twitter.

For early changes, racing information and staff selections, go to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

On race nights, stay in touch with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1).

A $100,000 PROMISE: Every night, The Meadowlands promises big money on both editions of its signature wager, as each 50-cent Pick-4 sports a guaranteed pool of $50,000.

Last Saturday, both pools were well over $100,000, as the P4 that begins in race six took in $116,243 in action while the Late P4 (starting with race 10) saw $119,006 put in play.

LOW TAKEOUT, HIGH HANDLE: The Big M offers players six opportunities every night to make a score betting on the track’s popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout. They are:

Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5

Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7

Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4

Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6

Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4

Race 13: 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta

THE SCHEDULE: Live racing continues every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

Big M TV’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show, which provides news, notes, features, staff selections and a look at that evening’s marquee races, gets underway at 5:47 p.m.

On Friday night, look for another edition of “In the Sulky” at approximately 5:50 p.m. when Brower will interview T.J. Miller, the son of Andy and Julie Miller who has been driving well at the current meeting.

WHO DOES BROWER LIKE? For those who like to get a leg up on the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker and analyst Brower’s selections and commentary. Click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

Brower’s input is generally available 48 hours before every card.

GET YOUR GOLF ACTION: Not only will the action be hot and heavy on the racetrack this weekend at The Meadowlands, but also inside the track’s FanDuel Sportsbook, which just happens to be the top facility of its type in the country.

The PGA Championship is the marquee event, and bettors can get a plethora of plays. As of 11 a.m. Thursday morning after play had begun, the top six favorites to win the tournament were Viktor Hovland (+1000), Jon Rahm (+1200), Jordan Spieth (+1400), Rory McIlroy (+1400), Dustin Johnson (+1600) and Collin Morikawa (+2200).

In addition to golf, bettors can play the NHL and NBA playoffs, MLB and much, much more.

The sportsbook is open 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.

From The Meadowlands