Big M seeks NJ charities for handicapping contest

East Rutherford, NJ – Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment is seeking local New Jersey charities interested in having a night at the races for a good cause in the harness racing track’s annual Charity Handicapping Contest, scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 2022.

The Charity Handicapping Contest is a free handicapping contest open to 501C3 organizations.   The Contest offers a $15,000 total donation/prize pool, with all ten charities receiving a donation. Prizes will be awarded as follows: 1st Place: $5,000, 2nd Place: $3,000, 3rd Place: $2,000, 4th Place: $1,500, 5th Place: $1,000, 6th-10th: $500

For the Charity Handicapping Contest, organizations will select one (1) horse in each of the 10 designated Meadowlands live races.  The organizations will amass a mythical bankroll if their selection officially finishes first, second or third in the designated race. Official $2 WPS (Win, Place, Show) payoffs will be added to the mythical bankroll. Official race results will serve as the order of finish. The organization that accumulates the highest mythical bankroll is the winner.

“This has become one of our favorite events to host at the track,” said Jason Settlemoir, COO and GM of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. “It not only feels great to give back to our community, it also is wonderful to see all the charities with their friends and family enjoy a night at the racetrack.”

The inaugural winner of the 2019 Charity Contest was Act Now and Horse Rescue United won in 2021. The contest was suspended in 2020 due to Covid.

Participating organizations will also have the opportunity to make winner’s circle presentations and be featured on the track’s jumbotron.

Interested not-for-profit organizations must apply to participate by emailing Rachel Ryan at raryan@playmeadowlands.com by Monday, May 2nd.   The email must include:

1. Charity/Non-Profit Name
2. 501C3 letter
3.  Charity/Non-Profit Mission
4. Website URL & Social Links
5.  Charity Representative/s that will be onsite for the contest on May 14th.

If more than ten organizations apply, ten will be selected via a random drawing. Selected organizations will be notified by Friday, May 6th.

From The Meadowlands