Seven NJSS divisions at The Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Live harness racing action takes place at The Big M this Friday (May 12) and Saturday (May 13). Post time for the first race for both 14-race cards is 6:20 p.m.

Saturday’s card features seven $30,000 divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds.

One of the more intriguing matchups has Voukefalas looking for a second straight win in the colts and geldings’ pace in the eighth race as he takes on rival Handlelikeaporsche, who finished second to him a week ago.

Both horses are in the track’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” Top 10 poll.

DERBY WEEKEND: The action was fast and furious last Saturday afternoon (May 6).

Money was being pushed through the windows at a furious pace, over 60 breweries enticing patrons to sample some great beer, drawings for free $100 win bets, great food, and, of course, a hat contest with chapeaus that went from dignified to ridiculous.

Yes, those things took place on Saturday. And you didn’t have to be at Churchill Downs to experience them.

From the time the doors opened at 9 a.m. on Kentucky Derby Day until the last live harness race 15 hours later, the place to be – if you didn’t happen to be in Louisville, KY – was The Meadowlands.

“We had beautiful weather, a great crowd and plenty of entertainment – in addition to The Derby and our live race card – at The Meadowlands on Saturday,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “There was incredible excitement in the air. It was an amazing atmosphere.”

“We are always investing to create a better live experience for our guests. In the metropolitan area, people are looking for fun things to do in a safe environment. The fact that we offer outdoor activities in the spring and summer, as well as racing, can, hopefully, draw a lot of new faces, as we did last weekend.”

Betting on The Big M’s live product was $3,621,862, extending the track’s streak of consecutive Friday and Saturday night programs with $3-million handles to 34.

“That ($3.6 million) is a huge number,” said Settlemoir. “Equally important is that on Saturday, on-track handle was also up significantly over last year. That tells me that people are enjoying the on-track experience here.”

“And, I have to say congratulations to Churchill Downs. It would turn out to be the biggest Kentucky Derby Day ever, as the handle was more than $288 million.”

SPORTSCASTERS’ DERBY: The fourth annual Sportscasters’ Charity Derby will take place on Friday (May 12), as eight local sports broadcast personalities will go at it in a pair of four-horse dashes with professional drivers sitting alongside in double-seated jog carts, one to be conducted after Race 3 and the other after Race 5.

The winner of each one-mile test will get a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice – courtesy of The Meadowlands – with the personalities finishing second through fourth having their charities getting $1,000 apiece.

The list of personalities: Quincy Enunwa (former New York Jets wide receiver), Wally Szczerbiak (MSG Network), Don LaGreca (ESPN 98.7 FM), Marc Malusis (PIX11), Maria Marino (Action Network), Rebecca Haarlow (MSG), Mark Cannizzaro (New York Post) and Keith Irizarry (MLB Network).

HANDICAPPING FOR CHARITY: Are you part of a local charity that’s looking for a great night out?

Then head to The Meadowlands this Saturday (May 13) for the track’s annual Charity Handicapping Contest.

The competition is free to local New Jersey charities that are 501C3 organizations. What’s better than picking winners? Picking winners that lead to charitable donations.

The 10 charities chosen to take part will be going for a prize pool of $15,000, with each charity receiving at least a slice of the pie after the winner’s take $5,000 out of the hat.

For complete details, click here.

BIG M GOES NATIONAL: Racing from The Meadowlands will be featured for the second time this year on the networks of Fox Sports next week on both Friday (May 19) and Saturday (May 20) as part of the “America’s Day at the Races” broadcast that is put out by the TV team at the New York Racing Association (NYRA).

The show will feature action from both The Big M and Churchill Downs, with Big M TV talent Jessica Otten providing the harness commentary.

“We truly enjoy the pairing of racing from Churchill and The Big M and while exposed to a national television audience,” said Settlemoir. “Showing our product to fans accustomed to Thoroughbred racing is something we think can make some players crossover and become fans of our game as well.”

The remaining schedule for when Meadowlands’ races will be shown on either Fox Sports 1 (FS1) or Fox Sports 2 (FS2) is as follows:

• Friday, May 19 (9-11:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, May 20 (8-11 p.m.; featuring the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial FFA Trot)
• Saturday, July 1 (9-11 p.m.; Crawford Farms and Six Pack FFA Trots, Dave Brower Memorial and Perfect Sting FFA Paces)
• Saturday, July 8 (9-11 p.m.; Meadowlands Pace eliminations, Graduate finals)
• Saturday, July 15 (10 p.m.-midnight; Meadowlands Pace, William Haughton Memorial, Hambletonian Maturity plus other stakes for total purses of $2.5 million)
• Saturday, Aug. 5 (1-5 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.; Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks plus other stakes for total purses of $3.5 million)
• Friday, Sept. 8 (9-11 p.m.; New Jersey Classic Series finals)

PREAKNESS DAY: Just like Kentucky Derby Day, the place to watch and wager on the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, the 148^th edition of the Preakness Stakes, is The Meadowlands, which has one of the best simulcast facilities anywhere.

Racing fans are hoping that surprise Derby winner Mage will go into the gate of the Baltimore track to take a shot at wearing the Triple Crown. The Preakness takes place on Saturday, May 20.

THE RACES KEEP ON COMING: Live racing at The Meadowlands will take place every Friday and Saturday for the next 13 consecutive weeks. Post time is 6:20 p.m., except for the last day of the meeting, Hambletonian Day, Saturday, Aug. 5, when the first race heads to the gate at noon.

CHECK OUT THE SHOW: The “Racing from The Meadowlands” simulcast show – broadcast live from the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set – takes place every racing night.

The presentation, which gets underway at 5:45 p.m., features the Big M TV team of Dave Little and Otten, who have news and notes, features, a look at the night’s featured races and selections.

This weekend, Gabe Prewitt will be in town, and will sit alongside Little on Friday night and Otten on Saturday. In addition, Little will have Ron Burke “In the Sulky” on Friday at 5:50 p.m.

DON’T PAY: Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by clicking here.

TWEET US: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on Twitter. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

On race nights, stay in touch with The Big M team of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Edison Hatter (@Edison_1999_) and Prewitt (@gabe_prewitt).

THE SENSATIONAL SEVEN: These are the seven wagers The Big M offers nightly to the bettor that offer both a low minimum wager as well as a low 15 percent takeout. In addition, the two Pick-4s offer a guaranteed pool of $50,000.

The list:

• Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5
• Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
• Race 6: Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
• Race 7: Early 10-cent Hi-5
• Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6
• Race 10: Late 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
• Race 14: Late 10-cent Hi-5

HATTER’S RACE REVIEWS: Race reviews and selections by The Meadowlands’ morning-line odds maker, program analyst and TV talent Hatter are available 48 hours before a given race card. To access this valuable information from one of the brightest young minds in the sport, simply click here, go to the “handicapping” tab, then click “race reviews”.

HORSEPLAY GIVEAWAY: Would you like to win a car?

Well, then come to The Meadowlands every live racing night for the “Horseplay Car Giveaway”, where the grand prize is a 2023 Toyota Camry.

Patrons will toss small rubber horses into a moving car along the fence at the track, and those whose horses make it into the vehicle have a chance to win it. The winner will be announced on Friday, Aug. 4.

For every horse that makes it into the Horseplay car, Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment will donate $5 to a designated monthly charity.

The May recipient is Helping Horseshoe, June’s is Spectrum 360 while the July/August donation will go to HOPES. An additional $5 for every horse that makes it into the car will also be donated to the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program.

For complete information and giveaway rules, click here.

BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES: On Friday nights, check out the rooftop terrace at The Meadowlands and enjoy “Latin Fridays”.

There will be food and drink specials, dancing and a live DJ. That’s every Friday night from 6-11 p.m.

EAT AT PATSY’S POP-UP: On Saturday, May 20, come to The Big M and feast!

Patsy’s NYC will take over the kitchen at the track and serve up some of the best Southern Italian dining anywhere.

The restaurant was the favorite of Frank Sinatra, so if “The Chairman of the Board” loved it, you are certain to as well.

The complete dinner costs just $69.95, and to make reservations, call 201-THE BIGM.

For complete information, and a complete listing of what’s on the menu, click here.

GET YOUR SPORTS ACTION: The No. 1 harness track in North America is also home to the No. 1 sports betting facility of its type as well, as located inside the grandstand at The Big M is the FanDuel Sportsbook.

On Thursday (May 11), the New York Yankees will host the team with the best record in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays, in a 7:06 p.m. start. The Rays are a -116 favorite on the money line, while, if you prefer the Yankees getting 1½ runs, the price on the Bronx Bombers is -164. The game has an under/over of 8½ runs.

In the NHL playoffs, the New Jersey Devils are on the road in Carolina, facing the Hurricanes in a 7 p.m. faceoff.

Carolina is -130 to win the game, while the Devils at +1½ goals are -230. The game has an under/over of 5½ goals.

For those who like a prop bet, Devils’ standout Jack Hughes is +1100 to score the game’s first goal and +160 to light the lamp at any time during the game.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m.-midnight. For cash-at-counter customers, the hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

From The Meadowlands