Harness: New Hambletonian bets show growth potential for 2019

A 2018 Hambletonian Future Wager featuring three separate pools resulted in healthy pay-offs for those who backed Atlanta to become the 14th filly winner of the Hambletonian. The minimum future wager was $1.00 (win wagering only) with 17% takeout and 15 betting interests each time the pool was opened. The winner of each pool was determined by the official first-place finisher in the 2018 Hambletonian on Saturday, Aug. 4

The first pool, which opened June 22 and closed June 24, offered the top 14 contenders at the time with the remaining eligibles, including all fillies paid to the Oaks, as “the field.” Those who bet the field in this pool got the eventual winner Atlanta and a $7.00 win mutuel.

The second future pool opened on July 20 and closed July 22. Atlanta debuted in the Future Pool at 8-1. Those who bet her in that pool got a mutuel pay-off of $8.00.

The third Hambletonian Future Wager was opened after the race entries were drawn into the two elimination heats on Wednesday, August 1 at noon and closed on Friday, August 3 at 10:00 pm Hambletonian Eve. With Atlanta’s official entry into the Hambletonian instead of the Oaks, the future line was set at 4-1.

After cutting extreme fractions and finishing second in her elimination heat, Atlanta rebounded in the final heat and won the $1 million Hambletonian final with the same pace-setting tactics. She rewarded those who backed her in Future wager #3 with $11.80, much better than the $6.40 she returned live on track on race day.

Total wagered on all three pools exceeded $33,000. The bet will return in 2019.

Hambletonian Prop Bet Results

With legalized Sports Wagering now out of the gate at a full gallop in New Jersey, the FanDuel Sports Book at The Meadowlands Racetrack hosted several Hambletonian-related prop bets for the $4 million Hambletonian card on Saturday, August 4.

Of the eight prop bets offered, winning bets were:

• That the winning margin of victory would be less than 1 ½ lengths – it was Atlanta by a length.
• The head-to-head prop bet on pre-race favorites: colt Six Pack vs. the unbeaten filly Atlanta. Atlanta the winner of the Hambletonian final; Six Pack did not advance after an incident-marred elimination heat.
• That the winning time of the Hambletonian would less than or equal to 1:51- it was 1:50 4/5.
• Whether the winner of the final would emerge as from the first or second elimination heart: Atlanta was in the first elimination heat.

One of the wagers offered was a parlay that required picking the winners of the two Hambletonian elimination heats, the Hambletonian Oaks final, (Hambletonian companion race for trotting fillies) and the winner of the Yankees-Red Sox game. That bet was not hit by any player.

The Meadowlands grandstand was packed on Hambletonian day, from the Roof to the FanDuel Sports Book. There was much cross-playing by bettors on both racing and sports.

More information about race dates and hours of operation for the sports book can be found at FanDuel Sports Book and The Meadowlands Racetrack.

-edited release (Meadowlands & Hambletonian Society)