Meadowlands: Big fields, Pick 6 carryover on tap this weekend

Given the fact that The Meadowlands has been carding 13 races a night for a majority of the last year or so, it's a pretty good bet that what will transpire this weekend (Jan. 6-7) hasn't happened in recent history or perhaps ever, as the mile oval will present 14 races this Friday and Saturday (post time, 6:20 p.m.), and each of those 28 dashes will feature full 10-horse fields if there are no scratches.

"We're excited that The Meadowlands will kick off the 2023 season with big fields and a [20-cent] Pick-6 carryover," said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. "Our bettors crave full fields and competitive racing, and that's what we bring to the table."

Many bettors get fired up when favorites fail at The Big M, and lately they have slumped to the tune of just a 28 percent success rate over the track's last 29 races (eight winners).

If you like deep pools, then the place to take a swim is The Meadowlands.

Wagering on Friday totaled $2,845,816, which is merely just another day at The Big M. For the calendar year 2022, there were 85 programs contested, on which a total of $233,874,687 was pushed through the windows, for an average nightly handle of $2,751,466, by far tops in the industry.

A dense, relentless fog provided a New Year's Eve bummer when management canceled racing after the first dash on Saturday (Dec. 31) due to safety concerns for the drivers and horses, but that means the 20-cent Pick-6 carryover that was slated to be dispersed that night will now be offered this Friday. The carryover is $4,834, and the P6 is offered on races eight through 13.

While the carryover may not look overly impressive, it can go a long way toward peaking player interest.

In the event $30,000 in "new money" is bet into the P6, you would deduct $4,500 for the usual low 15 percent takeout. Since the carryover is not subject to the tariff, the total pool would be $30,334, creating a "negative takeout", where those with winning tickets will take away more than what was put in the pot.

-edited release (Meadowlands)