Meadowlands: Big handle numbers in January

Given how well things are going from a business standpoint at The Meadowlands these days, it raises the question: Has The Big M been able to get sports bettors and Thoroughbred racing players to start wagering on New Jersey Standardbred racing at the mile oval in 2021?

Based on the returns from a strong January, one could make a good case.

Betting during the first month of the year totaled $30,583,128 for nine race cards, an average per program of $3,398,125. The 127 races contested yielded an average total pool per race of $240,812.

The five programs that took place during January saw over $19 million in total wagering, good for an average per night of $3,831,107 and a per-race average of $262,404.

Need more proof that wagering is off to a flying start? Each of the five Saturday programs this year have seen betting of at least $3.4 million. During all of 2020, wagering bested the $3.4-million mark on six occasions.

When compared to January of 2020, action is way up. A year ago, the per card average was $2.5 million, with the per race at $189,538. Thus, during 2021, total wagering -- with one less race card -- was up $5.3 million total, average per night was up $877,265 and wagering per race increased $51,274.

Saturday night's (Jan. 30) last of 14 races took in over $300,000 of action -- rare for a final race -- which pushed the total handle past the $4-million mark for a second time during January.

During all of 2020, the $4-million barrier was busted three times.

Last weekend saw the biggest combined Friday-Saturday (excluding Meadowlands Pace and Hambletonian weekends) numbers since June 19-20 of last year, but that weekend, a total of 36 races were offered to bet $7.5 million, an average of $210,616 per race.

Last week, it only took 29 races to rake in a total of $7,021,707, which comes out to $242,127 per dash.

The $4,083,026 wagered last Saturday averaged out to $291,644 per race over 14 races. Both numbers marked January second-bests. On Jan. 2, a total of $4,562,477 was bet over 15 races, an average of $304,165.

There will be 13 live races on Friday and 15 on Saturday this weekend. First-race post-time is 6:00 PM.

-edited release (Meadowlands)