Meadowlands: Big stakes weekend could be a handle booster

One week after setting new Fall Meet handle marks for a single card and a weekend, The Meadowlands is in position to better both bests again as the upcoming pair of race cards (Nov. 20-21) feature plenty of competitive racing, with Saturday night's Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night standing dead center in the spotlight.

The stakes-race eight-pack - the third biggest "event" program of the Big M calendar year after Hambletonian Day and Meadowlands Pace Night - has purses that total $2,495,950, and figures to create a big night at the windows.

[DRF BETS: Get a 5% REBATE on exotic wagers Nov. 21 at The Meadowlands]

Last week (Nov. 13-14) saw Fall Meet highs of $5,299,941 bet over the course of the two race cards with a single-night best of $2,823,647 wagered on Saturday. In the end, the track had its first $5 million weekend since Sept. 18-19.

The 20-cent Pick-6 continues to be a wager that creates big interest and big pools. A two-day carryover of just $28,142 led to a total pool of $104,695 on Saturday night, and those sharp enough to have all six winners walked away with $5,642.

"All of us at The Meadowlands are pleased with the way things have gone with the Pick-6," said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. "There is an awful lot of excitement when there are carryovers in the wager, and a lot of value for the player. For instance, last week, only the $76,553 in "new money" was subject to the low 15 percent takeout. All of the $28,142 carryover was subject to no takeout at all."

Other eyebrow-raising Saturday night payoffs included the 20-cent Pick-5 ($1,599), 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 ($2,527 for six-of-seven) and the 10-cent Pentafecta ($1,166).

Friday night was for 50-cent Pick-4 players as over $140,000 in action was taken on the wagers. The Early Pick returned $4,186 while the Late Pick paid $2,362.

As for hot horsemen, Dexter Dunn (five winners) led the driver's colony while Kelvin Harrison (three) topped the trainer’s list.

-edited release (Meadowlands)