Meadowlands: Hambletonian Day handle exceeds $6.4 million

Hambletonian Day handle was up 13 percent over a year ago, as a total of $6,487,839 was pushed through the windows on Saturday's 16-race card at the Meadowlands.

The $6.4 million established a 2021 best at The Big M, as did the per race average of $405,489. Wagering was steady throughout the course of the day as six races saw the $400,000 betting barrier busted.

Not surprisingly, the top two single-race totals were recorded on the Hambletonian Oaks ($486,594) and Hambletonian ($866,013).

Over the 63 programs that made up the Championship Meeting (or, more accurately, Winter-Spring-Championship Meeting), a total of $208,050,187 was wagered on Meadowlands' races, an average per card of $3,302,383.

DUNN, CULLIPHER CLAIM TITLES: Dexter Dunn and Jeff Cullipher walked away with driver and trainer dash-win honors at the Championship Meeting, which concluded Saturday, Hambletonian Day.

After driving four winners, Dunn finished the meeting with 125 victories, 40 more than runner-up Andy McCarthy.

The 31-year-old Dunn also won the money earnings crown with a total of $2,776,912, approximately $400,000 more than second-place finisher, Tim Tetrick.

Cullipher won once on Hambo Day to finish the meet with 54 victories, six more than Ron Burke, who saw his Championship Meeting dash-win crown streak snapped at nine.

Burke was the top money-earning trainer with $1,883,853. Nancy Takter was second with $1,500,171.

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A QUICK TATTOO: Tattoo Artist cut out incredible fractions of 25, 52, and 1:18 3/5 on the way to a 1:47 1/5 lifetime-best score in the fourth race $50,000 Preferred for pacers, which was in honor of The Big M's late, great, former racing secretary Joe DeFrank. It was the fastest mile on the Hambo Day card.

The 4-year-old son of He's Watching-Stylish Artist was driven by Tetrick and is trained by Chris Ryder. He now has 16 wins from 36 career starts and lifetime earnings of $790,367.

A LITTLE MORE: Dunn's four winners led the driver colony. Tetrick was next with three. Nifty Norman was the top conditioner with four winner's circle visitors. Live racing returns to The Big M on Friday, September 3.

--press release (Meadowlands)--