Meadowlands: Live racing returns with Kindergarten series

Live harness racing at The Meadowlands has been on hiatus for the last five weeks, but the action returns on Friday (Oct. 20) and will continue every Friday and Saturday through the end of 2023 with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

Actually, there will be two changes in the schedule. There will be no live racing on Friday, Nov. 24, while there will be live action on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait is the marquee event during opening weekend with seven leg-four $20,000 dashes to be contested on the Friday program.

The Friday card will also see a brand-new multi-leg puzzle with a low 15 percent takeout as the 20-cent Pick-8 makes its debut, giving the Big M faithful yet another opportunity to make a big score while keeping investments economical given the wager’s low base bet. In addition, there will be minor tweaks to the High-5 (or Pentafecta, if you prefer).

“The Meadowlands welcomes horseplayers from around the world to Opening Night,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The Big M will offer some new betting opportunities this fall as we try to make the wagering menu as exciting as possible for our players. There are now eight wagers with a 15 percent takeout every night. Low takeouts and low minimums help our horseplayers stay in action. The Meadowlands offers the biggest pools in Standardbred racing, which will provide players with many opportunities every night to make a score.”

The lineup of The Big M’s “Great Eight” is as follows (all wagers – with the exception of the Pick-7 – are carryover eligible):

· Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5

· Race 2: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7

· Race 4: 20-cent Pick-8

· Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4

· Race 7: 20-cent High-5 (the minimum used to be 10-cents)

· Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6

· Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4

· Race 11: 20-cent High-5 (Race 11 instead of the final race of the night)

Indeed, the betting pools at The Meadowlands are by far the biggest in the sport. Thus far in 2023, a total of $214,514,733 has been bet on Big M races, good for a nightly average of $3,201,712. The $3-million barrier gets busted on a regular basis at the mile oval, as, after 67 race cards this year, at least $3 million has been put in play on 50 occasions.

All wagering figures represent “Jeff Gural-Era” bests. Gural, the track’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, began operating the mile oval in December of 2011.

“The Meadowlands has a plethora of events lined up for the fall meeting,” said Settlemoir, Gural’s right-hand man for horse racing since 2006. Settlemoir oversaw the building of Tioga Downs, brought Vernon Downs back from bankruptcy, and since taking over at The Big M in 2012, guided the transition from the old grandstand to the new facility. “Horses, sports and exciting events will make The Big M one of the most exciting destinations in the Metropolitan area. Action at The Meadowlands is truly the attraction.

“2023 has been one of our greatest seasons. The Championship Meet lived up to all the hype. One of our biggest Meadowlands Pace Nights combined with one of the biggest Hambletonian days of all time, when total handle was just under $9 million.”

Leg five of the Kindergarten takes place Friday, Oct. 27. Then, in November, the stakes volume dial gets turned up to 11.

The ball starts rolling on Saturday, Nov. 4 when an estimated $1 million will be up for grabs in the Kindergarten finals and consolations. Next up, on Saturday, Nov. 11, a total of $240,000 (est.) will be offered on the NJ Home Grown and NJ Garden State.

After eliminations (if necessary) are contested on Saturday, Nov. 18, the “Fall Final Four” and FanDuel Championships will make up a can’t-miss, date-circling-worthy night of competition on Saturday, Nov. 25 when an estimated $2.65 million comprise what is the third-biggest night of the Big M calendar year after Hambletonian Day and Meadowlands Pace Night.

The Fall Final Four is made up of the Governor’s Cup (2-year-old colt and gelding pace), Three Diamonds (2FP), Valley Victory (2CGT) and Goldsmith Maid (2FT). The FanDuel four pack comprises the Open Pace, Open Trot, Open Mare Pace and Open Mare Trot. All eight events figure to have great impact when ballots are cast at year’s end for both divisional honors and Horse of the Year.

-edited release (Meadowlands)