Meadowlands: Pick 6 carryover highlights Thursday card

While it’s true that last Thursday’s (Dec. 5) 10-race program at The Meadowlands didn’t offer stakes-caliber racing, what it did provide is what many players love: Racing that is ultra-competitive where bettors can make a big score, like the one that came when the 20-cent Pick-5 returned $28,712.22.

Tonight (Thursday, Dec. 12), The Big M will offer the second of two Thursday cards on the 2024 calendar.

In addition to the Thursday Pick-5, The Meadowlands was the place for big fields and big payoffs last weekend.

During the course of the Thursday card, seven favorites tasted defeat, setting up payouts that no doubt pleased those with winning tickets. The Early 50-cent Pick-4 returned $4,030.50, the Late Pick-5 $580.55 and the 20-cent Pick-6 $3,634.13.

“Our fans like having a shot at making a score, and last Thursday proves those chances exist,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “That opportunity will be there again [tonight] when there is a carryover in the Pick-6.”

Saturday’s (Dec. 7) Pick-6 went unhit, creating a carryover of $4,038. Now, before you are unimpressed by that number, take note of the following:

If $20,000 in “new money” is wagered, players will be swimming in a highly appealing pool. After removing the small takeout, the total pool would be $21,038, meaning winning tickets would pay out more money that what’s taken in, a “negative takeout”. Simply put, in this scenario, the return would be 5 percent more than the amount that is wagered. Advantage: Player.

The Pick 6 starts in race five and offers a 15 percent takeout.

The Big M’s betting menu has many opportunities for players to bet into a pool with a low 15 percent takeout. This puts more money back in the hands of horseplayers. This is illustrated by what the payout would have been before The Meadowlands decreased the takeout by 40 per cent, from 25 to 15 per cent. Clearly, this has helped horseplayers stay in the game.

Last Thursday’s Pick-5 returned $28,712, precisely $3,378 more with the lower takeout; on Friday, the payout was $11,938, a little over $1,400 more than what it would have paid with the higher takeout.

Thursday’s Pick-4 came back $4,030, $475 more with the lower takeout, while on Saturday, the giant payoff of $25,609 was more than $3,000 better.

The Pick-6 on Thursday paid $4,275, $503 more than if the higher takeout was still in effect.

The payout on the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 on Friday was $5,478, which meant an extra $645 in someone’s Christmas stocking.

Finally, the Thursday 10-cent Pentafecta (or Hi-5, if you prefer), paid off $3,379, approximately $400 more.

“We here at The Meadowlands understand that giving the horseplayers a beatable game is crucial to a successful business model,” said Settlemoir. “With large fields, competitive racing, low takeouts and situational negative or near-negative takeouts, we have created the gambling landscape that gives horseplayers a much better chance to win.”

BIG FIELDS, BIG OPPORTUNITIES: Cold weather be damned!

The Meadowlands will once again offer big fields all weekend (Dec. 12-14) long.

On Thursday, the average field size is 9.7, Friday is 9.9 and Saturday is 9.5. There will be 38 races contested at The Big M over the three days, and 31 of them will offer full 10-horse fields (82 per cent).

MUCH APPRECIATED: On Saturday, Dec. 28, head to The Meadowlands for Fan Appreciation Night.

“We’d like to thank our fans for a fantastic year,” said Settlemoir. “And while we are extremely appreciative of our players who bet us on the various simulcast networks, we like letting our on-track faithful know that we love it when they are inside the building.”

There will be discounted concessions offered from 6-11 p.m. that night. For just $1 in the Cafe, one can purchase hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda.

Bud and Bud Light draft, also available at the Café, will be just $2.

-edited release (Meadowlands)