Meadowlands: Prolific Pick 5 pool awaits punters on Friday

Friday night figures to bring bettors ready to fire away at the start of the Meadowlands card, as the first race (post time, 6:20 p.m.) will offer what promises to be a giant 20-cent Pick 5 pool.

Last Saturday (Dec. 10), there were no winning tickets sold on the wager that spans races one through five, creating a carryover of $47,199, which will have dreams of making a big score dancing through players’ heads, especially when one considers that on Dec. 3, the P5 payoff was $10,969.

The last time there was a Pick 5 carryover (March 12), total action resulted in a "negative takeout," meaning players who cashed got more money back than was put in the pool. Here’s how:

-The carryover of $43,342 was not subject to the already low 15 percent takeout;

-There was $268,940 in "new money" bet, meaning $40,341 was removed for the takeout;

-The total pool of $271,941 was $3,000 more than the "new money" wagered, creating a "negative takeout" where players got back 101 percent, rather than the usual 85.

Some other recent pools pumped up by carryovers include the Nov. 19 early 50-cent Pick 4, when a $49,000 carryover led to a total pool of $344,035, and the Nov. 25, 20-cent Pick 6 double carryover of $32,429, which led to action that totaled just under $140,000. Those who hit the Pick 4 walked away with $3,269 and Pick 6 winners were paid off $6,101.

"Based on our previous carryovers," said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, "we can expect an enormous Pick-5 pool on Friday."

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It's those types of pools that keep the action at the mile oval big.

In fact, Saturdays have been super of late. Four of the last five Saturday programs have seen the $3 million handle barrier busted, and the one time during that span betting failed to reach that plateau, total action was $2,999,157 (on Nov. 19).

"We are on a roll, there is no question about it," said Settlemoir. "Our mile-track wagering product is superb, especially when we can roll out full fields, which our customers go for in a big way. Our Fall Meet Saturdays are averaging over $3 million per card, a number not seen in over a decade.

"The horsemen, the horseplayers and our employees are a major part of the New Jersey resurgence at the Meadowlands, and their loyalty will never be forgotten."

When horsemen support the entry box, the player bets more, creating an extremely constructive cycle for all. This weekend, both the Friday and Saturday programs will feature 14 races. Remarkably, of those 28 dashes, 27 will have 10 horses get behind the gate. The one race that won't, is the nine-horse Saturday night featured 10th race, where the impressive Nik Drennan-trained Crunch Time A will seek to stay perfect in four North American starts.

--press release (Meadowlands)--