Meadowlands: Racing returns Saturday with new wagering menu
It may have only been four weeks since Ramona Hill beat the boys in a thrilling Hambletonian where wagering soared to heights not seen in some time, but for impatient Meadowlands fans, the wait for racing to return to the top track in the game is finally over, as live action at the mile oval resumes Saturday (Sept. 5) at 7:15 p.m.
Fans interested in finding out about limited attendance capacities, COVID protocols, seating and dining options at the Meadowlands Saturday should click on this link: http://playmeadowlands.com/News.aspx?id=20687
Hambletonian Day business saw handle exceed the $5-million mark ($5.7M) for the second time in 2020, while betting on the Hambletonian itself totaled $845,469, the highest number since 2012. The July 18 Meadowlands Pace was the centerpiece of the other $5-million handle, reaching that lofty plateau for the first time on Pace Night since 2008.
Betting throughout the Summer Championship Meet (June 5 through August 8) was vigorous, as average nightly handle rose 10 percent as compared to 2019 at $3,172,554. Handle per race increased eight percent to $232,421, and total wagering was $63.4 million, up more than $9 million.
"The Meadowlands wishes to thank our faithful fans for their incredible support throughout this tumultuous year," said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. "Now, as we move forward with our Fall Meeting, we know that our new expanded low-takeout wagering menu will offer horseplayers a plethora of not only low-takeout options, but bets that offer low-minimums as well, from start to finish on every Meadowlands program."
What's new on the betting menu are the Late Pick-5 and 10-cent High-Five, which brings to seven the total number of wagers on a given night that sport low 15 percent takeouts.
That means that players can play "bookend" 20-cent Pick-5s, one on the first five races on the program and the second on the last five.
The 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five has been eliminated and been replaced with a traditional, non-jackpot version, which means that multiple winners – instead of just one – can cash in. The minimum bet has been lowered from 20 cents to 10 and the wagers will be offered on the fifth and 13th races nightly.
Here is what bettors are sure to find a very tasty menu of low-takeout wagers, effective Saturday night:
Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5
Race 3: 20-cent Pick-6
Race 5: 10-cent High-Five
Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4
Race 9: 20-cent Pick-5
Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4
Race 13: 10-cent High-Five
THE SCHEDULE: Starting Sept. 11, racing will be conducted through the end of 2020 on Fridays and Saturdays – except for Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25 – with a first-race post time of 7:15 p.m.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The next can’t-miss night at The Big M is Saturday, Nov. 21, when better than $2.8 million in purses will be up for grabs on "Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night" as the Goldsmith Maid, Three Diamonds, Valley Victory, Governor’s Cup and all four TVG Finals highlight a spectacular card.