Meadowlands: Second Pick 5 added to adjusted wagering menu

(release from The Meadowlands)

Meadowlands management is never afraid to make changes when they think they’re warranted. With the 20-cent Pick-8 not quite creating the level of expected excitement since its inception seven months ago, The Big M has decided to discontinue the wager while adding a second 20-cent Pick-5 to its popular low-takeout laundry list of multi-leg puzzles.

“The wagering public speaks every day and every night,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “They are the barometer for what works and what doesn’t. The Pick-8, despite seeing a total pool of $150,000 earlier this meet, did not make the cut as we head toward the Championship Meet, which begins the first weekend of May. The Late Pick-5 will be another popular low-takeout wager, making our all-star wagering lineup even stronger.”

The Meadowlands will continue to have eight nightly wagers that offer a chance for players to make a big hit while betting into big pools that offer a low takeout of just 15 percent. The new lineup of those wagers:

· Races 1-5: Early 20-cent Pick-5

· Races 2-8: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 (mandatory payout nightly)

· Races 4-9: 20-cent Pick-6

· Races 6-9: Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

· Race 7: 20-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

· Races 8-12: Late 20-cent Pick-5

· Races 10-13: Late 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

· Race 11: 20-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

“The Meadowlands has always known that responding to the horseplayer and providing them big pools along with value has to be part of a successful business model,” said Settlemoir. “Stating that, the evolution of The Big M wagering menu through the years is nothing short of incredible. There was a time when there was only one trifecta on a program, and the daily double was the only multi-leg wager on the card. The evolution continues this Friday, as the Meadowlands will roll out a Late Pick-5 that starts on the eighth race every night.”

The numbers say that adding a Pick-5 is a good idea, as thus far during April, the six Pick-5s – one per race card for six race cards – have taken in a total of $447,426, an average of $74,571 per card.

Placing a Pick-5 later in the action will give bettors who join in wagering at The Meadowlands during the middle portion of the program an opportunity to participate in what’s a very popular bet at the mile oval.

“Just like the Early Pick-5,” said Settlemoir. “The new Late Pick-5 will have a 20-cent minimum and a 40-percent takeout reduction from the past, down to 15 percent. To accommodate our new arrival, the wagering menu will be shuffled, with the end result being one of the most exciting and low-takeout-oriented wagering menus in all of racing.”

Live racing takes place this Friday (April 26) and Saturday (April 27) with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.