It was a big night on many fronts last Saturday (July 14) at the Meadowlands, as the $4 million plateau was reached in total handle, the track’s sparkling new Fanduel Sports Book @ Victory Sports Bar was opened for wagering on professional sports, and Hall of Fame driver David Miller won the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace for the first time in what was his 19th try.
Total handle on the program was a meet-high $4,083,401 (an increase of approximately $250,000 over last year’s ‘Pace Night’), as six stakes races on the program saw pools in excess of $300,000, with the Pace leading that parade, with $536,305 being put in play.
“All of us at the Meadowlands are so pleased that our fans supported the Pace card like they did,” said track chief operating officer and general manager Jason Settlemoir. “It just goes to show you with quality purses we attract quality horses and the public responds by betting with both fists.”
On the morning of Pace Night, the sportsbook opened to a big crowd anxious to place wagers on Major League Baseball, the World Cup Final and many other future bets. The hours of the sports book are as follows: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
Finally, the 53-year-old Miller broke his Pace maiden by guiding 6-5 favourite Courtly Choice to victory over 57-1 shot Dorsoduro Hanover in 1:47.1. Horses driven by Miller have earned at least $10 million 15 times over the last 17 years and ‘The Buckeye’ sports lifetime earnings of nearly $226 million.
Miller will be the guest Friday night on ‘In the Sulky,’ the Big M’s interview segment on its live simulcast presentation. It will be seen at approximately 7:35 p.m.
POST TIME CHANGE: This Friday and Saturday, post time for the first live race at the Meadowlands will be 8 p.m.
JUMP INTO THE POOL: After failing to reach six figures for two months, Saturday night marked the fourth consecutive race card where the 50-Cent Pick-4 pool reached $100,000, as a meet-high $142,198 was pushed through the windows. … On Friday night, the Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five had a mandatory payout, and after ‘new’ money pushed the total pool well past the $500,000 mark, those holding winning tickets cashed in for $76,472.
HAMBO COUNTDOWN: It’s just three Saturdays until this year’s edition of the Hambletonian. Here is the track’s schedule for its stretch run: July 20 and 21, post time 8 p.m.; July 27, 28 and August 3, 7:15 p.m. On Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 4, post time is noon. On the card, more than $3 million in purse money will be up for grabs.
HAVE A SPA DAY: Thoroughbred racing’s most popular meeting starts on Friday, as the ‘Big M’ will feature racing from Saratoga on its daily simulcast menu. Every Saturday, there will be at least one $500,000 event on the Spa card, with the marquee event, the $1.25 Travers Stakes, slated for Saturday, August 25. Saratoga races every day except Tuesday through Labour Day, Monday, September 3. Post time is 1 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)