BIG PAYOUTS CONTINUE TO MAKE THE BIG M THE PLACE TO PLAY

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Since the start of December, players at The Meadowlands have made some ginormous scores wagering on popular multi-leg bets that feature a low 15 percent takeout.

“The Meadowlands is well known for providing horseplayers with enormous player friendly opportunities,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “We offer competitive racing with full fields and low-takeout wagers that feature low-minimum base bets. Those factors make our bets popular, and this month, we’ve had a good run when it comes to eyebrow-raising payouts.”

Last Friday (Dec. 20), pari-mutuel fireworks exploded on three occasions during the card, leaving some lucky punters flush for the holiday season.

A double carryover of $15,667 motivated bettors to pump just over $65,000 of “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-6 (races eight through 13) to bring the total pool to $80,742. Because of the low 15 percent takeout — which only applied to the new money — winning tickets would get a return of 109 percent, a “negative takeout.”

After the sequence saw winners’ odds of 3-5, 6-5, 8-1, 22-1, 30-1 and 5-1, one ticket was exchanged for a whopping $70,980.10.

The keys to the sequence were legs four and five, when driver Bradley Chisholm guided B Like Cruiser ($46.40 to win) to victory in the 11th race before Leon Bailey scored with Moni’s Heaven Cent ($63.60) in the 12th.

But that wasn’t the only big score made on the 86^th racing program of 2024.

The Late 50-cent Pick 4 created a louder bang than an M-80. With race 13 being the payoff leg of the Pick-6 and Pick-4, there were chances of both wagers carrying over into the next night’s card, but race winner Coz Im Special scored at odds of 5-1, putting the finishing touches on the big Pick-6, as well as the Pick-4, which returned a handsome $22,256.

A wager that not only created a violent streak across the sky Friday, but all December long, has been the Pick-5, which, with its low 20-cent minimum, allows players to get involved in the first race without sacrificing too much of their nightly bankroll.

The P5 yielded two winning tickets, and they were worth $17,227.74. The sequence saw winners’ odds of 2-1, 5-1, 10-1, 49-1 and 3-1. The key came in the fourth race, when Justin Irvine kept Chuck, who had gone off stride in each of his two 2024 starts, on gait and won, paying $100.40.

Earlier this month, the Pick-5 brought big returns, paying $28,712 on Dec. 5, $11,938 on Dec. 6 and $7,936 on Dec. 12.

Friday’s card saw 10 favorites fail to deliver, which created a handful of generous payouts on the program. The fourth race saw a Trifecta that returned $3,488 and Pick-3 that came back $4,612.

The 11^th race Trifecta paid $2,691 and 10-cent Superfecta $2,431 before the 12^th race Super returned $2,511. Winning Pick-3 bettors in the 13^th race collected $3,049.

THE FINAL TWO: Racing resumes this weekend with 14-race programs on Friday and Saturday making up the final two cards of the 2024 season. Post time is 6:20 p.m. with the pregame show – featuring Jessica Otten and Dave Little – at 5:45 p.m.

FA-REEE! To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free programs on every race of every race card on its website.

Go to playmeadowlands.com to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.

THINK BIG, TAKEOUT SMALL: Here is a look at the menu of the popular wagers at The Meadowlands that offer a low 15 percent takeout:

• 20-cent Pick-5: Race 1-5
• 20-cent Survivor Pick-7: Races 3-9 (mandatory payout nightly)
• 50-cent Pick-4: Races 6-9 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
• 20-cent Pick-6: Races 8-13
• 50-cent Pick 4: Races 10-13 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
• 10-cent Non-jackpot Pentafecta (Hi-5): Race 14

“X” MARKS THE SPOT: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X (formerly known as Twitter). You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

Stay in touch with The Big M team of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and John Rallis (@john_rallis).

RALLIS’ RACE REVIEWS: For some help with your handicapping, check out the race reviews of Rallis, who is the Big M’s morning-line oddsmaker and program analyst.

Rallis’ reviews are available 48 hours before a given card, and all one has to do to access the information is go to playmeadowlands.com, go to the “handicapping” tab, then click “race reviews.”

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.

A MESSAGE FOR 2025: “On behalf of Jeff and Paula Gural, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of our employees, owners and horsemen a joyous and prosperous New Year,” said Settlemoir. “I’d also like to thank our fans, since without them being loyal to our product, we would not be the world’s No. 1 destination for harness racing.”

NFL IN FANDUEL: The FanDuel Sportsbook is the No. 1 facility of its kind in all of North America. With massive TV screens, self-service betting terminals and all the sports action every day, Meadowlands regulars know all they have to do is head for the grandstand at the mile oval to get in the sports betting game.

Week 17 in the NFL continues on Thursday (Dec. 26) when the Seattle Seahawks head to Lambeau Field for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff with the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks are a 3½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 42½ points.

There are three games on Saturday (Dec. 28), beginning at 1 p.m., when the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are a 4½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 43½.

Next up at 4:30 p.m., the Denver Broncos head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals, who are a 3-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 49½.

Finally, the Arizona Cardinals visit the Los Angeles Rams in an 8:15 p.m. start. The Rams are a 6½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 47½.

On Sunday (Dec. 29), the New York Giants hope to end their 10-game losing streak when they host the Indianapolis Colts in a 1 p.m. game at MetLife Stadium. The Colts are a 7½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 40½.

Also at 1 p.m., the New York Jets face the tough task of taking on the Bills in Buffalo, where the home team is a 9½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 47½.

CFP IN FANDUEL: The College Football Playoff is down to the final eight teams, and those quarterfinal matchups can all be watched and wagered on in the FanDuel Sportsbook.

On Tuesday (Dec. 31), No. 3 Boise State faces No. 6 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State is a 10½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 52½.

On Wednesday, New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), there are three games.

At 1 p.m., No. 4 Arizona State takes on No. 5 Texas in the Peach Bowl. Texas is a 13½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 51½.

At 5 p.m., No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State square off in the Rose Bowl. Ohio State is a 2½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 55½.

Finally, at 8:45 p.m. in the Sugar Bowl, No. 2 Georgia takes on No. 7 Notre Dame. Georgia is a 1½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 44½.

Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open for business Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. – midnight.