INCREASED ACTION THIS WEEK AT BIG M

Thursday, December 7, 2023

They’ll be an extra night of live racing at The Meadowlands this week, so take the night off from the holiday season hustle-and-bustle and head to the mile oval tonight (Thursday, Dec. 7) for an ultra-competitive 10-race program.

Racing will also be conducted on the usual Friday and Saturday evenings, with 14-race cards. All three nights will have a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

“A Thursday edition of live action kicks off a rare three-night weekend of racing at The Big M,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Race secretary Scott Warren has put together a challenging 10-pack of parimutuel puzzles on Thursday, with an average field size of 9.3.”

PICK-8 CARRYOVER: The Pick-8 went unhit for a third straight time last Saturday (Dec. 2), so there will be a triple carryover of $16,541 offered on the wager.

Patrons should be aware that the Pick-8 carryover will be offered on Friday’s card, not Thursday’s.

The Pick-8 is a non-jackpot wager that offers a 15 percent takeout and a minimum wager of 20 cents. The Pick-8 encompasses races four through 11.

BIG HITS: Last Friday’s (Dec. 1) program saw 10 favorites from 14 races fail, setting up some big payouts, especially in the 13^th race, when Marcus Miller guided Pull Me Through to victory at odds of 50-1.

The payoffs in that dash included: $106.20 to win; a $1,510 exacta; a $9,483 trifecta; and a 10-cent superfecta that returned $3,082. The 13^th race was the payout leg of the Late 50-cent Pick-4, which returned $42,763.

But that wasn’t all.

In the first race, the exacta returned $1,376.30 and the trifecta paid $11,661.60.

The Pick-5 paid a handsome $975.94 for a 20-cent wager, especially when you consider that two favorites emerged victorious during the segment.

The 10^th race saw Pattycake Mooss score at 21-1, topping a $282 exacta and $1,701.40 trifecta.

THE SKED: Once the three-day race week concludes this Saturday, The Meadowlands will race every Friday and Saturday through the end of the year.

Post time for every program is 6:20 p.m. with the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show at 5:45 p.m.

DID YOU SAY FREE? Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.

THE GREAT EIGHT: The Meadowlands provides eight opportunities for the player to make a score trying their luck betting in pools with a low 15 percent takeout. The lineup of The Big M’s “Great Eight” (except for Thursday) is as follows (all wagers – with the exception of the Pick-7 – are carryover eligible):

• Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5
• Race 2: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
• Race 4: 20-cent Pick-8
• Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guarantee)
• Race 7: 20-cent High-5
• Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6
• Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guarantee)
• Race 11: 20-cent High-5

“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 Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

WITHERITE’S RACE REVIEWS: Race reviews and selections by The Meadowlands’ morning-line odds maker and program analyst James Witherite are available 48 hours before a given race card. To access, simply go to playmeadowlands.com, go to the “handicapping” tab, then click “race reviews”.

KEEP LAUGHING: Chase away the winter blues with a night of laughter on “Winter Comedy Night” on Friday (Dec. 8).

Head to the newly designed Gallery for two hours of hilarious standup. There will be table service – with full bar – available.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m.

The event will be hosted by Rory Lutz of Last Stop Comedy, and Travis Przybylski, who has appeared on AppleTV+, Netflix, Hulu and Kill Tony, and will feature headliner Katie Boyle plus Isaac Gartenberg and Eric Walsh.

For tickets and complete information, go here

TOYS FOR TOTS: Meadowlands fans can make the holiday season bright for a boy or girl by bringing a new unwrapped toy to the track for children in need. For each toy you donate, you will receive a $5 betting voucher.

The Big M’s Toys for Tots collection drive runs until Saturday (Dec. 9), when, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., former New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa will be on-site helping the U.S. Marine Corps collect toys to be donated.

Following the collection drive, the New York City division of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots will personally deliver the collected toys to children at SBH Health System. SBH Health System is committed to improving the health, wellness and well-being of the Bronx community. The diverse healthcare providers and staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality care.

“This is the sixth year we have partnered with Quincy Enunwa for Toys for Tots,” said Settlemoir. “Working together to make children’s holidays special is what it is all about. We encourage our patrons to donate a new unwrapped toy during this holiday season.”

GET FREDDIE’S AUTOGRAPH: On Saturday (Dec. 9), come to the track for a special book signing of the “Superfecta Trial” by Freddie Hudson.

Hudson will be on-site autographing his book and talking harness racing at the track beginning at 6 p.m.

KLECKO IN THE HOUSE: One of the most-popular players in New York Jets history, 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Klecko, will be at the track Saturday, Dec. 16, signing autographs from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Nineteen years ago, the Jets honored Klecko by retiring his No. 73 jersey. Klecko became just the third Jets player to have his number retired, joining two other Hall of Famers: Joe Namath and Don Maynard.

THE BIG FIGHT: Welterweight champion Leon Edwards takes on Colby Covington in what promises to be an exciting UFC bout on Saturday, Dec. 16.

If you can’t make it to Las Vegas for the fight, catch all of the action in the second-floor Gallery at The Meadowlands.

The fight is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. The doors in the Gallery open at noon for fans to enjoy college football.

FOOTBALL IN FANDUEL: Not only will Dec. 7 offer an extra card of racing, it will also offer a “Thursday Night Football” game that patrons can watch and wager on inside the No. 1 sports wagering facility of its kind in North America, the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is located inside the grandstand at The Meadowlands.

The game, which begins at 8:15 p.m., has the New England Patriots traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, who are a 6-point favorite and -255 on the money in the game that has an under/over of 30½.

On Sunday (Dec. 10), the Houston Texans continue their playoff push when they take on the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium at 1 p.m. The Texans are a 3½-point favorite who are -200 on the money line in the game that has an under/over of 33½.

Monday (Dec. 11) will offer football bettors double the fun, with a pair of games.

Both have 8:15 p.m. kickoffs. The Green Bay Packers (- 6½, -330, U/O 37) will be in East Rutherford to take on the New York Giants while the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins (-13½, -800, U/O 46 1/2) host the Tennessee Titans.

Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m.-midnight. For cash-at-counter customers, the hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m. The Lounge opens at noon on Sundays.