THE PAST MASTERS AND PICK-6 HEADLINE BIG M WEEKEND

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Live classic rock and a much-anticipated 20-cent Pick-6 are both well worth the trip to The Meadowlands this weekend. The top venue in the sport will host 14-race programs this Friday (April 12) and Saturday (April 13). Each has a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

On Friday, Pick-6 players will undoubtedly jump into the pool early and often, with the multi-leg puzzler offering a carryover of $8,332.

The return to bettors in scenarios such as these are extremely attractive. The amount of “new money” figures to be approximately $30,000. When you deduct the low 15 percent takeout, that leaves $25,500. Then, you would add the carryover, which is not subject to the tariff, to give you a grand total of $33,832. What’s then created is a “negative takeout,” which means that as long as the bet is hit, the money paid to those with winning tickets will be 113 percent, instead of the normal 85.

That’s a negative takeout. The players actually get more back than what’s wagered.

“It’s for this reason that our customers like to bet into our pools,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “The carryovers – even when on the modest side – still create a chance for a big score. In fact, we will have a second carryover on Friday’s card, as our 20-cent Pick-8 will begin with $2,873.”

The Pick-8 begins in race four while the Pick-6 kicks off in the eighth.

How about a night at the track that includes the best of classic rock performed by a great band live?

That’s what’s in store for those who go to The Big M on Saturday when The Past Masters, featuring the track’s own photographer Michael Lisa on drums, make their triumphant return.

Come and enjoy live music, live racing and food and drink specials.

The show takes place in Trackside and begins at 7 p.m.

It is free to attend.

SUPER SURVIVOR: Who needs a carryover?

It only took four winning selections last Saturday (April 6) for one shrewd 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 player to cash in for a healthy $8,365.62. The third leg of the sequence was won by a 36-1 shot. Of the other six winners, the longest price was 9-2.

HANDLE ROLLS ON: All-source handle last Saturday totaled $3,222,120, the 23^rd time that betting has surpassed the $3-million mark from 27 programs this year.

FREE PROGRAMS EVERY NIGHT: Past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available free of charge. All one has to do is go to playmeadowlands.com to access the information.

“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).

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” 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

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.”

SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? In addition to The Past Masters, The Meadowlands will try to knock you out again on Saturday, with a diverse menu of entertaining ways to have fun. Spring is continuing to bring warmer weather, signaling that winter is over, and there are all kinds of Metropolitan Area diversions being offered.

In a marvelous coincidence, The Past Masters will rock the house while the best professional golfers in the world will be shooting for birdies and eagles at The Masters, the biggest golf tournament in the world.

The Masters begins Thursday (April 11) and those who like to wager on golf can do so in the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 facility of its type in North America.

As of Wednesday night, Scottie Scheffler (+400) was the favorite to wear the green jacket, followed by Rory McIlroy (+1000), Jon Rahm (+1100), Xander Schauffele (+1400) and Brooks Koepka (+1800).

Dana White is the President of the UFC, and he will be presenting a very special evening of UFC matches on Saturday at UFC 300. If you can’t make it to Las Vegas to attend, there will be a watch party at The Big M.

UFC 300 will have the first of five fights on the main card at 10:15 p.m. The featured event pits Alex Pereira against Jamahal Hill in a bout for Pereira’s light heavyweight belt. Pereira is the -140 favorite while Hill is +110.

The biggest UFC fight night in history deserves a special guest, and The Big M will have one on hand, as MMA champion Leon Edwards will be in the Gallery at 8 p.m. The meet and greet is free, but you must register here.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE: With a big score in the last race, Joe Bohnarczyk walked away with the $2,000 grand prize after winning the track’s $5,000 live-money handicapping contest last Saturday.

Those finishing in the top five cashed.

Bohnarczyk saved his best – and only – hit for last, connecting in the 14th dash with a $6 win ticket on Ferragamo Hanover (who paid $30.60) and a $10 exacta 1-2 ($211.20). His final bankroll was $1,147.80.

“Thanks to everyone that participated in our live tournament,” said Settlemoir. “It was great to see our tournament players on track, and their presence created an electric atmosphere.”

THE SCHEDULE: Live racing continues at The Meadowlands on Friday and Saturday nights. Post time is 6:20 p.m.

This weekend, John Rallis will be back in town. He will sit alongside Otten on Friday night on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set before heading for the back paddock on Saturday, where he will handle driver interviews and provide the analysis to a national television audience on FanDuel TV (FDTV).

DERBY DAY JUST THREE WEEKS AWAY: The Kentucky Derby is known as “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” and if you would like to be a part of horse racing’s biggest event, head to The Meadowlands on Saturday, May 4, and spend the day at the best place to watch and wager on the 150^th “Run for the Roses.”

On Derby Day, doors open at 9 a.m. with the first race at Churchill Downs slated to go at 10:30 a.m. Post time for The Derby will be at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Guaranteed Derby Day dining includes the Café and second-floor Lounge.

Café reservations (must be prepaid):

• $100 per four-person table
• Waiter service
• Guarantees track admittance and seating.

Ticket-purchase price is also a food credit that can be used at the Café on Derby Day towards racetrack staples like chicken wings, french fries, cheesesteaks, burgers, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream and more. The credit is valid on Derby Day only.

Lounge reservations (must be prepaid):

• $50 bar seat
• $100 two-person table
• $200 four-person table
• $150 three-person couch
• $500 four-person couch
• Waiter service
• Guarantees track admittance and seating

Ticket-purchase price is also a beverage and food credit to be used at the Victory Bar and kitchen on Derby Day towards delicious fare, including burgers, nachos, salads, sandwiches and more. The credit is valid on Derby Day only.

Derby Day Pink Buffet Menu – $64.95 per person (plus tax and tip)

• Doors open at 4 p.m.; buffet begins at 4:30 p.m.

Derby Day Hat Contest details:

• $1,000 in total prize money
• Register between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the Clubhouse Lobby
• Judging will take place in the winner’s circle at approximately 5 p.m.

Prize breakdown: 1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250; 3rd place: $100; 4th place: $50; Fanciest: $100.

DERBY PREP WATCH: This Saturday will mark three weeks until The Derby, and last week, Sierra Leone (Bluegrass Stakes), Resilience (Wood Memorial) and Stronghold (Santa Anita Derby) were winners in major Derby preps to stamp themselves as contenders.

This week, Saturday’s final prep for “The Run for the Roses” will take place at Keeneland when the Lexington Stakes, a Grade 3 event with a $400,000 purse, takes center stage. It has a post time of 5:48 p.m. Catch the action in The Meadowlands’ expansive simulcast area.

MISFIT MARKET: Do you like stuff that’s just a bit different?

If you do, check out The Big M’s first-ever Misfit Market.

Shop for tons of cool merchandise, swag, oddities, comic books, art, antiques, records and tons more.

There will be several guests confirmed to appear:

• UFC legend Don Frye
• New York Ranger Matthew Barnaby
• New York Ranger Nick Fotiu
• New York Giant Stephen Baker, a Super Bowl champion

For vendor information, go here.

To buy tickets, go here.

More details coming soon.

IT WAS BETTER THAN A HAT TRICK: It came as a surprise to no one that last Saturday’s “Hockey Night at The Meadowlands,” sponsored by Peter Grandich, was wildly successful.

Fans were able to meet, take photographs and get autographs from two-time Stanley Cup Champion – one of those with the New Jersey Devils – Grant Marshall, Philadelphia Flyers fan favorite Chris Therien and New York Rangers great Ron Greschner.

FUSION PAIRING DINNER: The Meadowlands is known for some exciting dining options, and another one of those takes place on Saturday, April 27, when a fusion pairing dinner will be offered.

The five-course Nikkei cuisine dinner, which consists of Peruvian ingredients prepared by chefs using Japanese techniques, will have each course paired with a carefully selected Peruvian or Japanese beer.

The cost is $69.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity), and is available to those who are 21-years-old or older.

To get a look at the menu, go here.

LAUGH A LOT: The Meadowlands has plenty of great entertainment, and a great show is in store for those who come out on Saturday, April 27, for “Comedy Night.”

The evening will be headlined by Bonnie McFarlane of Comedy Central, HBO, The Tonight Show, and Last Comic Standing.

For a complete listing of comedians who will be appearing, and to buy tickets, go here.

MLB IN FANDUEL: The college basketball season might be over, but that doesn’t mean the FanDuel Sportsbook at The Big M isn’t still an extremely busy place to be.

In addition to The Masters, the NHL and NBA are streaking toward the end of their respective regular seasons before the playoffs begin.

And, of course, baseball fans are just settling in for the long season that began just two weeks ago.

With the New York Mets scheduled to play early on Thursday (April 11) and the New York Yankees having a day off, a game you might consider playing is the Pittsburgh Pirates-Philadelphia Phillies game, which starts at 6:41 p.m.

The Phillies are a -146 favorite in the game that has an under/over of 9 runs.

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

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open Monday-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.