Huge weekend at The Meadowlands opens newest harness season with a bang

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Last weekend, Oct. 25-26, at The Meadowlands, when it came to coronating a Horse of the Year, very likely a Driver of the Year, and, for good measure, establishing an all-time event handle record, it did indeed “All Come Down to the Breeders Crown.”

The Breeders Crown’s 12 championship events over the two nights – 2-year-olds on Friday and 3-year-olds and older horses on Saturday – were seen by an international television audience on Fox Sports, completing a season where many of harness racing’s biggest events were broadcast to huge audiences.

“Standardbred racing’s greatest stars put on an incredible show and an international audience got to see it all on Fox Sports,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Judging by the numbers, it’s a good bet that new people are starting to watch and wager on the most popular signal in nighttime racing.”

“The Breeders Crown events at The Meadowlands were a success on every metric,” said Hambletonian Society Chief Executive Officer and President John Campbell. “The racing was championship level throughout the weekend and that was reflected in the tremendous wagering we had on both Friday and Saturday.”

Campbell, the leading driver in Crown history with 48 victories, was recognizing the record number of dollars poured into the pools during Crown weekend.

All-source handle on the 14-race Saturday (Oct. 26) card totaled $4,356,475. Since the four races on Friday and eight on Saturday format went into existence, The Meadowlands total of $7,372,478 in 2021 had stood as the standard.

Until this year.

When you add Friday’s (Oct. 25) total wager of $3,369,424 to Saturday’s action, you get the new mark of $7,725,899, an average per race of $275,924 for the weekend’s 28 total dashes.

When you look only at Breeders Crown races, the numbers are more impressive. On Friday night, the four Crown events took in $1,397,037, an average of $349,259.

Saturday’s eight BC dashes saw handle total $3,135,925, for an average of $391,990.

Thus, Breeders Crown betting totaled $4,532,962 over the two nights, an average per race of $377,746. For perspective, if the average per race is $377,746 for a 14-race card, the total handle would be $5.28 million.

The betting was remarkably consistent throughout, as only once did Crown wagering last weekend fail to reach $300,000, while just three times it exceeded $400,000.

“We commend and thank The Meadowlands for all of their effort and execution in putting on a championship weekend,” said Campbell. “Everywhere you looked, people were having fun and enjoying the very best that Standardbred racing has to offer.”

ACROSS THE BOARD: How about three stories that stood out in front of the rest during Breeders Crown weekend?

3. The Breeders Crown contested at The Meadowlands – One of the sport’s greatest events took place at the sport’s greatest venue. For almost 50 years, The Meadowlands has been the choice for horseplayers. The mile oval and the style of racing started by Joe DeFrank in the 1970s and continued by Jeff Gural and the current Meadowlands team makes Standardbred racing exciting and more unpredictable. This was never more evident than when Coach Stefanos sat dead last to three-quarters before unleashing a furious rally to pass his foes and win the Open Pace.
4. Twin B Joe Fresh locks up Horse of the Year – The Woman of the Year, at least from an equine perspective. TBJF has sat atop the sport’s weekly Top 10 Poll for the last 16 weeks while taking every harness fan on a thrill ride all year long. With Horse of the Year honors on the line, she delivered one of her most authoritative wins of the season in the Mare Pace, sending many congratulations toward her trainer, Chris Ryder, who will be inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in July of next year.
5. One for the thumb for Dexter Dunn? – After guiding Twin B Joe Fresh to victory, driver Dexter Dunn – who is one of the horses’ owners – ended the weekend with a record six Crown wins (Dave Miller won five in 2015) in a single year. Dunn, who won four straight Dan Patch Driver of the Year Awards from 2019-2022, appears to have the inside track for a fifth trophy now that he’s risen to the top of the North American driver’s earnings list in 2024 with a bank account of just over $15 million.

There is no question that winning six finals on national television has elevated Dunn to another level. Just as Campbell was the face of The Meadowlands and the sport for many years starting in the 1980s, Dunn is currently the standard of excellence in racing.

A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE: At the conclusion of Saturday’s sixth race, a special retirement ceremony was held for the great Jiggy Jog S, who, after going six-for-six this season, was forced to the sidelines forever due to an injury.

The standout super mare finished her career with 24 wins from just 41 starts, good for earnings of $3.1 million.

BIG PAYOFFS: As usual, the mile-track landscape was dotted with some handsome payoffs during the course of last weekend.

On Friday, the 20-cent Pick-6 ($57,879), 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 ($10,684) and Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($6,619) all came back huge.

Saturday’s big scores came in the eighth race 10-cent Superfecta ($21,349), eighth race $2 trifecta ($20,422) and Survivor ($7,997).

CUP AFTER CROWN: The week after wearing the Crown, come to The Meadowlands and have a sip from The Cup.

The 41^st Breeders’ Cup World Championships kick off on Friday (Nov. 1), with the first five Cup dashes.

The 41^st edition of the event returns to California’s Del Mar Turf Club, with purses totaling a staggering $30 million.

It all starts with Future Stars Friday, where the sport’s stars of tomorrow compete in five 2-year-old races (all times listed are EDT):

• $1-million Juvenile Turf Sprint (post time, 5:45 p.m.)
• $2-million Juvenile Fillies (6:25 p.m.)
• $1-million Juvenile Fillies Turf (7:05 p.m.)
• $2-million Juvenile (7:45 p.m.)
• $1-million Juvenile Turf (8:25 p.m.)

Then, on Saturday (Nov. 2), the Cup will conclude with nine more events:

• $1-million Filly & Mare Sprint (3 p.m.)
• $1-million Turf Sprint (3:41 p.m.)
• $2-million Distaff (4:21 p.m.)
• $5-million Turf (5:01 p.m.)
• $7-million Classic (5:41 p.m.)
• $2-million Filly & Mare Turf (6:25 p.m.)
• $2-million Sprint (7:05 p.m.)
• $2-million Mile (7:45 p.m.)
• $1-million Dirt Mile (8:25 p.m.)

Pink Restaurant will be offering a buffet both days for $49.95. Dining begins at 4:30 p.m. with salads and appetizers before main dishes and sides start at 5:30 p.m.

Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations.

THINK BIG, TAKEOUT SMALL: Here is a look at what bettors can expect night in and night out when playing the popular multi-leg wagers The Meadowlands offers for the foreseeable future. These wagers sport a low 15 percent takeout:

• 20-cent Pick-5: Race 1-5
• 20-cent Survivor Pick-7: Races 3-9
• 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 Pentafecta (Hi-5): Race 14

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.

“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), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover) and John Rallis (@john_rallis).

THE SKED: Racing continues at The Meadowlands every Friday and Saturday. Post time for the first race is 6:20 p.m., but before that, check out the live pregame show with news, notes and selections from the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set at 5:45 p.m.

This weekend (Nov. 1-2), after providing analysis and interviews on the Fox Sports Breeders Crown shows a week ago, Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt will be on set.

ONE MORE HUGE NIGHT: The Meadowlands is known for its big-event days, and with the Breeders Crown added to the mix this year, The Big M has already played host to Meadowlands Pace Night, Hambletonian Day and the Crown.

The last of the “Fab 2024” takes place on Saturday, Nov. 30, on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night.

Here are the eight major events that will take place that evening (with estimated purses that total $2.65 million):

• $400,000 Governor’s Cup (2YOC&GP)
• $400,000 Three Diamonds (2YOFP)
• $400,000 Valley Victory (2YOC&GT)
• $400,000 Goldsmith Maid (2YOFT)
• $350,000 FanDuel Open Pace
• $350,000 FanDuel Open Trot
• $175,000 FanDuel Open Mare Pace
• $175,000 FanDuel Open Mare Trot

WIN BIG: That evening, enter for a chance to win a $500 win wager on each of the eight major events taking place that night.

ACTION IN FANDUEL: In addition to the best harness racing, The Meadowlands also offers the best in sports betting.

Fans know they can watch and wager on sports action in comfort with plenty of great food options inside the grandstand at The Big M in the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 facility of its type in North America.

On Thursday (Oct. 31) night, the New York Jets will entertain the Houston Texans in an 8:15 p.m. kickoff.

The Jets are a 1½-point favorite (-130 on the money line) in the game that has an under/over of 42½ points.

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.