DON’T BE A DRAG! HEAD TO THE BIG M FOR THE DERBY AND DEXTER

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- May 1, 2025 -- The Championship Meet gets underway this weekend (May 2-3) at The Meadowlands as the stakes schedule starts its steady stroll to Meadowlands Pace Night (July 12) and Hambletonian Day (Aug. 2). A great way to kick off this part of the season is with “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”, the simulcast of the 151strunning of The Kentucky Derby on Saturday, a day that always creates big excitement.

“We always have a lot of fans show up on Derby Day,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “And this year, we have an added bonus for our harness racing fans as the Dexter Cup [for 3-year-old trotters] arrives at The Meadowlands after a long stint at Freehold Raceway. 

“In addition, we received input from our fan base on eliminating the post-time drag, and we have responded by reducing it over the last several weeks. This Friday will mark the first time it is eliminated entirely, as the horses will come onto the track at seven minutes to post and the race will go when the countdown clock gets to zero.”

On Saturday, shortly after the start of the live Meadowlands card, catch the most famous horse race in the world in a perfect setting.

Now, you could head to Louisville, Kentucky, get tickets, and then be crammed into a facility that will have well over 100,000 visitors that day, or, you could come to The Big M and enjoy every minute of the Churchill Downs card in comfort while enjoying some great food and drink.

Doors at The Meadowlands open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with the first race at Churchill Downs heading to the gate at 11 a.m.

Post time for The Kentucky Derby is 6:57 p.m., meaning there will be two live harness races before the Derby takes place.

Both outdoor Café picnic tables and indoor Lounge tables are available for afternoon dining. To purchase tickets, go here

Café:

·         $100 per 4-person table

·         Waiter service

·         Guarantees track seating

·         Ticket purchase price is a food credit for use at the Café on Derby Day for racetrack staples like chicken wings, french fries, cheesesteaks, burgers, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream and more. The credit is valid only on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Lounge:

·         $75 bar seat / $150 2-person table / $300 4-person table / $300 3-person couch

·         Waiter service

·         Guarantees track seating

·         The ticket purchase price is a beverage and food credit for use at the Victory Bar and Kitchen on Derby Day for delicious fare, including burgers, nachos, salads, sandwiches and more. The credit is valid only on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Pink Restaurant will open early at 4 p.m., and the buffet will begin at 4:30 p.m. The $64.95 buffet (excluding tax and gratuity) features maple bacon deviled eggs, pimento cheese and crackers, Kentucky-rubbed strip loin, hot honey fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, pecan pie and blondies. 

Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BigM (201-843-2446).

AND EVERYBODY WANTS A HAT: Among some other special events taking place on May 3 is the Derby Day Hat Contest, which offers $1,000 in total prize money.

Those interested in participating have to register between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. at the Clubhouse Lobby with judging to take place at approximately 5 p.m.

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

BET $50 ON THE DERBY FOR FREE: All guests over 18 can enter the $50 Derby Win Wager contest, where 10 lucky contestants will be selected to place a $50 win wager on any horse they choose in the Kentucky Derby. To be eligible, one must enter online. Those interested should go here.

BET AND RUN: For added convenience, those who just want to make wagers on the Derby can utilize the walk-up teller in Lot M. The teller will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday (May 2) and Saturday (May 3).

UP ON THE ROOF: Victory Rooftop Terrace will open at noon on Derby Day and feature a DJ. For $15, guests can grab a specialty margarita cocktail in an official commemorative 2025 Kentucky Derby glass.

COME TO THE TRACK, WIN A CAR: The extremely popular Horseplay Car Giveaway returns on Friday. 

Fans can get involved by picking up a free horse to toss. Participants attempt to throw their numbered horse into the window of a moving car. A winner, randomly chosen from all the horses that make it into the vehicle, will receive a $100 betting voucher. The 27 winners will be entered into the Horseplay final drawing on Friday, Aug. 1, and have a chance to win a 2025 Toyota GR86. 

END YOUR DAY WITH A FIGHT: For fans who go the distance on Derby Day, they can end their stay at the track by joining the UFC Fight Night Watch Party in The Gallery.

The main card features a UFC bout with Cory Sandhagen taking on Deiveson Figueiredo in a battle of bantamweights.

QUALIFIERS ON FRIDAY: Because of the anticipated additional on-track attendance on Kentucky Derby Day, qualifiers at The Meadowlands will be conducted on Friday rather than the usual Saturday this week.

There will be 14 qualifiers conducted, and they will begin at 9 a.m. The dashes can be seen live on The Meadowlands website (playmeadowlands.com).

Notable horses who will be qualifying include:

·         3rd qualifier – Oh Well, Up Your Deo, Periculum, Amazing Catch

·         4th qualifier – Yo Tillie, Elista Hanover

·         7th qualifier – Ari Ferrari J

·         8th qualifier – Miki And Minnie, Rose

·         9th qualifier – Papis Pistol, Captain Optimistic, Fallout

·         11th qualifier – Voukefalas, Abuckabett Hanover, Seven Colors

·         13th qualifier – My Girl EJ, Twin B Joe Fresh

To see the entries, go here.

TWO WEEKS TO GO: The fifth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place on Friday, May 16, and for visitors to The Big M, playing the contest is something they should consider even if they have not participated in competitions like this before.

The monthly challenge offers $1,000 in cash prizes.

If a track visitor is someone that doesn’t mind risking $100 during the course of a race card, then the contest is for them, as that $100 that gets them into the contest is not an entry free, but money that buys one a ‘betting card’. If they hit big that night, they keep every penny of that green. In addition, if they finish in the top four, they walk away with that additional prize money, and, if in the top two, collect not only prize money but also earn a spot in the end-of-the-year competition that offers cash prizes totaling $10,000.

Contest format:

·         Contestants must be on-site to participate

·         Contestants must buy a $100 betting card to participate

·         Contestants must bet a minimum of five Meadowlands races

·         There is no minimum or maximum bet per race

·         Contestants can play any wager(s) on The Meadowlands live wagering menu

·         Contestants keep all pari-mutuel winnings

·         Contestants can enter as many times as they wish

·         The top two finishers earn spots in the $10,000 end-of-the-year contest

Remaining contest schedule:

·         Friday, May 16

·         Friday, June 20

·         Friday, July 18

·         Saturday, August 30

·         Saturday, October 25

·         Friday, November 21

·         The $10,000 invitation-only final is on Saturday, December 13

Players that have qualified for the December contest are Nick Montemurro and Gary Scogna (the top two finishers from January); Michael Grasso and Montemurro (February); Sean Loebs and Joe Barre (March); and Robert Glaser and Jim Bohnarczyk (April).

Complete contest rules and regulations can be found here.

To participate, players must be 18 years of age or older to wager on racing. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please get help at 1-800-GAMBLER.

SEVENTH HEAVEN: Big M TV host Dave Little and track announcer Ken Warkentin hit the mark on last Saturday’s (April 26) program, as each correctly selected seven winners on top.

Little kept his followers cashing throughout the night, giving out the Early Pick-4, the Late Pick-4 and “Little’s Late Double” cold, which paid $25.80.

Those who followed Little’s TV tickets wagered $108 for the night, and cashed in for $323.10, a profit of $215.10.

PICK-6 REPORT: A carryover of $5,634 coaxed players to wager just under $39,000 of “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-6 pool last Saturday. Many shared in the dispersal of the total pool of $44,410, as after a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 1-5, 1-1, 1-5, 9-1, 2-1 and 6-5, winning tickets were exchanged for $230.08.

GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS: To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free program pages for every race of every race card on its website.

Go to playmeadowlands.com, then click on the “news” dropdown to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.

WHEN IS LIVE RACING? During the month of May, live racing at The Big M will be conducted every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post-time of 6:20 p.m.

THE BIG SHOW: Check out the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show at 5:45 p.m. every Friday and Saturday when track announcer Ken Warkentin opens up the mic with a scene set and program changes.

Warkentin will then throw to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set, where The Big M’s Little and Jessica Otten will provide news, notes, selections and a look at the night’s featured races.

John Rallis will handle interviews from the back paddock as well as providing commentary and selections on the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed.

ACTION BIG, TAKEOUT SMALL: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

They are:

·         20-cent Pick-5: Races 1-5

·         20-cent Survivor Pick-7: Races 3-9 (mandatory payout nightly)

·         Early 50-cent Pick-4: Races 6-9 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

·         20-cent Pick-6: Races 8-13

·         Late 50-cent Pick 4: Races 10-13 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

·         10-cent non-jackpot Pentafecta (Hi-5): Race 14

LET’S GET SOCIAL: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X. 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 talent trio of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

PARTY ON: Looking to book a corporate event or private party? The Meadowlands has unlimited event possibilities. The redesigned Gallery with multiple TVs, private bar and balcony overlooking the FanDuel Sportsbook is perfect for game days, watch parties and more.

To book your private party, email alokshin@playmeadowlands.com.

FANDUEL IS FABULOUS: Meadowlands regulars know that if they want action on professional and college sports, all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the No. 1 facility of its kind in all of North America.

It couldn’t be easier to access, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Big M.

The book has massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, which enable fans to watch and wager in comfort while having some great food and drink.

On Thursday (May 1), the New York Knicks face the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference quarterfinals in the Motor City.

The Knicks, who lead the series three games to two, are a 1½-point underdog (+108 on the money line) in the game that has an under/over of 214 points. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

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.