STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

HANDLE REACHES FRIDAY HIGH, DUNN WINS THREE AT BIG M

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • March 2, 2024

M Wagering at The Meadowlands has been strong all year long, but Friday night was an especially good night on an especially cold night (with a real-feel temperature of 35 degrees) as a 2024 Friday-night best (and second-highest overall) $3,664,781 was put in play on the 14-race program ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- M Wagering at The Meadowlands has been strong all year long, but Friday night was an especially good night on an especially cold night (with a real-feel temperature of 35 degrees) as a 2024 Friday-night best (and second-highest overall) $3,664,781 was put in play on the 14-race program.


Not surprisingly, the two races that offer the track’s popular 50-cent Pick-4 saw vigorous wagering, as $303,326 was bet on race six, and $311,547 on race 10. During the night, single-race betting topped $300,000 five times.


There have been 16 programs contested at The Big M this year, with 14 of those seeing wagering bust the $3-million barrier. The previous Friday-night best was established on Feb. 2 when $3.27 million was pushed through the windows.

The top night of action this year was on Saturday, Jan. 27, when the total handle was $3,779,096.


GETTING IT DUNN: It was merely another night at the salt mine for Dexter Dunn, as the 34-year-old New Zealand native recorded three wins on the card to lead the driver colony.


Dunn scored with American Way ($3.00) in the second race, ER Vegas ($3.60) in the ninth and Southwind Frost ($3.60) in the 11th.


The four-time Dan Patch Driver of the Year (from 2019-22) has now won at least one race on each of the eight programs he’s competed on since his return from vacation on Feb. 3.


SWEET SOUNDING SWEDE: There was no need to adjust your TV for Friday’s sixth race, as the dash was called quite capably by 19-year-old Alex Persson, the track announcer at Aby Racetrack in Sweden.


Persson was in town visiting and Big M caller Ken Warkentin was happy to give up the microphone for a race.

“It was amazing [to call a race at The Meadowlands],” said Persson. “But it’s different calling a race here. First of all, it’s a mile track. Aby is a smaller track, and the race goes a bit differently here. It’s a lot faster.”


Persson was exceptionally young when he got the gig at Aby. “I’ve been the race caller there since August of 2021, when I was 17. I did some race calling for two years before that at a small summer track in Sweden. The announcer at Aby was quitting and they wanted to go with some young, fresh blood. That’s how I got the job.”


One day, Persson hopes to call the biggest race in his country.


“I would love to call the Elitloppet,” said Persson. “It’s the biggest dream of any announcer in Sweden. Hopefully, that will come someday.


A LITTLE MORE: Big M TV’s Dave Little was red hot with his selections on the card, tabbing eight winners, three exactas and the Late Daily Double. Little’s big hit of the night came in the ninth race when he had the Early Pick-4 three times, giving his fans a $321 score for a $36 investment. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager July 22, 2025
A total of 21 horses entered Tuesday for the 100th edition of the Hambletonian Stakes for 3-year-old trotters, resulting in three $83,550 eliminations on Saturday (July 26) at The Meadowlands ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations July 20, 2025
Yo Tillie maintained her current standing as the top horse in her division and Onajetplane threw his hat into the ring as a Hambletonian contender Saturday night at The Meadowlands when four divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake were contested for 3-year-old trotters of each sex ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations July 19, 2025
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 18, 2025 -- Be Perfect BG made good on her name Friday night at The Meadowlands, remaining unbeaten in four lifetime starts after taking the lone filly pace when seven $25,000 divisions of the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds were contested for horses of each sex and gait ...
By Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park July 19, 2025
Twin B Joe Fresh, the 2024 Dan Patch Horse of the Year, will be making her first-ever appearance in Massachusetts on Sunday (July 20) when she ships to Plainridge Park to start in the $100,000 Grade 3 Clara Barton Distaff Pace ...
By Courtney Stafford July 18, 2025
The SBOANJ supplemental yearling nomination payments are due August 15th ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations July 17, 2025
His horse didn’t cross the finish line first, but that was OK with trainer Cam Capone, whose Madden Oaks was placed first after Prince Hal Hanover was disqualified and placed second in Saturday (July 12) night’s $656,000 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds at The Meadowlands ...
More Posts