LADIES TO TAKE OVER WHEN IWD IS CELEBRATED AT BIG M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- March 5, 2025 -- Saturday’s (March 7) live TV presentation from The Meadowlands will provide viewers a different look with different perspectives.

In fact, there will be five of them.

That evening, The Big M’s broadcast will celebrate International Women’s Day, sponsored by Clinton Tractor, by having a five-member, all-female talent team bring the action to players, and the ladies who will be participating come from just about every different walk of harness racing life.

The pregame show gets underway at 5:25 p.m. with the first race heading to the gate at 6 p.m.

The roster of talented talent:

·         Melissa Keith, track announcer: The only full-time female harness racing announcer in North America does her job from the top of the stands at Ottawa, Ontario’s Rideau-Carleton. She is also a columnist for Harness Racing Update, focusing on the top track in Canada in “The View from Woodbine Mohawk Park”. Keith also writes for Atlantic Post-Calls, which is known as “The Journal of Atlantic Canadian Harness Racing.” She has won multiple awards for writing, with three John Herveys and two O’Brien Media Excellence awards to her credit.

·         Debbie Little, host: After covering live harness racing major stakes events and serving as both a Thoroughbred and Standardbred handicapper for the New York Post for 27 years, Little then moved on to become a columnist for Harness Racing Update, serving as the author of her weekly contribution “Meadowlands Matters”. Two years ago, Little added a big responsibility to her resume, when named the associate editor at HRU while evolving into a semi-regular on The Big M’s TV show. Last year, Little was inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY.

·         Meadow Twaddle, co-host: The daughter of horseman Tim Twaddle currently works with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association and is the co-host of the podcast “Hot 2 Trot”. She also assists the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association with their marketing efforts. Meadow has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and marketing from Washington and Jefferson College and her passion is making horse racing more accessible and exciting by sharing authentic, behind-the-scenes moments that highlight the people and heart of the sport, helping bring fans closer to the action. She’ll be making her eighth and ninth appearances, respectively, on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set this weekend.

·         Heather Wilder, paddock interviews: The longtime journalist has worked on many Little Brown Jug and Breeders Crown live telecasts. In addition, she does a video spot called “Twos in Training” for Harness Racing Update and does freelance interview work for the Ontario Sire Stakes circuit. Wilder is an integral part of the family stable – alongside her husband, Mike Wilder, and father, Dan Altmeyer – that is based at The Meadows.

·         Kiara Morgan, FDTV analyst: The daughter of trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. is, plain and simple, a horsewoman. She is adept at driving horses, as her seven wins from just 20 starts during 2025 on the Ohio fair circuit proves. She loves working in the stable every day, and her dad needs the help, with about 100 horses to care for and jog. It’s an all-day job. So why the interest in being a broadcaster? “I want to put together all of my experience and knowledge over the last few years and want to share it with the public,” said Kiara. “And I am very happy that The Meadowlands is giving me this opportunity.”

“It took a lot of effort from a lot of our staff, but it looks like we have put together something pretty special for Saturday night,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Everyone in our sport knows that there are female trainers and drivers. What they might not have realized is that there are plenty of females who participate in the sport as track managers and officials, state officials, backstretch workers, and, of course, as on-air talent, as our five ladies will get to show off their expertise on Saturday night. This evening should prove to be a truly unique experience.”

What racing fans can also expect that night are sizzle videos and interviews with the industry’s top female trainers, drivers and grooms, as well as two races featuring all-female-driver fields (in races two and five). Award-winning photographer Jessica Hallett will be on-site capturing the festivities, while Mary McDermott will handle all social media duties, posting interviews and behind-the-scenes videos. Trainer Annie Stoebe, who worked on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set last week, will also offer a Facebook feed from the paddock.

NOTE: International Women’s Day, which is actually on Sunday, March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911, supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country-, group-, or organization-specific.

CAN ‘YANKEE’ BE STELLAR AGAIN? Stellar Yankee seeks his third straight win in the weekly high-end claiming feature Saturday night for trainer Cory Stratton and his brother, driver Jordan.

The gelded son of Always B Miki-Somethinginawater has been on a form spree for some time now, as the 8-year-old has emerged victorious in four of his last 11 starts beginning with a win at the non-winners of $2,500 level in November.

His rise in class ever since has been as steady as it’s been impressive.

Stellar Yankee will depart from post nine in the nine-horse field as the only entrant in the race sporting the maximum tag of $60,000. His career earnings are just $40,000 short of $500,000.

CARRYOVER REPORT: There were a pair of carryovers awaiting players Saturday (Feb. 28) night, and one of them took a monstrous amount of action.

The 20-cent Pick-5 sported a carryover of $26,400 that motivated players to bet an amazing $188,943 of “new money” into the pool, for a grand total of $215,343. Winner’s odds for the sequence were 1-2, 28-1, 1-1, 4-5 and 7-5. William Carter guided long shot Dance It Out to victory in the second race to take down plenty of tickets, but those who did use him and cashed, collected a payoff of $1,464.02.

The $1 PK 8 continued to provide a challenge too great for punters, going unhit for a fourth consecutive offering, upping the carryover to $72,337. Winner’s odds for the sequence were 1-1, 4-5, 7-5, 6-1, 5-1, 2-1, 12-1 and 3-5. Those with six correct collected $63.50.

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.

A GREAT WAY TO PLAY: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.

Here is the rundown of when these wagers will be offered on the 14-race programs that will take place this Friday and Saturday:

·         Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5

·         Races 3-10: $1 PK 8

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

·         Races 8-13: 20-cent Pick-6

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

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

A SOCIAL SETTING: 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 duo of Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

FANDUEL IS NO. 1: Meadowlands regulars who love to plunk down a bet or two on professional sports, know all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 betting facility of its type in North America.

It couldn’t be easier to do, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Meadowlands. There are 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 (March 5), local fans will have several opportunities to get their action.

In the National Basketball Association, the Brooklyn Nets travel to Miami for a 7:30 p.m. game with the Heat.

The Nets are a 13-point underdog who are +570 on the money line in the game that has an under/over of 226½ points.

In the National Hockey League, the Toronto Maple Leafs are at Madison Square Garden for an Original Six matchup with the New York Rangers at 7:10 p.m.

The Rangers are +176 laying 1½ goals (-134 on the money line) in the game that has an under/over of 5½ goals.

The New York Islanders will be on the West Coast facing the Los Angeles Kings in a 9:40 p.m. face-off.

The Islanders are -225 getting 1½ goals (+114 on the money line) in the game that has an under/over of 5½ goals.

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.