Page 16 - Ken Warkentin News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Despite a month of crippling winter weather and the re-opening of racing in Ontario two weeks ago, betting at The Meadowlands has stayed on a roll. In fact, on Friday (March 5) night, management is hoping to up the track’s streak of wagering at least $3 million to an impressive 10th consecutive program. “We say it often,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But horseplayers have really responded in a big way to our low takeout wagering menu. With six of our popular 15 percent takeout wagers being offered every night, it has given players a more re...

Sponsored by: Last weekend (Feb. 12-13) was the third straight that saw total handle exceed the $7-million plateau at The Meadowlands – a lofty level reached three times during all of 2020 – and much of the recent wild wagering at the mile oval is due to the popularity of the track's low 15 percent takeout bets. The Big M has seen great results since changing the Hi-5/Pentafecta format. Formerly, it was a 20-cent base with a 'jackpot', meaning it paid out only when there was one winning ticket. The response has been vigorous since management changed it to a 10-cent base that pay...

The first three Saturdays of 2020 were solid from a business perspective at The Meadowlands, as total wagering of $7.7 million averaged out to $2.569 million per card, resulting in an average per race of $183,523. Turn the page to 2021, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s continued miserable grip on the globe, business at the industry’s handle leader has been booming. Good as the numbers were during the first three Saturdays of a year ago, thus far this year has seen tremendous gains over the corresponding race cards. Betting reached $4,562,477 on Jan. 2, which represented the third-highe...

With the stars in perfect alignment, wagering at The Meadowlands has been booming of late. In fact, with the track dark each of the last two holiday-season Fridays, the Saturdays (Dec. 26 and Jan. 2) that followed saw cumulative handle exceed $8 million. After $3.7 million – the fourth-highest day or night of business during 2020 – was pushed through the windows Dec. 26, an incredible $4.5 million was put in play on Jan. 2, which sets a high bar to leap over on a “non-event” card during 2021. Last Saturday’s program started with a loud bang and the noise kept on coming as players fi...

Harness racing fans at Freehold Raceway will hear a new voice starting Thursday, January 7, when Edison Hatter begins his tenure as the race caller. Hatter, 22, is from Annapolis Junction, Maryland, and is best-known as one of the announcers at Rosecroft Raceway. He'll announce at Freehold until March 13. A 2020 graduate of the University of Maryland, Hatter began announcing the Wednesday night cards at Rosecroft last fall, filling in for usual announcer Pete Medhurst. He's also served as on-air analyst, photo finish timer, and assistant chart caller. When not at Rosecroft or Freehold, Hatte...