For the first time in over a decade, The Hambletonian will be shown to a widespread national television audience, as FOX SPORTS (FOX 5 NEW YORK) will show the 98th edition of “America's Classic Trotting Race” as part of the New York Racing Association's “FOX Saratoga Saturday”, a three-hour presentation of live action from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday (Aug. 5). The show kicks off at 3 p.m.
“We are pleased and proud to have partnered up with the TV team at the NYRA,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “It's been great to have our races shown on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Fox Sports 2 (FS2), but having harness racing's biggest event available to an even bigger television audience is very exciting for all of us here at The Meadowlands, as well as the Hambletonian Society, and, of course, the fans who will be unable to be here on track.”
The show will feature the Whitney Stakes from the Spa, which has a post time of 5:42 p.m. The Hambo will serve as an appetizer for that major stake, as the field of 10 will get behind the starter car at 4:45 p.m.
Big M TV's Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt will provide commentary and interviews for the harness racing portion of the program.
CROSS COUNTRY PICK-5: The Meadowlands and Saratoga will combine forces on TV, and they will team up at the windows as well. The “Cross Country Cross Breed Pick-5” will be made up of two races at The Big M and three at The Spa. The bet will start with The Hambletonian Oaks at 3:35 p.m. and conclude with the Whitney at 5:42 p.m.
IMPRESSIVE STAKES MENU: While you enjoy the food that will be available at food trucks on the apron, feast on these stakes events that will take place during the card: the $97,900 Shady Daisy, $131,250 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial, $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters, $171,400 Lady Liberty, $128,750 Sam McKee Memorial (Division I), $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, $278,000 John Cashman Memorial, $1,000,000 Hambletonian, $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for 2-year-old filly trotters, $315,750 Cane Pace and $130,000 Sam McKee Memorial (Division II).
THE BIG ONES: These are the fields for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, with post position, horse, driver, trainer and morning-line odds:
$1-MILLION HAMBLETONIAN – Post time: 4:45 p.m.
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Celebrity Bambino – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 2-1
2 – Oh Well – Tim Tetrick – Marcus Melander – 7-2
3 – Osceola – Doug McNair – Gregg McNair – 12-1
4 – Winner's Bet – Dexter Dunn – Domenico Cecere – 4-1
5 – Point Of Perfect – David Miller – Ron Burke – 6-1
6 – Up Your Deo – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt – 15-1
7 – Southwind Coors – James MacDonald – Matt Bax – 20-1
8 – French Wine – Andy Miller – Julie Miller – 12-1
9 – Ghostly Casper – Brian Sears – Benoit Baillargeon – 10-1
10 – Tactical Approach – Scott Zeron – Nancy Takter – 15-1
$500,000 HAMBLETONIAN OAKS – Post time: 3:35 p.m.
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Walner Payton – Dexter Dunn – Chris Ryder – 3-1
2 – Heart On Fire – Todd McCarthy – Tony Alagna – 5-1
3 – Bond – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt – 9-2
4 – Righteous Resolve – James MacDonald – Matt Bax – 8-1
5 – Railee Something – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 7-2
6 – Mambacita – Scott Zeron – Tony Alagna – 20-1
7 – Instagram Model – Andrew McCarthy – Annie Stoebe – 8-1
8 – Kayleigh S – David Miller – Marcus Melander – 20-1
9 – Secret Volo – Brian Sears – Marcus Melander – 6-1
10 – Heaven Hanover – Tim Tetrick – Marcus Melander – 12-1
“We feel that with the help of FOX and NYRA,” said Settlemoir. “The Hambletonian tradition is ready for the public recognition it richly deserves. This year, the Hambletonian will have an earlier post, which is expected to increase business not only in North America and Canada, but also in Europe, where the race will be shown late in the evening.
“With the race shown live on FOX, we expect the pool for the Hambletonian to break the $1-million barrier, which is uncharted territory. The $1-million plateau moves the sport, The Meadowlands and the Hambletonian to the next level. It's a magical moment for the sport.”
BOUNTIFUL BETTING: The Hambletonian program will have extraordinary wagering opportunities for value-conscious horseplayers around the world. Low minimums and low takeouts are always in place at The Big M to help keep the players in action.
On Hambo Day, there will be $350,000 in guaranteed pools and eight wagers that sport a low takeout of 15 percent, all of which have a mandatory payout. Here is the list:
- Race 1: 20-cent Pick-6 ($50,000 guarantee)
- Race 3: 20-cent Pick-5 ($75,000 guarantee)
- Race 5: Early 50-cent Pick-4
- Race 6: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
- Race 7: Early 10-cent Hi-5
- Race 9: Middle 50-cent Pick-4 ($100,000 guarantee)
- Race 12: Late 50-cent Pick-4 ($125,000 guarantee)
- Race 16: Late 10-cent Hi-5
PICK-6 CARRYOVER: While Saturday is harness racing's biggest day, bettors can go for their biggest score on Friday.
After no winning tickets were sold for a second consecutive night last Saturday, the Pick-6 sported a double carryover of $47,167. The Pick-6 begins on race eight and concludes in race 13. The bet has a low 15 percent takeout along with a low 20-cent minimum wager.
If the final pool – including the carryover – is under $350,000, players would be shooting for a rare treat: a negative takeout. This is why play is expected to be huge.
In the event that the wager carries over again, the Saturday Pick-6 would turn into the wager of the year. The Saturday Pick-6 on Hambletonian Day starts with the first race, which gets underway at noon. With or without a carryover, the Saturday Pick-6 will have a mandatory payout.
IT'S FREE: Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.
The post ‘America’s Classic Trotting Race’: The Hambletonian Joins NYRA’s FOX Saratoga Saturday Broadcast appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
