East Rutherford, NJ — With a shot of warm air coming to the region, temperatures will be exceeding seasonal averages with readings expected in the 50-degree range this weekend, which is the perfect time to come out to The Meadowlands and sample a smorgasbord of possibilities.

First up, of course, is the harness racing, which takes place on the usual Friday (Jan. 26) and Saturday (Jan. 27) evenings with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

There figures to be plenty of action at the windows. This weekend will offer what’s been the norm at the mile oval lately — plenty of big fields — with 14-race cards being offered both nights that offer 13 10-horse fields on Friday and 12 more on Saturday.

The big fields have helped business at The Big M get off to a solid 2024 start, with four of the first five race cards seeing total handle exceed $3 million.

One wager sure to attract a lot of interest is Friday night’s 20-cent Pick-6, which will start out with a double carryover of $14,531 after no winning tickets were sold on the puzzle last weekend (Jan. 19-20).

The last time there was a similar Pick-6 circumstance was Dec. 1 of last year, when players were motivated to pump $37,927 of “new money” into the pool after a carryover of $13,662 was the starting point.

“Our Pick-6 carryovers are always popular,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “They create a lot of buzz with our players because they offer such incredible value. Since the carryover itself is not subject to the already low 15 percent takeout, it’s commonplace for a bet like this to offer what is called a negative takeout, when the return to players actually exceeds what’s wagered when there are winning tickets sold.”

Check Out The Show: Join The Meadowlands’ TV team of Dave Little and Jessica Otten this weekend as they will be on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set with The Big M’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show.

The broadcast will start at 5:45 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday with track announcer Ken Warkentin going over some of the track’s promotions before he gives out the scratches and driver changes on the program.

Live racing takes place every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

Beckwith In The Hot Seat: Check out the pregame show on Saturday when Otten will interview Brett Beckwith in another edition of the pregame show “In the Sulky” segment.

The interview will begin at approximately 5:50 p.m.

Did You Say Free? Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.

The Great Eight: The Meadowlands provides eight opportunities for the player to make a score trying their luck betting in pools with a low 15 percent takeout. The lineup of The Big M’s “Great Eight” is as follows (all wagers — with the exception of the Pick-7 — are carryover eligible):

Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5
Race 2: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
Race 4: 20-cent Pick-8
Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guarantee)
Race 7: 20-cent High-5
Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6
Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guarantee)
Race 11: 20-cent High-5

“X” Marks The Spot: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X (formerly known as Twitter). 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 team of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).

Witherite’s Race Reviews: Race reviews and selections by The Meadowlands’ morning-line oddsmaker and program analyst James Witherite are available 48 hours before a given race card. To access, simply go to playmeadowlands.com, go to the “handicapping” tab, then click “race reviews.”

Still Surviving: The track’s Winter Meet Survival Challenge, powered by 123Racing, is in full swing, and when the contest concludes, cash prizes and Meadowlands swag will go to those at or near the top of the leaderboard in the free online competition.

TrackMaster is providing Platinum Past Performances for each night of the contest. The game covers the Winter Meet and concludes March 30.

The contest began Jan. 5 with 2,300 participants, and thus far, 700 have been eliminated, leaving 1,600 in the hunt for the top prize of $750.

Currently, the top three in the standings are Turnpike Ted ($324), Badactor ($300) and Tomahawk ($279).

The winner will be determined by the highest total bankroll at the end of the Challenge based on a $2 across-the-board wager on selections for three designated races on each program.

However, to continue in the game, entrants have to “survive” by finishing in-the-money with at least one of their selections each day. Failing to do so or not making selections knocks the player out of the game.

To aid in the player’s survival, a “lucky horseshoe” is given. The lucky horseshoe is a “free pass” given to all Challenge participants that allows the player to survive if he does not make selections for a race card or all three of his selections fail to hit the board.

The prize board:

The grand prize is $750 plus a Meadowlands swag package
The second-place prize is $500 plus a Meadowlands swag package
The third-place prize is $250 plus a Meadowlands swag package
Most Winners: $200 plus a Meadowlands swag package
Highest monthly bankroll: $100 (one winner in each month – January, February, March)

For more information, and to enter, go here.

Winter Chili Cook-Off: On Saturday (Feb. 17), one of the most popular Big M events is back again, as cooks and tasters alike will be on hand for the 2024 Winter Chili Cook-Off.

The contest will take place Trackside (on the ground floor) from 5-9 p.m., so if you think you make the best chili, enter the contest and show the judges what you’ve got.

Not a cook? Free samples will be given for the People’s Choice vote following the 7 p.m. turn-in. The Cook-off will take place in the Food Court and outdoor East Apron area.

For complete information, and to enter, go here.