The Meadowlands Racetrack has applied to the New Jersey Racing Commission requesting 91 race dates for the 2017 live racing season.
The dates include racing seven Thursday cards from January 26 through March 9. The Meadowlands will also race four Thursday cards from December 8 through December 29 in 2016. Hopefully there will be enough horses available to fill three days of racing. The decision was made in response to a request by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) requesting more live dates during that time period.
Another important decision made in view of the robust market for yearlings at the recently concluded Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is to maintain as many of the Grand Circuit stakes at as close to current purse levels as possible, despite the burden of a purse account that is currently overpaid by $5 million.
For the record, the total amount in purses for all stakes at the Meadowlands in 2016 will be $17.7 million with nearly $6 million of that coming from the stakes percentage of the purse account.
The reality of sustaining a stakes program anywhere close to what the Meadowlands is accustomed to will require industry support via sponsorship of the races. The Meadowlands hopes to be able to find sponsors for all of its stakes, and Jason Hall will be reaching out to the major owners, breeders, vendors and other participants to hopefully raise enough in sponsorships to keep the majority of stakes programs in place.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)