East Rutherford, NJ – The 2016 Grand Circuit stakes season at The Meadowlands will
offer over $14 million in purses including both the $1.7 million Hambletonian
& Hambletonian Oaks and $5.7 million Breeders Crown.
A few new events
have been added to the list of lucrative Meadowlands administered stakes led by
the inaugural $150,000E Elitlopp Playoff for older trotters scheduled for the
lone Sunday live race card on Mother’s Day, May 8. The Elitlopp Playoff is
a joint venture between The Meadowlands and the Elitlopp Directors and is
unique in that the race winner will be invited to compete in that great
trotting classic in Solvalla, Sweden on Sunday, May 29. The use of trotting
hopples and Lasix are prohibited for this stake.
Another new
development is that the popular Kindergarten Classic Series will have
races for the two-year-old pacers as well as trotters in 2016. There are five
$10,000G legs scheduled from late July through late October with the $150,000E
finals and $50,000E consolations to be raced on November 5.
The Graduate Series for
four-year-old pacers and trotters returns with three $75,000 ($50,000 div) legs
beginning on May 21 at The Meadowlands. Mohawk Racetrack will host leg two on
Saturday, June 4 and the third leg is at Tioga Downs on June 12. The $250,000G
finals will be raced at The Meadowlands on Saturday, July 9 as part of the
Meadowlands Pace elimination card.
The Meadowlands
Pace is estimated at $750,000 this year and heads a stellar card that
includes the $450,000 Hambletonian Maturity trot on July 16. Also returning is
the $1 million TVG FFA Championships for all divisions of the older horses on
November 12.
Due to the Presidents
Day holiday, nominations postmarked by February 17 will be accepted.
A few important notes
are that the Kindergarten and Miss Versatility payments will be taken by The
Meadowlands this year and the condition that limited trainers to a maximum of
two entries in stakes finals has been repealed for the 2016 races.
All pertinent
information may be found on the Stakes Application
page of The Meadowlands website. Any questions should be directed to The
Meadowlands Racing Office at 877-782-2537.
