EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – March 11, 2014 -- The Standardbred Breeders
& Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) together with Meadowlands
Racing & Entertainment announce that beginning on November 14, 2014, a
system will be implemented for taking entries that will reward those trainers
who raced their horses predominantly at the Meadowlands during the period of
March 28, 2014 through August 2, 2014.
Over that same period of time the Meadowlands is pleased to offer
horsemen an increase in purses at the B-Class and free for all level.
Beginning Friday, March 28, 2014, the B-2 Class will receive an increase
from $14,000 to $16,000, while the B-1 Class will receive an increase from
$16,000 to $20,000. In addition, the free for all will carry a purse of
$35,000 if nine or more starters enter. It will remain at $30,000 if
eight or fewer starters enter. The increase encompasses both pacers and
trotters, horses and geldings, or mares.
Over the course of this four-month period, records will be kept by
both the race office and the SBOANJ to determine which trainers are racing the
majority of their horses at the Meadowlands.
Those qualifying for the rewards program will receive preference
when entering their horses, beginning in November of this year.
There will be two criteria for a trainer to qualify for the
rewards program.
1)
Any trainer with a minimum of 20 total starts from March 28, 2014
through August 2, 2014, whose horses raced at the Meadowlands more than all
other tracks combined over that period of time will qualify for the program.
2)
Any trainer with more than 60 starts at the Meadowlands from March
28, 2014 through August 2, 2014 will qualify for the program.
Waiver Clause:
Any trainer with fewer than 20 starts over the same period of time
at all other tracks combined may ask for a waiver to be included in the rewards
program.
Exception:
The rewards program only pertains to overnight races. All stakes,
early closer and late closer events are excluded from the program.
Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural embraces both the purse increase
and the rewards program.
“I have asked our horsemen several times to support us over the
last two years,” Gural said. “I am elated to be able to offer this purse
increase along with this rewards program so that the horsemen who continue to
race at the Meadowlands will be able to get their horses raced every week in
the winter months, which is the period of time our entry box is in its highest
demand. The horsemen that continue to support us deserve the opportunity
to race for purses on the highest level. I hope this increase goes a long
way in accomplishing that. It is their support, in allowing us to card
full programs with full fields that makes this possible.”
“We tried to implement this program this past winter,” said Tom
Luchento, president of the SBOANJ, “but trainers felt that they were not given
advance notice of the policy and now their horses were not getting raced.
So, we agreed to suspend the program until the following meet. Now, we
are able to announce this program along with an important purse increase.
Not only will our horsemen who support the Meadowlands be able to get their
horses raced each week in the winter, but they will get to race for more money
along the way. This is a win-win for the horsemen. The horsemen
should acknowledge this as notice that if they want to get their horses raced
each week in the winter, they should continue to race at the Meadowlands the rest
of this season. Not only are they being given advanced notice, but they
are receiving a purse increase as well.”
Speaking to the purse increase, Director of Racing Operations
Darin Zoccali expressed why the B-Class was chosen for the increase.
“We have seen some gains in certain areas that contribute to our
purses,” said Zoccali. “Some of the B-1 level races that have been
contested at the Meadowlands this year have looked more like A-1 events.
Those races deserve a bit more separation from the C-Level, and we believe this
increase accomplishes that. This increase puts our overnight purses on
par with the slot-enriched programs in Pennsylvania. To be able to
accomplish that is a testament to the support we have been shown by the horsemen,
allowing us to card full-fields all winter.”
This increase actually marks the fourth purse increase since Jeff
Gural took over operations at the Meadowlands and the second for the B-class
horses. Thus far, the Meadowlands has made the following increases since
2012, regarding purses:
NW1 $10,000 (Previously $9,000)
NW2 $12,500 (Previously $9,500)
NW3 $15,000 (Previously $12,500)
C-2 $9,000 (Previously
$8,000)
C-1 $11,000 (Previously
$10,000)
B-2 $16,000 (Previously $12,000,
then $14,000)
B-1 $20,000 (Previously $14,000,
then $16,000)
FFA $35,000 If 9 or more starters
(Previously $30,000)
“We are close to having raised purses across the board since
taking over operations,” said Gural. “It is interesting that it seems to
have gone a bit unnoticed that we have implemented these increases over the
past two years. I strongly believe our purse structure is competitive
with any track in harness racing and hope the horsemen respond and continue to
enter their horses.”
These increases will be in effect from March 28 through August 2.
