While members of the standardbred racing industry kicked off the first of three straight weekends of a rare break from harness racing at the Meadowlands, news was still being made.
The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey announced Friday there will be more than $2 million in new stakes opportunities for New Jersey-sired 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds in 2022.
These “New Jersey Classics” will offer both colt and filly divisions for all races, using an elimination and final format. That goes for 2-year-old and 3-year-old trotters and 2-year-old pacers, with A and B divisions offered for all.
September 2022 is the tentative month for a final purse for trotters estimated at $300,000 for the A division and $100,000 for the B division. The 2-year-old pacers, meanwhile, will go for $150,000 in the A division and $75,000 in the B division. Nominating and sustaining payments will be required, with the amounts still to be announced.
The source of new funding for these stakes, industry officials said, is the additional revenue that is being generated from sports betting at FanDuel at The Meadowlands in 2021.
“We believe that the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) racing for purses increased by 20% next year, including these new races, will allow trainers to race for large purses over fewer races in a shorter span of time in New Jersey and not have to endure the time and expense of traveling,” Meadowlands Racetrack President Jeff Gural said in a statement.
“The truth is there are so many races for good money now, starting in July, that the toll is becoming too great on the 2-year-olds for them to last until October and November for Red Mile Grand Circuit, Breeders Crown, and the Fall Final Four.”
The Breeders Crown returns to the Meadowlands on Oct. 22-23 for any needed eliminations, with four freshman events on Oct. 29 and then eight 3-year-old and open races on Oct. 30.
Purses in six of the 12 divisions are up this year, with all sophomore classes going up by $100,000 to $600,000. Purses are also up for the Breeders Crown Open Pace and Open Trot.
“The Hambletonian Society has partnered with The Meadowlands to present many extraordinary races over the last 40 years,” said John Campbell, Hambletonian Society president. “The SBOA of New Jersey along with Jeff Gural and his management team have really pulled together over the last three years to strengthen and promote all factions of the harness racing industry in New Jersey, and bringing back the Breeders Crown continues that legacy.”
The Big M last played host to the Breeders Crown in 2016, with Harrah’s Hoosier Park (2017 and 2020), The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (2018), and Woodbine Mohawk Park (2019) each getting their turn since then.
The Hambletonian Society created the Breeders Crown event in 1984.
Photo: Shutterstock