Officials with the Meadowlands Racetrack have stated that horsepeople should be aware of particular details as the nomination deadline for the 2020 Grand Circuit stakes at the Meadowlands draws near.

Payments will be accepted with a February 18 postmark as per USTA guidelines, what with the 15th falling on a Saturday and Monday the 17th a holiday.

The conditions for top money-winning stakes format has been revised with the top eleven (11) money winners for 2019-2020 (per USTA conversion) accepted and all Meadowlands-administered/sponsored stakes raced at the distance of one mile.

It is important to note that the Meadowlands conditions contain specific language regarding eligibility to participate in Meadowlands-administered stakes. As you consider nominating your horses, be aware of these two articles:

Disputes: All owners, trainers and drivers of horses nominated to this event must be accepted to participate at the Host Track or the nomination/entry may be denied without refund of previous payments. Any change of trainers made fewer than 30 days or within four starts of the date of this race will be reviewed by the sponsor and if not accepted, may result in refusal of entry. Sponsors reserve the right to amend conditions as deemed necessary without liability.

Rules: A minimum of seven (7) separate interests may be required in any event or the event may be cancelled. All starters are subject to the detention policy of the Host Track. The rules of the Host Track and its state Racing Commission along with the USTA shall govern unless otherwise specified in these conditions. These races are subject to the Stallion Restriction Condition (SRC); see Meadowlands website for details. Any horse nominated to any Meadowlands stakes/event must be in the care of an approved trainer by April 15, 2020 for any stakes/event raced during the month of May and by May 15 for all other 2020 stakes/events. In addition, any owner who participates in a Meadowlands Stakes or Early Closing event (with added money greater than $25,000) with a trainer who has an outstanding Class 1, Class 2 or TC02 positive test having occurred on or after January 1, 2019 and under appeal in any jurisdiction will be declared ineligible to participate in any Meadowlands Stakes or Early Closing event for 12 months following the conviction if such trainer is subsequently found guilty relating to the Class 1, Class 2 or TC02 positive test. Nominator also agrees that any horse paid into any Meadowlands stakes/event may be required to be stabled for up to 14 days at an approved facility within a 150-mile radius of the Meadowlands or the Tioga or Vernon Downs stable area or an approved facility in a state that agrees to cooperate in an out of competition testing protocol by the date set by the Meadowlands for that stakes/event for the purpose of out of competition testing. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in any agreement created by the acceptance of any stakes payment to be declared void at the discretion of the Meadowlands rendering the horse(s) in question ineligible to race in those stakes/events with no liability to the Meadowlands and no assurance of a refund of payments previously made to the stakes/event in question. A nomination to these events is an agreement to the above terms and conditions.

Questions regarding the status of any potential nominator or trainer will be answered by the racing department at 201-842-5130.

All pertinent information on the Meadowlands $15 million stakes program, including schedules and payments, is available on the web.

New Jersey Sire Stakes information may be found here.

SBOANJ stakes information may be found here.

Hambletonian Society administered stakes information may be found here.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)