The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) and The Meadowlands announced new three-year-old races for trotters sponsored by the SBOANJ that will serve as a lead in to the 2022 New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS).

These races will be considered overnights but will be restricted to those horses eligible to the NJSS and will be scheduled for consecutive Fridays, April 22 and April 29.

The new races will be written as New Jersey Sired three-year-old trots (written as separate races for colts & geldings and fillies) that are non-winners of three pari-mutuel races or $50,000 lifetime. 

Should there be too few entered to accommodate separate filly races, they will be combined and the condition would be adjusted to read; non-winners of three (mares four) pari-mutuel races or $50,000 (fillies $75,000) lifetime.

The purse for all races will be $25,000.

The NJSS dates follow up the next Friday with legs set for May 6 and May 13 and the finals for May 27.

"These races sponsored by the SBOANJ will provide more racing opportunities for New Jersey Sired three-year-old trotters who have not yet reached their potential," said Mike Klau, chairman of the SBOANJ Breeders Committee. "As a lead in to the NJSS, they will have the opportunity to see if they can compete with the best of their generation."

"This is another example of The Meadowlands and the SBOA working together," said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands' general manager. "These races will enhance a NJSS program with increased purses for 2022 that, coupled with the brand new $2 million NJ Classic Series in September, makes the New Jersey program one of the best regional options available."

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)