The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey has successfully negotiated a $400,000 purse enhancement for the New Jersey Sire Stakes events contested at the Meadowlands in 2009 as well as a $1.2 million supplement to overnight purses to benefit New Jersey-owned or bred horses.

The $400,000 will be applied to the preliminary legs of the New Jersey Sire Stakes. This year’s finals were already increased to $200,000, up from $175,000 in 2008.

“The New Jersey Sire Stakes program continues to be one of the most attractive options for owners and trainers and offers highly competitive and exciting races for the fans,” said SBOANJ president Tom Luchento, who spearheaded the negotiations. “The fact is these are showcases for some of the best young horses in training and a springboard for Meadowlands Pace and Hambletonian winners as well as divisional champions. We want to continue to make them a lucrative option as well. We have done so by working with the Meadowlands to infuse these additional dollars.

“The $400,000 lifts the total New Jersey Sire Stakes distribution at the Meadowlands to an estimated $3.5 million,” Luchento noted. “This funding is from the Purse Enhancement Agreement with the casinos from which $1,250,000 was previously dedicated to the New Jersey Sire Stakes at both Freehold and the Meadowlands in 2009. The SBOANJ felt it was important to further enrich the New Jersey Sire Stakes purses as well as the overnight program.”

Up to 28 races per week at the Meadowlands will benefit from added dollars for New Jersey-owned or bred horses.

The New Jersey-owned or bred horses will also have preference over all other horses in gaining entry to these races. Others may enter to fill races but will only get in if all other New Jersey horses, no matter their preference dates, have been accommodated.

“We thank the Meadowlands senior management team of senior vice president for Racing Lennon Register, assistant vice president for Racing Development & Distribution Alex Dadoyan and director of Racing Peter Koch for their commitment to quality racing and the breeding program in New Jersey,” Luchento added. The SBOANJ negotiating team included Luchento, Leo McNamara, Edward Razzetti and Bob Boni as well as Anthony Perretti from the New Jersey Sire Stakes Board of Trustees.

The New Jersey Sire Stakes season begins the weekend of May 15 and 16 with opening leg competition for three-year-old pacers. There will be two preliminary legs and a $200,000 final for each gait and gender category. The three-year-old pacing finals will take place on May 30 with the three-year-old trotting finals sharing a super night of racing with the SBOANJ sponsored $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic and $200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey on June 13.

For the second consecutive year, the quartet of two-year-old finals, worth a combined $800,000, will take place on a Night of Champions which will be on July 23, at the Meadowlands. Due to the Meadowlands extending its season later into August, the two-year-olds will also have a later date for their finals than in past years which could increase participation.

(SBOANJ)