It has been announced that the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey will be covering the costs for Standardbred horsepeople to train their horses at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Thursdays in May and June.

For the past several years, the Meadowlands has been made available for training on Thursdays in May and June at a cost of $50 per horse or $1,000 per trainer for unlimited use that was used to defray the expense. Effective immediately, the SBOANJ will be covering that cost for the horsepeople.

"Getting the two-year-olds some work over that surface and accustomed to all that goes at a racetrack is important,” said Mark Ford, the president of the SBOANJ. “If we have the funds, it helps our horsemen and covers the track's cost then it seemed like a good idea. Whatever we as a horseman's organization can do to encourage participation at the Meadowlands, we are happy to do."

Any money that the Meadowlands has already collected will be refunded to the trainers. These training sessions will continue to be offered through the month of June. Trainers must still contact the race office by noon on Tuesdays with the number of horses they will be bringing to train each Thursday.

(With files from the SBOANJ)