Officials with the Meadowlands Racetrack have announced that starting with the 2014-2015 season at the East Rutherford, NJ oval there will be a new condition attached to all late and early-closer finals that limits the number of horses a trainer can enter into the final of those events.
The Meadowlands has announced that all late-closer and early-closer finals will carry the following clause:
"No trainer may race more than two horses in this race. This does not apply to any horses raced in a trainer's stable from the first charted race of the horse’s career. Any trainer change that applies to the spirit of this condition must be made a minimum of 30 days in advance of the race date to be considered valid for the purpose of this race."
Via release, the Meadowlands stated that the rule has been implemented in response to track customers’ complaints regarding trainers having an abundance of horses in one race while being sure not to discourage any horsemen from purchasing yearlings. The clause does allow a trainer to enter any number of horses he wishes into the final of a late-closer or early-closer, provided he or she has been that horse’s trainer since its first charted race, including baby races and qualifiers. However, a trainer will be limited to entering two horses that he or she has not trained since its first charted race.
“This rule is in the best interest of the betting public, the horsemen and the harness racing industry as a whole,” said Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural. "The purpose of this rule is to address complaints we have received from our customers and to avoid discouraging anyone from purchasing yearlings. We recognize that if a trainer should happen to have three good horses that fit the condition of a race that he or she has trained since the beginning of his career, he or she should be allowed to enter all three. This rule impacts only horses that are no longer racing for their original trainer.”
In addition, a trainer change between the rounds of eliminations and finals for the events at the Meadowlands will not be allowed simply to ensure a certain horse can enter the final. The trainer change must be made a minimum of 30 days prior to the date of the race, thus the horse will have to race through the entire series for the new trainer.
Any horsemen with questions should contact the Meadowlands race office.
(With files from the Meadowlands)