Together with the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, The Meadowlands will be implementing a bonus program for several of its overnight races for New Jersey-sired horses.
The program will begin on Friday, December 5, 2014. Beginning with that date, races meeting the condition of non-winners of one (1), two (2), three (3) or four (4) pari-mutuel races will carry a sixty per cent (60%) bonus to the purse for New Jersey-sired horses. The bonus program encompasses both sexes of horse as well as gait.
The purse structure will be as follows:
Non-Winners of 1
$10,000 (Plus $6,000 for NJ-Sired horses)
Non-Winners of 2
$12,500 (Plus $7,500 for NJ-Sired horses)
Non-Winners of 3
$15,000 (Plus $9,000 for NJ-Sired horses)
Non-Winners of 4
$17,500 (Plus $10,500 for NJ-Sired horses)
Therefore, a New Jersey-sired horse will race for $16,000 in a non-winners of one (1) event, $20,000 in a non-winners of two (2) event, $24,000 in a non-winners of three (3) event and $28,000 in a non-winners of four event.
“Competing with the slot-enriched programs in surrounding states is not an easy thing for New Jersey racing as we all know,” said Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural. “But as tough as it is on our racing product, it is devastating to our breeding industry. This program has been designed to help support the breeders in the state of New Jersey and help encourage horsemen to support New Jersey sired yearlings that go through the sales ring.”
Tommy Luchento, president of the SBOANJ, agreed with Gural’s sentiments. “I am very proud to announce this program together with The Meadowlands. We continue to work together in helping both the on-track product and the breeders in this state. We have a lot of work to do, but this is a positive step for the New Jersey program and I expect more good things in the future. I want to thank Jeff Gural and his team for working with us in formulating this plan.”
Any horsemen with questions regarding the program can contact Meadowlands Director of Racing Operations Darin Zoccali, or the SBOANJ.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)
Ontario standardbred tracks
Ontario standardbred tracks are now the last to put this type of program in place. Even Nj without Government support or slots programs has enough foresight to try and tie the purse account to the breeding jurisdiction as an incentive for local breeders.