Despite being closed for live racing this upcoming weekend as the Meadowlands Racetrack prepares for its Championship Meet, in a change of plans, the East Rutherford, New Jersey oval will have qualifying races on Saturday, April 27.
“Several horsemen have asked us if we can accommodate them by holding qualifying races on Saturday, April 27 and we will make good on that request,” said General Manager and C.E.O. Jason Settlemoir. “This morning was a great day to be at the track with so many of last year's stars training and qualifying for the 2013 stakes. It is the role The Meadowlands plays in harness racing. We recognize that this is an important time for those finishing off their stakes-type three-year-olds to prepare for the heart of our racing season and we want them to race with us."
The racing office will be taking entries for the qualifiers from 7:30 a.m. through 9 a.m. on Friday, April 26. Trainers are asked to phone-in their entries. The qualifiers will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m.
A change has been made to the schedule for training at The Meadowlands for the month of May. The main track will be available for training from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on each of the five Thursdays rather than Fridays beginning on May 2. Horsemen must contact the racing office by noon each Tuesday starting April 30 to list the horses that will be training on Thursday. The fee is $50 per horse or $1,000 per trainer for unlimited use.
Baby Races for the two-year-olds will be raced along with qualifiers beginning on Saturday, June 1. The box for the babies and qualifiers will close at 4 p.m. on Friday each week. The fee for the Baby Races is $100 per entry, but there is no fee if the horse is New Jersey-bred or paid into any Meadowlands stake. There will be no training permitted on qualifying/baby race days.
Payment may be made upon arrival at the stable gate for both days. Any funds remaining after the associated costs have been paid will go toward the purse account. Call the Racing Office at 877-782-2537 with questions.
Andrea Hanley will be in the office on Monday and Tuesday, April 22 and 23 and the racing office will be drawing on Monday, April 29 for the opening of the Championship Meet on Friday, May 3.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)