by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Trenton, NJ — A total of 88 New Jersey-sired pacers and trotters will be competing for nearly $150,000 in purse money on Thursday and Friday, the first two race dates of the 2005 Freehold Raceway fall meet.

Most of the purse money will be in New Jersey Sires Stake competition, $80,000 in eight races in the Green Acres division on Thursday and Friday, and $49,500 in two races in the Pari-Mutuel division on Friday. Another $20,000 will be available in two elimination heats for the Helen Smith Trot for three-year-old New Jersey-sired filly trotters on Friday.

On opening day of the Freehold fall meet, the Sires Stake Green Acres division will feature two races for two–year-old pacing fillies, two for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings and one for three-year-old pacing fillies. On Friday, there will be three Green Acres races for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Each carries a $10,000 purse.

Also on Friday, there will be two races in the Pari-Mutuel division for two-year-old pacing fillies, one with eight horses competing for $25,000 and another with seven fillies going for $24,500.

Two $10,000 Helen Smith Trot elimination races are scheduled for Friday, with six fillies in one and five in the other. The fastest four in each heat will return August 19 for the $90,000 (est.) final.