East Rutherford, NJ – The Meadowlands will require a Stallion Early Closer Participation Payment to provide eligibility for their foals of 2025 for Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closers that comes due (postmarked by) Feb. 15, 2026.
(The payment made last September was on the foals of 2024 to race as 2-year-olds in 2026. This is a separate payment and covers a different crop of foals. It is the same process as was executed in September and our hope is that we can repeat that level of efficiency.)
The Stallion Restriction Condition (Gural Rule) will be waived and the 2025 foals by all participating (paid in) stallions will be eligible for nomination to all Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closers for the life of the horse.
The timing of the payment will accommodate yearlings by participating stallions to make the May 15 yearling nomination payment for the 2028 Meadowlands Pace along with the 2027 Meadowlands Early Closer Participation payment (TBD in 2027) and all subsequent required nominating and sustaining payments as written in the conditions for the entirety of their racing careers.
A payment equal to 50% of one 2024 breeding fee (or a minimum of $1,000) will be required on those stallions standing in North America for the 2024 breeding season to make their foals of 2025 eligible to be nominated to Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closers for the life of the horse is due (postmarked by) February 15, 2026.
There is no fee for stallions standing solely outside North America. All payments are in us dollars or the equivalent. Canadian exchange should be the rate on the day payment is sent.
Foals of 2025 by stallions who are not made eligible to this Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closer Participation will NOT be eligible for nomination to these races for the entirety of their racing careers and there is no recourse.
The list of stallions with their 2024 stud fee, resulting in the 2025 foals, and the form to make this payment are available on the web by clicking here.