East Rutherford, NJ–The Meadowlands will add Graduate divisions for 4-year-old mares to be raced as companion stakes to the existing Graduate Series in 2022.

“The mare races will be a welcome addition to the Graduate,” said Meadowlands president Jeff Gural. “The idea has always been to provide transitional stakes for the 4-year-olds to race their own age for the first half of the season then move on to the open stakes for the second half of the year.

“There are some great pacing fillies that are supposed to be coming back to race next year and a few top trotting fillies. What’s been missing is that opportunity for mares and now we’re in a position to be able to fund them. Maybe these races will help keep them all racing.

“Woodbine at Mohawk Park has partnered in the Graduate with us previously, before COVID. They’re taking a Graduate leg for 2022 and considering joining us in providing mare divisions.”

Details will be made available soon.