East Rutherford, NJ –  As the Grand Circuit stakes season gets underway, The Meadowlands needs the support of those in the industry who benefit most from these stakes to help cover the cost of maintaining the program at its current level by sponsoring them.

Many Grand Circuit stakes are currently sponsored by Standardbred breeders, owners, trainers and vendors. Their support is recognized and appreciated.

If you are not listed among them and would like to do your part and sponsor one of the Grand Circuit stakes, contact Jason Settlemoir at 201.460.4025. The Meadowlands needs all the sponsorship money we can raise, every penny of which goes directly into stakes purse account. None of it goes to cover the shortfall in operating costs.

The cost of maintaining the extensive and expensive stakes program must be considered.

The fact is that business-wise, The Meadowlands would benefit by reducing the purse money spent on stakes racing and increasing the purses for overnight racing. Tracks in Pennsylvania and New York choose to offer very few and spend far less on open stakes despite the tens of millions in ancillary revenue they get from gaming, a resource The Meadowlands does not have.

Re-appropriating dollars currently used for stakes to overnight racing would increase the overnight purses dramatically, bringing better horses and fuller fields to The Meadowlands which translates to higher handle, generating increased operating revenue.

As of the end of May, The Meadowlands is projected to spend a total of $32,890,292 in purse money over 88 live racing days in 2023.

To see a current list of sponsors as well as a detailed breakdown of The Meadowlands’ purses for stakes vs. overnights, revenue from wagering on racing and sports betting, click here.