by Chris Castens, NJSS Executive Director
Trenton, NJ — The Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Sire Stakes has established a new purse structure for the upcoming Premier Division season which is based upon the number of entrants in a race.
Legs will be contested for $20,000 if there are eight or more entries, regardless of age, sex, or gait. If fewer than eight horses enter a leg, the purse will be $15,000, again regardless of age, sex, or gait.
Premier Division finals will carry a purse of $75,000 if there are less than eight entries and $125,000 in the event eight or more horses are entered in a final race.
“The Board has chosen to place its available resources to the classes that will have the most participation,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Mike Gulotta. “The 2-year-old trotting divisions account for approximately 74 percent of all of the eligible horses while some of the other divisions have only a handful of horses eligible. The Board has decided to devote the available purse money to the divisions that will have the most participation.”
The 3-year-old Premier Division season will begin at The Meadowlands on Friday (May 18) while the 2-year-old season will commence on Friday (June 29).
The Board of Trustees has also announced revisions to the purse estimates for the Standardbred Development Fund races to be raced this fall at Freehold Raceway. All legs will be contested for $7,500. All finals for both 2- and 3-year-olds will carry a purse of $50,000.
The schedule of dates for all Sire Stakes races, as well as other pertinent information, can be found at www.newjerseysirestakes.com.