Meadowlands: 18-race cards planned for June 19 and 20

Foiled in attempt to expand to a three-day-per-week schedule, The Meadowlands will add five more races each to the Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20 cards to help get more horses raced.

The process for the NJRC to grant an additional card is too time consuming to address the immediate problem. So, beginning next weekend, until Pennsylvania gets open, both Friday and Saturday will have 18-race cards, resulting in an additional 10 races. To stay close to the budgeted purse account will require a 20% reduction from current levels, excluding the planned three 12-horse races per night, which will see 10% trimmed from their purse. Purses will return to previous levels upon returning to the normal number of races.

The added races should provide a better opportunity for horsemen to get their 3-year-olds going in anticipation of upcoming stakes.

“We have to cut purses during these expanded cards, but will restore them after that and not cut any future dates,” said Meadowlands President Jeff Gural about the plan. “I’m trying to do something to help. This is a disaster and PA closed really hurt.”

Post time will be moved up to 6:00PM for the giant sized programs.

-edited release (Meadowlands)