Stakes schedule cut by $500,000
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The Meadowlands Racetrack has trimmed $500,000 from the stakes schedule for the upcoming meet, which gets under way Sept. 30 and runs through Nov. 12.
The Big M will offer 33 stakes races worth $2.6 million during its 30-day meet. Last year, during a 33-day meet, the track offered $3.1 million in graded and overnight stakes.
The Grade 2, $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Stakes tops the schedule. The Cup, on Oct. 7 at 1 1/8 miles, is one of four graded stakes at meet. It is the only one of the quartet that will not be reduced $50,000 from last year's level.
The other graded races, all Grade 3's, are the $250,000 Pegasus Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on opening night, and two $150,000 grass races at 1 1/16 miles - the Cliff Hanger Stakes on Oct. 14 and the Violet Handicap for fillies and mares on Oct. 21.
In October, The Meadowlands will race Tuesday afternoons at 1:10 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday nights at 7:30. In November, the track will race four days a week, Wednesday through Saturday nights.
2005 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri.,Sept. 30 | Navajo Princess Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | $60,000 |
| Fri.,Sept. 30 | Eillo Stakes | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Fri.,Sept. 30 | Pegasus Stakes (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 250,000 |
| Fri.,Sept. 30 | World Appeal Stakes | 2YO | 1 mile, 70 yds (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Salem County Stakes2 | YO F | 1 mile, 70 yds (T) | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 7 | Long Look Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 60,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 7 | Phoenix Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 7 | Bill Wheeler Handicap | 3YO & Up* | 1 mile, 70 yards | 55,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 7 | Meadowlands B.C. Stakes (G2) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 500,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 8 | Ready Jet Go | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 8 | Queen Lib Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | 55,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 14 | Cliff Hanger Stakes (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 14 | Paterson Stakes | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 55,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 14 | Comet Stakes | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 15 | King Bold Reality Stakes | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 15 | Miss Liberty Stakes | 3YO F | 1 mile, 70 yds (T) | 55,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 21 | Violet Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Fri.,Oct 21 | Bergen County Stakes | 3YO | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 22 | P.G. Johnson Stakes | 3YO F | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 22 | Holly Stakes | 2YO F | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 28 | Alysheba Stakes | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 60,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 28 | John Henry Stakes | 3YO & Up | 1 3/8 miles (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 29 | Witches' Brew Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 29 | Grey Ghost Starter Handicap | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 35,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 29 | Accordant Handicap | 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | 55,000 |
| Fri.,Nov. 4 | Thomas Edison Stakes | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Nov. 4 | New Jersey Futurity | 2YO* | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 5 | Honey Bee | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 5 | Storm Cat | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Montclair State University S. | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Fri.,Nov. 11 | Princeton Stakes | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 55,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 12 | Rutgers University Stakes | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 12 | Seton Hall | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | 55,000 |
* N.J.-bred