Bluegrass Staking: Meadowland Stallion Program Administration

As you are probably already aware, The Meadowlands has announced a campaign to bolster their purses.  The current plan is to use this stakes subsidy until casinos are approved there.  The plan has been significantly simplified since the original press release so let us acquaint you with the general picture.

Beginning with the foals of 2024 (this year’s yearlings), participation in any Meadowlands early closers and the baby races will be contingent upon:

1. The sire of the foal must be nominated on September 1, 2025, at a cost of 50% of his stud fee or a minimum of $1000
2. The foal must pay a Meadowlands Early Closer Participation premium of $400 on February 15, 2026.  This is a one-time fee and must be paid for the horse to be allowed to pay any Meadowlands Early Closer during the racing career of the horse.  It includes all races at 2, 3 and as an aged horse.

The Meadowlands is hoping for industry wide support of this initiative and believes it will boost the stakes race program purses by $500,000.

We feel it is vitally important for you to be fully aware of this plan.  Especially, if you currently have yearlings, you may want to reach out to the farms where the stallions are standing to make sure they plan to pay the Stallion Payment.  The participation of the stallion could significantly impact your yearling’s value!  Equally important, if you are a yearling buyer, please be aware of the stallions that pay into the Meadowlands Early Closer program before you buy!  This will certainly be a factor in the earning potential of the yearlings for their entire career.

If you have stallions you would like to have paid into the Meadowlands Early Closer Program, we will be happy to assist you with that free of charge.  Just email a list of your stallions by August 25 with their stud fee for the 2023 season to info@bgstaking.com.