Purse boost for Hambo

The Meadowlands has released a stakes schedule for 2005 worth more than $24 million, including the richest edition of the Hambletonian, with a final guaranteed at $1.5 million. In 2005, both the Hambletonian and its filly companion race, the Hambletonian Oaks, will undergo their first guaranteed purse increase since 1983, when the open division grew to a $1 million final, and in 1997, when the Oaks reached $500,000 for the final.



The 2005 edition of the trotting classic will take place on Saturday, Aug. 6, with a purse of $1.5 million for the final and $200,000 for each of the eliminations on July 30. The filly division will offer a final worth $750,000 and eliminations of $100,000 each.



The 80th edition of the Hambletonian will be the 25th at the Meadowlands, which has a contract with the Hambletonian Society to host the race until 2009.



The track's signature event, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds, will take place on Saturday, July 16.



"There is a lot of enthusiasm building for the 2005 meet," said Meadowlands Vice President and General Manager Chris McErlean. "Purses are rising and our commitment to hosting the sport's biggest events has grown as well. The expectation is that the best and brightest in the sport will compete at the Meadowlands, and this year should be no exception."



A change in conditions in 2005 permits the winners of elimination races for major stakes to select their post position.



Additionally, winners of the Meadowlands showcase events for free-for-all trotters--the $100,000 Su Mac Lad on April 10, $180,000 Arthur J. Cutler on May 21 and $240,000 Titan Cup on July 2--will receive automatic invitations to the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational on Aug. 6. Two of the last three Nat Ray winners (Victory Tilly in 2002 and Revenue S in 2004) were top trotters from Europe.



The winner of the Inter-Dominion, representing Australia and New Zealand, will receive an invitation to the $350,000 US Pacing Championship, also on Aug. 6.



The finals for the Classic Series, a quartet of stakes each worth $250,000, will take place at the Meadowlands on July 30, sharing the twilight program with the eliminations for both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks.



The Meadowlands stakes schedule includes 182 events, including 166 worth $19,668,000 during the traditional meet that runs from Jan. 7 through Aug. 6.

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