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Racetracks discuss possible changes to stakes conditions

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November 17, 2008

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Although race secretaries won't hold their annual stakes scheduling meeting for a couple of weeks, on Nov. 17 executives from 12 leading harness tracks met in East Rutherford, N.J., to explore ways to keep the sport's top young stars racing at age four and beyond.

Track managers recently met to discuss amending the conditions of their marquee stakes to promote participation to horses that have been sired by stallions at least five years of age. The goal of the program is to offer fans thrilling match-ups as 3-year-old champions return to race against top older horses. The proposed changes would take effect in 2012 and impact foals born 2010 and later.

Provisions would be made for stallions with limited or no starts at three due to injury.

The exploratory committee includes representatives from the Meadowlands, Harrah�s Chester, Dover Downs, Freehold, Tioga, Vernon, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, The Meadows, Harrington, Balmoral, Maywood Park and the Delaware County Fair, home of the Little Brown Jug).

Much of what was discussed by the tracks was originally presented by racing columnist Bill Finley (�How to keep racing�s stars on the track,� June 18, 2007, ESPN.com).

Jeff Gural, who breeds and races horses and owns Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, has been lobbying for support to explore ways to keep racing's stars on the tracks.

Comments for the industry group meeting on the proposed condition changes can be sent to the group Jason Settlemoir at jsettlemoir@tiogadowns.com.

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