The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey has successfully negotiated a $400,000 purse enhancement for the 2009 New Jersey Sire Stakes events at the Meadowlands.

The additional funding will be applied to the preliminary legs of the New Jersey Sire Stakes. This year's finals were already increased to $200,000, up from $175,000 in 2008, according to a press release from the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (SBOANJ).

SBOANJ President Tom Luchento said in the press release, "The $400,000 lifts the total New Jersey Sire Stakes distribution at the Meadowlands to an estimated $3.5 million."

The additional funding for the events comes from the purse enhancement agreement the state's horse racing industry made with the casino industry last year. The casinos agreed to pay the state's racetracks $90 million over three years in return for banning the use of video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the tracks during that time. The funding would help the state's horseracing industry to maintain purse levels and to keep New Jersey's $1.1 billion horse industry viable in the face of increased competition from neighboring states, which already have slots at their racetracks.

The state's horsemen had already dedicated $1.25 million of the purse enhancement agreement funds to the 2009 New Jersey Sire Stakes events at both Freehold Raceway in Freehold and the Meadowlands.

Luchento said the SBOANJ felt it was important to further enrich the New Jersey Sire Stakes purses as well as the overnight program.

"The New Jersey Sire Stakes program continues to be one of the most attractive options for owners and trainers and offers highly competitive and exciting races for the fans," Luchento, who spearheaded the negotiations, said. "The fact is these are showcases for some of the best young horses in training and a springboard for Meadowlands Pace and Hambletonian winners as well as divisional champions. We want to continue to make them a lucrative option as well. We have done so by working with the Meadowlands to infuse these additional dollars."

Up to 28 races per week at the Meadowlands will benefit from added dollars for New Jersey-owned or bred horses, which will also have preference over all other horses in gaining entry to these races.

Others may enter to fill races but will only get in if all other New Jersey horses, no matter their preference dates, have been accommodated.

"We thank the Meadowlands senior management team of Senior Vice President for Racing Lennon Register, Assistant Vice President for Racing Development and Distribution Alex Dadoyan and Director of Racing Peter Koch for their commitment to quality racing and the breeding program in New Jersey," Luchento said.

The SBOANJ negotiating team included Luchento, Leo McNamara, Edward Razzetti and Bob Boni as well as Anthony Perretti from the New Jersey Sire Stakes Board of Trustees.

The New Jersey Sire Stakes season begins the weekend of May 15 and 16 with opening leg competition for 3-year-old pacers. There will be two preliminary legs and a $200,000 final for each gait and gender category.

The 3-year-old pacing finals will take place on May 30 with the 3-year-old trotting finals sharing a night of racing with the SBOANJ-sponsored $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic and $200,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey on June 13.

For the second consecutive year, the quartet of 2-year-old finals, worth a combined $800,000, will take place on a Night of Champions, which will be on July 23 at the Meadowlands.

Due to the Meadowlands extending its season later into August, the 2-year-olds will also have a later date for their finals than in past years, which could increase participation.