Meadowlands Cup Tops $2.6 Million in Stakes Action at the Big M this Fall

The Meadowlands Racetrack released its 2005 stakes schedule which features 30 racing days and $2.6 million in stakes purses, highlighted by the $500,000 grade II Meadowlands Cup Oct. 7.

Four graded events complement the 33 stakes races on the calendar, which begins Sept. 30 and runs through Nov. 12.

"With the Meadowlands Cup three weeks before the Breeders' Cup we should continue our trend as a major prep race for racing's richest day," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president/racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "The entire stakes schedule should continue to draw top horses and horsemen from the region and across the country."

In addition to the Meadowlands Cup, other graded stakes on the 2005 calendar include the $250,000 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) on opening night, the $150,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes (grade III) Oct. 14 and the $150,000 Violet Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 21.

Following opening weekend Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday Oct. 1, the Meadowlands will offer live racing Tuesday through Saturday. Tuesday's post time will be 1:10 p.m., with night racing Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 7:30 p.m. Beginning in November, the Meadowlands will switch to a three-day schedule with live racing Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.