New Look for Kindergarten Series in 2025

East Rutherford, NJ – The Kindergarten series has a fresh look for 2025.

Originally conceived to assure races for 2-year-olds that are not top horses or getting started a bit later than others, the purse for the finals had risen to the point that the quality of the horses competing gradually eclipsed that level.

Also, The Meadowlands continuing to race live after the Hambletonian through mid September in ’25 provided options to stretch the legs over a longer period.

The 2025 finals have been set at $125,000 Guaranteed, which means they will be raced for exactly that amount. The possibility for a consolation still exists.

The revenue from payments that had been included in the finals purse has been redistributed over the legs thus the purse for each has been increased to $25,000. The five legs will be spread over four months with the finals on November 1.

These revisions should assure nominators races for 2-year-olds that need starts be it getting started, between stakes or to try and level up to the various Grand Circuit stakes, without having to be concerned about finding a spot or facing older horses.

This schedule also blends nicely with the NJSS and NJSDF stakes that have previously been raced at Freehold to provide a stakes opportunity virtually every week from July 4 through November 22 (aside from the six weeks thoroughbred racing takes over) for those that stay home and race.

All stakes information on the 2025 season at The Meadowlands is available on the website.

The Kindergarten schedule is provided here.

by Nick Salvi, for The Meadowlands