Freehold Raceway announced Tuesday that effective January 2, overnight purses will be reduced 25 percent across the board. Stakes races scheduled to begin in March would not be affected. “This unfortunate and dramatic reduction is a combination of a continued decline in wagering handle and an ongoing overpayment of purses for several months,” said general manager Donald Codey, Jr. “We are continuing to try to resolve the issues surrounding the Purse Enhancement Agreement (PEA) and have offered suggestions to both the NJSEA and Casino Association of NJ. Freehold Raceway has been ready and willing to sign the agreement if the terms remained consistent with the prior agreement which included site specific restrictions on expanded gaming and not locking in any parent company to the agreement. Resolving those items and unlocking the PEA funding would be a cushion to those purse reductions currently being put in place.”
In November the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey requested that the New Jersey Racing Commission, meeting on Nov. 19 to award 2009 racing dates, withhold action on Freehold’s request until arrangements could be made to work out a way for Freehold to receive $6.5 million in casino supplement funds, including $1.6 million for November through January. The commission, however, approved the dates for Freehold as well as the other tracks.
After the commissioners voted, SBOA/NJ president Tom Luchento told the overflow crowd that the $6.5 million in supplement money allocated for Freehold’s purses might as well be given to the Meadowlands. “Based on what you have done, you might as well give the casino purse supplement money that we’ve been trying to get for Freehold to the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority for the Meadowlands,” Luchento said. The entire Monmouth County legislative delegation – four state senators [Jennifer Beck, Joseph Kyrillos Jr., Sean Kean and Robert Singer] and eight assembly members [David Rible, Declan O’Scanlon, Samuel Thompson, Joseph Malone III, Ronald Dancer, Caroline Casagrande, Mary Pat Angelini and Amy Handlin]– co-signed a letter the previous day, calling on the NJRC to withhold the dates to pressure Freehold’s ownership – Greenwood Racing, the partnership of Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing – to accept the purse funding. Freehold/Greenwood has balked at signing the agreement because of restrictions related to the pursuit of other forms of gaming while the tracks are accepting the casino supplement. Freehold’s 192 dates are from January 1 through June 6 [99 dates] and August 1 through December 31 [93 dates]. Freehold Raceway is open for live racing Tuesday through Saturday with first race post of 12:30 p.m. Simulcasting is offered seven days/nights a week.
|
Home :: News Archive :: Racing Reports :: Sale Reports :: Calendars :: Guide Directory :: Contact The Staff
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair World Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2012 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair World Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2012 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved