The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey, in an effort to provide Freehold Raceway additional time to resolve an impasse over a $1.6 million purse subsidy, has notified the track that it has until November 5 to reach a solution.

In a letter sent to Freehold on October 31, the SBOANJ noted that the group, which represents the harness horsemen of the state, "wants to cooperate in every way to end the impasse and to get urgently needed monies which are due to the horsemen racing at Freehold."

The funding of more than $1.6 million from the Purse Enhancement Agreement with the Atlantic City casinos would benefit the Freehold purses for November 2008 through January 2009. Thus far, Freehold and its parent company, Pennwood Racing, have refused to accept the Casino Purse Supplement Agreement.

Freehold's proposals to resolve the matter "would be acceptable to the SBOA… [but] it is our understanding that they have been rejected by the signatories to the Purse Enhancement Agreement," said the letter to Freehold president and general manager Donald R. Codey Jr.

"We still have hope for a settlement and will delay pursuing other actions until Wednesday morning, November 5," said SBOANJ president Tom Luchento. "If there is not a solution by that time, we fully intend to utilize all the options available to us."

(SBOANJ)