Much to the chagrin of the SBOANJ, the New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday, November 19 granted Freehold Raceway 192 racing dates for 2009.

The SBOANJ had requested that the NJRC withhold action on Freehold’s '09 date request until arrangements could be made to work out a way for the track to receive $6.5 million in casino supplement funds, including $1.6 million for November through January.

The funds are part of a three-year, $90-million purse subsidy paid by the state's casino industry. The subsidy is in place to supplement purses on the condition that the state's horse racing industry does not try to secure casino-style gaming in its racing facilities. The company that owns Freehold Raceway has taken exception to some of the terms of the agreement.

"I suggest that the parties get together and settle their issues,'' the Asbury Park Press quoted NJRC commissioner James Aaron as saying.

Freehold was granted a 192-day schedule for '09, with races being run on dates between January 1 and June 6, and between August 1 and December 31.

"It's a schedule that mirrors what we ran this year,'' Donald Codey, Freehold Raceway general manager, was quoted as saying.

To read the Asbury Park Press article in its entirety, click here.

(With files from the Asbury Park Press and the SBOANJ)