The management of Freehold Raceway announced today that it received approval from the New Jersey Racing Commission to amend its live racing schedule

.

Freehold will be dropping three Tuesdays in March and adding three Wednesdays in May. The dates being dropped are March 10, 17 and 24. The added dates are May 6, 13 and 20.

Freehold Raceway also announced that it has cancelled the James B. Dancer Memorial Stake No. 34 and the Helen Dancer (Filly Division) for three-year-old pacers for 2009, and terminated their ownership rights to the Freehold Stake No. 28 (Battle of Freehold for two-year-old pacers and the Molly Pitcher for two-year-old pacing fillies).

Freehold reserves the right to race the Dancer Memorials in 2010.

Also being cancelled are three races that are late closing series, the Frank Rubinetti, the Swing Back and the Windshield Wiper.

“In an effort to maintain our current purse structure, Freehold has cancelled several races on our 2009 calendar,” said Freehold racing secretary Karen Fagliarone. “We hope to be in a position to restore the Dancers and the late closing races in 2010.”

“All other previously scheduled stakes, including New Jersey Sire Stakes and Green Acres, will go on as scheduled in 2009,” added Fagliarone.

Freehold has hosted the Dancer Memorials, named for James and Helen Dancer, the parents of one of harness racing’s greatest legends, Hall of Famer Stanley Dancer, since 1976.

The Battle of Freehold and the Molly Pitcher, formerly known as the Garden State Stakes for two-year-olds, were originated by Freehold in 1983.

As provided in the racing conditions, nominators to these events will receive refunds if the events are cancelled.

For more information, contact the Freehold Raceway at 732-462-3800 or the Hambletonian Society, Inc. at 609-371-2211.

(Freehold Raceway)