Effective immediately, the request submitted by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey to permit the release of purse money prior to post race testing results has been approved by the New Jersey Racing Commission.

This approval was granted on an experimental basis through December 31, 2016 and applies to all overnight races offering a purse of $25,000 or less conducted at the Meadowlands and Freehold Racetracks.

“After extensive negotiations, on what seemed to be a simple request, we have reached an agreement,” said SBOANJ President Mark Ford. “Thanks to the management at the Meadowlands, Freehold and the racing commission our members will no longer have to endure lengthy wait times before receiving their purse cheques.”

Purse cheques at Freehold and the Meadowlands will continue to go through the normal bookkeeping process and then immediately released. Cheques will be put in the mail before the post-race tests are completed. For example, all the cheques from Friday, February 12 were placed in the mail today (Friday, February 19).

This directive does not apply to horses selected for post-race testing in stakes races, overnight races in excess of $25,000 or the release of claim money prior to receipt of testing results.

(SBOANJ)