by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ
MANALAPAN,
NJ -- August 24, 2015 – Live racing returns to New Jersey’s Freehold Raceway on
Friday, September 4, 2015.
The
44-day meet continues through December 12, 2015. Racing will take place
on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays [plus a holiday program on Labor Day,
Monday, September 7]. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
Pre-meet
qualifiers will take place on Friday, August 28 with the box closing at 10 a.m.
on Thursday, August 27.
The
initial draw schedule is Tuesday, September 1 for Friday, September 4;
Wednesday, September 2 for Saturday, September 5 and Thursday, September 3 for
Monday, September 7 [Labor Day]. Declarations are due at 9 a.m. for each
draw.
The
standard draw schedule for the balance of the meet is Saturday for Thursday,
Tuesday for Friday and Wednesday for Saturday.
Opening
Day features the first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres for
two-year-old pacing fillies and eliminations for the Helen Smith for
three-year-old trotting fillies.
The
Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey is the sponsor of
the Helen Smith [September 11], Charles Smith for three-year-old trotting colts
[September 17], Harold Dancer for two-year-old trotting colts [September 17],
Marion Dancer for two-year-old trotting fillies [October 9] and a quartet of
New Jersey Futurity stakes [September 26, October 16, October 23 and October 24].
All are restricted to New Jersey-sired horses.
The
Lou Babic Finals for two-year-old pacers on September 26 are part of the New
Jersey Sire Stakes program along with the Green Acres events, which will
featured three preliminary legs and a final for each genders two and
three-year-olds on the trot and pace. All the $25,000 finals are in
October.
Overnight
purses will average $40,000 per day, according to Freehold General Manager
Howard Bruno.
Special
events include a free t-shirt with a paid Freehold live program, while supplies
last, on Opening Day. On Labor Day, there is a free cap with paid
Freehold live program, while supplies last; 50-cent hot dogs and 50-cent sodas
and drawings for season parking passes.
The
Fourth Annual Open Space Pace, featuring a parade of horses, petting zoo,
exhibitions, food trucks and live music, will take place on Saturday, September
19, 2015.
