“This
agreement is something that benefits both Freehold Raceway and the horsemen who
race in New Jersey,” said Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New
Jersey President Tom Luchento. “This new preference system should not
discourage out-of-staters from entering. But it does give those with a
history of supporting Freehold and those with connections to New Jersey some
assurances that they will have a better chance to race. This is something
that both the track and the horsemen agree is important. We have worked
hard to make this as equitable as possible.”
“We
understand at this time of year there is a rare overabundance of racehorses in
this region, and we want to ensure that we can give those individuals who have
continued to support our racing program and the overall New Jersey harness
racing program first priority in our races,” said Freehold Raceway General
Manager Howard Bruno.
The
First Preference is for horses that are New Jersey-sired, New Jersey-owned and
New Jersey-trained [defined as a horseperson with a current New Jersey address
on his/her New Jersey Racing Commission license, where that trainer has started
15 or more times at Freehold from August 30, 2012 to December 31, 2012].
A mutually agreeable date range will be set for the fall of 2013, winter of
2014 and fall 2014 racing seasons.
A
horse/individual would have to meet only one of the First Preference criteria,
not all three, in order to qualify for a preference. Freehold and the
Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey would agree in
advance on the horsemen qualifying under this criteria, based on the official
statistics compiled by Freehold Raceway.
The
Second Preference would apply to horses who have made two of their previous
three pari-mutuel starts at Freehold.
If
a race is oversubscribed with horses meeting the First Preference, starters
will be determined by the Second Preference criteria. Horses not drawing
into the race who met the First Preference criteria will receive a “star” and
given preference if entered back in a similar class.
Freehold
will continue to write New Jersey-owned and New Jersey-sired classes [NJSO],
using the new preference system. If designated NJOS races close as
written on the condition sheet, they will receive a 25 percent bump in the
purse.
For
races with purses of $5,001 or higher, preference will go to horses who have
had two of their previous three pari-mutuel starts at Freehold.
The
changes go into effect January 1 to April 1 and November 1 to December 31 in
both 2013 and 2014. The draw for the January 3, 2013 opening day program
will take place on December 31, 2012.
--Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
