MANALAPAN,
NJ – December 4, 2013 – Classified racing is coming to Freehold Raceway in
2014.
The
Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and Freehold
Raceway have jointly announced the change.
Designating
the conditions of races by ABC classification will go into effect with the 2014
meet that begins on January 2. Opening day entries will close on Monday, December
30, 2013 at 9 a.m.
“Our
faith in the switch to classified racing at the Meadowlands yielded fuller
fields, more competitive racing and increases in wagering,” said SBOANJ
President Tom Luchento. “We expect it will work well at Freehold.
Sometimes a change is needed to shake things up and make for better racing.”
“I
am excited for the changeover from condition racing to classified racing for
both the benefit of horsemen and the patrons,” said Freehold’s Director of
Racing Karen Fagliarone. “We will now have the ability to classify horses
based on their performance and not necessarily their earnings. This will
benefit our fan base, resulting in more wide open fields and fewer short
payouts. I will continue to write claiming races, maiden and non-winners
of three pari-mutuel races for the younger horses.”
Freehold’s
current racing season draws to a close on Saturday, December 14, 2013.
When
the track re-opens for its 2014 winter meet on January 2, it will continue with
a Thursday, Friday and Saturday live schedule through May 17.
Additionally, the track is open for live racing on two holiday Mondays -
January 20 and February 17. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
Horsemen
racing at Freehold in 2014 will need to complete an application for the
classification of their horses and return it to the Freehold Race Office by
December 27, 2013. That application is available on the Freehold
website’s Horsemen page.
-Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
