Harness: New Jersey Assembly approves $20 million racetrack subsidy

The New Jersey Assembly on Thursday (1/31) voted to approve a $20 million purse subsidy that will benefit The Meadowlands, Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway as well as the breeding industry. The bill will now head to Governor Phil Murphy for final approval.

The final vote in the Assembly was 68 YES, 4 NO, with one person abstaining.

On the harness side, The Meadowlands is to get $6 million per year for purses and Freehold $1.6 million. A total of $1.2 million will go to the New Jersey Sire Stakes program and $600,000 each is earmarked for New Jersey-sired bonuses and breeder awards in purses.

Meadowlands owner/operator Jeff Gural was thrilled with the news when reached Thursday afternoon.

"I'm very gratified that all of the effort that went into this has come to fruition and allowed the Meadowlands to hopefully regain its position as the number one harness track in the world as far as the racing product," said Gural. "Obviously our handle has remained number one, but hopefully the industry will support and allow us to prove to the state that the money we are receiving has produced the desired result."

To view the approved bill, which includes a provision that requires the tracks to file an annual report with the New Jersey Racing Commission documenting how the purses were distributed, click here.