NJ breeders, horsemen hammer out days agreement
Linda Dougherty
February 2, 2026
Crisis averted – for now, at least.
On January 22, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey (TBANJ) announced it had reached a compromise with Darby Development, which operates the track for the horsemen’s group, on an amended bill concerning the minimum number of required live racing dates at Monmouth Park.
The amended bill will be introduced at the next legislative session. Both sides have agreed that the minimum number of dates can’t be reduced to 25 unless Monmouth does not receive its $10 million purse subsidy from the state. Should the subsidy be reduced to $5 million, the minimum number of dates could be reduced to 40. The subsidy, available since 2019, is already in place for 2026.
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Previously, Darby had supported bills introduced in both the Assembly and Senate January 2 that would allow it to reduce, with the written consent of horsemen, racing dates from 50 to 25 in the event of economic need. Neither bill, however, was voted on, and neither was reintroduced.
Had the legislation passed, the TBANJ felt it would be a death knell for the Thoroughbred industry, as a 25-day meet would have no economic benefit to those choosing to foal their mares in the state.
The number of race days in New Jersey reached nearly 150 in the late 2000s before dropping precipitously.
A reduction to 25 dates “would effectively eliminate the foundation necessary to sustain Thoroughbred breeding in New Jersey,” wrote TBANJ executive director Michael Campbell in a letter to members earlier this month.
Between 2005 and 2024, the number of New Jersey-bred foals born plummeted from 344 to just 83. Likewise, the stallion population has also hollowed out, and in 2025, the three stallions standing in New Jersey bred just 33 mares.
Rory Huston, president of the TBANJ, said that the organization would work “in lockstep with Darby Development and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association to pursue additional revenue streams to strengthen purses and expand the New Jersey-bred incentive program.”
Live racing in the Garden State was approved for 60 dates this year, with Monmouth Park in Oceanport hosting 50, Meadowlands in East Rutherford set for nine all-turf cards, and one at Far Hills.
Even with the current number of dates, horsemen must look elsewhere to race their stock once the Jersey season ends. Most head south to Florida, west to Parx Racing, or north to New York.
At one point in time, Jersey offered a year-round circuit consisting of Monmouth Park, Meadowlands, Atlantic City and Garden State Park. But Atlantic City and Garden State are now gone, while the nine-day mini-meet at Meadowlands is a far cry from when the East Rutherford oval presented a robust season “under the lights” in the fall.
“I’m not bullish about where Jersey racing’s going, but I do have lots of faith in Dennis Drazin,” said 73-year-old trainer Tim Hills, who has plied the Florida-Jersey circuit for decades and sits on the Board of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “He’s been a great leader, and I believe he’s doing his best for Monmouth Park.”
Drazin, the chairman and CEO of Darby, is a prominent figure in the state’s racing industry. He secured the 85-year lease for Monmouth Park in 2024, with plans to transform the site into an entertainment destination to complement the horse racing. He made deals with FOX Sports to broadcast Monmouth’s races, and with NYRA Bets for sponsorship and wagering opportunities for Jersey patrons on both Monmouth and NYRA action. A new 16,000-square foot Caesars Sportsbook at Monmouth Park, in conjunction with longtime partner Caesars Entertainment, recently opened on the clubhouse side of the property.
Most recently, Drazin partnered with Global Tote in a new multi-state Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) platform called MonmouthBets.
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