by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Freehold Raceway returns to live action on September 1, for a 41-day fall/winter meet that runs through December 17. Post time is 12:30 p.m.

In September and October, racing will be three days a week (Thursday through Saturday) and drop to a Fridays and Saturdays only schedule in November and December. The exception is being opened on Labor Day (September 5) and closed on September 8.

On September 1, there will be a free t-shirt giveaway with the purchase of a Freehold program and a special Renaissance Dining Room opening day buffet for $12.95.

The fall stakes schedule beings on opening day with the eliminations for the $70,000 (est.) Helen Smith (3-year-old filly trot), $80,000 (est.) Charles Smith (3-year-old colt trot), the $60,000 (est.) Harold Dancer (2-year-old colt trot) and the $58,000 (est.) Marion Dancer (2-year-old filly trot). The Smith and Dancer stakes, sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey, have their finals carded on September 9.

The $100,000 (est.) Babic Colt and $60,000 (est.) Babic Filly for 2-year-old pacers will take place on September 10 with eliminations on September 3.

Standardbreds will be in the spotlight in a quartet of New Jersey Futurity events with purses estimated at $50,000 to $60,000. The 3-year-old trot is on October 7, the 2-year-old trot is on October 14 and both the 2- and 3-year-old paces are on October 15.

With the transfer of the Cane Pace and Shady Daisy to Tioga Downs, all the Freehold stakes this fall are focused on New Jersey-sired horses, including a full menu of the Green Acres division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes which begin on Labor Day. Each age and gait will have three preliminary legs, leading up to $25,000 (est.) finals, the first of which will be for the 3-year-old pacing fillies on September 30.

Finals for the 3-year-old colt pacers (October 1), 2-year-old filly trotters (October 6), 2-year-old colt trotters (October 7), 2-year-old colt and filly pacers (both October 8), 3-year-old filly trotters (October 13) and 3-year-old colt trotters (October 14) conclude the NJSS competition for the year.

The overnight purse structure will average $25,000 per day.

“We’re going into the meet with an overpayment of $500,000 due to not receiving an anticipated payment of $540,000 from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority,” said Freehold General Manager Howard Bruno. “As a result, we’ll have to scale back on overnight purses when we reopen September 1.”

Racing Secretary Karen Fagliarone has scheduled the first qualifiers for Friday, August 26, with entries due by 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 25. Qualifiers will be held on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. until further notice.

Entries for opening day, September 1, will be due on Friday, August 26. The draw for September 2 will be on August 30, for September 3 on August 31, for September 5 on September 1, for September 9 on September 6 and for September 10 on September 7. Declarations are due by 9 a.m. on each day.