Trenton, NJ — New Jersey’s two Standardbred tracks were awarded a total of 175 racing dates for 2022 under action taken by the New Jersey Racing Commission at its meeting Nov. 17. The schedules are similar to those of 2021.

New Meadowlands was granted 90 programs over three periods: 65 dates from Jan. 7-Aug. 6, seven dates in September, and 18 dates from Nov. 4-Dec. 31. It’s the same number of days Meadowlands applied for in 2021.

First post time throughout the year will be 6:20 p.m. with the exception of a noon first post for Hambletonian Day, Aug. 6. The track plans to offer 11 to 13 races on Fridays and Saturdays and nine to 11 on Thursday evenings, according to the NJRC.

Freehold Raceway will offer 85 programs, three more than 2021. The track was awarded 47 cards from Jan. 1-May 28 and 38 programs from Aug. 26-Dec. 31.

For the winter/spring meet, Freehold plans a first post of 12:30 p.m. with live racing Thursday, Friday and Saturday in January and Friday and Saturday for the remainder of the meet.

Monmouth Park, operated by Darby Development, was approved for 72 Thoroughbred programs, up nine from 2021. The request includes 11 programs of turf racing only at Meadowlands from Sept. 23-Oct. 29.

In other business, the NJRC approved disbursement of $184,505 from the Casino Simulcasting Special Fund, which was created years ago to compensate the state’s racetracks from wagering declines created by the full-card simulcasting at Atlantic City casinos. At one time the annual fund was in the millions of dollars, but now only one casino — Borgata — has a race book.

A NJRC committee reviewed the applications from each track and made recommendations approved by the full commission, with 80 percent reserved for the tracks and 20 percent for the Standardbred Breeders Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey.

The three tracks will each receive $49,201 from a total of $147,604. The SBOANJ will get $18,450 on the harness side while the NJTHA and TBANJ will each receive $9,225. The money is used for things such as dental and vision benefits, health clinics, and aftercare programs. Both breeds also will share $197,000 for backstretch benevolence in 2022 under the Backstretch Advisory Committee budget.

The NJRC at the request of Meadowlands and Freehold also approved an extension of the waiver of a rule to allow for the uncoupling of horses with common owners or trainers for pari-mutuel wagering purposes in 2022. The waiver was granted from 2019-2021, with permanent language now being developed for consideration in early 2022.