Columbus, OH — In a story posted on Thursday (Jan. 18), Thoroughbred Daily News reported that “A bill that would have extended annual purse subsidy payments made to New Jersey’s Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks was vetoed Wednesday by Gov. Phil Murphy.

NJ Governor Phil Murphy. Mark Makela/Getty Images photo.

“The bill called for the $20 million subsidy, which is split between the two breeds, to continue through 2029. The money has already been approved for 2024. The extension was to run from 2025 through 2029.”

In the story, author Bill Finley reports that “Murphy’s decision came as a major surprise since he has largely supported racing during his time in office and the bill had overwhelming support in the Senate and in the Assembly. It passed the Senate by a 35-1 margin and the Assembly by a 73-0 margin.”

In an interview, Dennis Drazin, the chairman and CEO of Darby Development, the management team that operates the Thoroughbred track Monmouth Park told Finley that he spoke with Gov. Murphy after hearing the news.

“I spoke with him and he wholeheartedly supports the industry, but he did not feel a bill like this should get passed through a lame-duck session,” Drazin said. “He is committed to continue to work on it and get it done through the budget process. I take him at his word. He has been supportive of the industry ever since he’s been in office and he says he will get it done, just not the way it was being handled.”

To read the complete story on Thoroughbred Daily News, click here.