by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — The New Jersey Racing Commission today approved a request by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to amend their 2010 racing calendar.

The Commission approved a request to drop all Wednesday dates in March, effective March 17. Additionally, they approved the cancellation of Sunday dates starting March 21 but excluding Mother’s Day, May 9. They also approved cancellation of a Memorial Day (May 31) card.

It is expected that those nine days will be rescheduled in October and November, to be conducted in place of the Thoroughbred meeting that has been traditionally held at that time.

The NJSEA is seeking legislative approval to create a 71 day Thoroughbred meet at the Authority’s Monmouth Park. That meet would consist of two parts — one 50 day meet with gross purses totaling $1 million a day and a 21 day meet offering about $250,000 in purses, geared more toward “racing opportunities for our local horsemen,” according to a written request by NJSEA Senior Vice President for Racing Lennon Register.

Register noted that he is optimistic that the 50 day, million dollar a day meet may, “compete with Keeneland and Saratoga” in regard to grabbing the attention of the Thoroughbred racing world.

Legislative approval to amend the Thoroughbred meet from the existing 141 dates at two tracks, to the proposed 71, with no racing at the Meadowlands, has not yet been granted and if it is not, the Authority will reschedule the intended fall Standardbred days to summer months.