NJ breeders, riders work out a day deal
Linda Dougherty- February 2, 2026
The crisis has been averted – at least for now.
On Jan. 22, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey (TBANJ) announced it had reached a compromise with Darby Development, which operates the track for the equestrian group, on an amended bill regarding the minimum number of required live racing dates at Monmouth Park.
The amended bill will be introduced during the next legislative session. Both sides agree that the minimum number of dates cannot be reduced to 25 unless Monmouth does not receive the $10 million state grant. If the subsidy is reduced to $5 million, the minimum number of dates can be reduced to 40. The subsidy, available since 2019, is already valid for 2026.
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Previously, Darby had supported bills introduced Jan. 2 in both the Assembly and Senate that would allow, with written consent from riders, to reduce race dates from 50 to 25 in the event of economic necessity. However, neither bill was voted on, and neither was reintroduced.
Had the legislation been passed, the TBANJ believed it would be the death knell for the thoroughbred industry as a 25 day meeting would have no economic benefit to those who choose to foal their mares in the state.
The number of racing days in New Jersey reached nearly 150 in the late 2000s before suddenly declining.
A reduction to 25 dates “would effectively eliminate the foundation needed to sustain thoroughbred breeding in New Jersey,” Michael Campbell, executive director of TBANJ, wrote in a letter to members earlier this month.
Between 2005 and 2024, the number of New Jersey foals born fell from 344 to just 83. The stallion population has also been depleted and in 2025 the three stallions in New Jersey bred only 33 mares.
Rory Huston, president of the TBANJ, said the organization would work “along with Darby Development and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association to pursue additional revenue streams to strengthen the wallet and expand the New Jersey bred incentive program.”
Live racing in the Garden State has been approved for 60 dates this year, with Monmouth Park in Oceanport hosting 50 dates, Meadowlands in East Rutherford having nine all-turf cards and one in Far Hills.
Even with the current number of dates, riders will have to look elsewhere to race their horses once the Jersey season is over. Most head south to Florida, west to Parx Racing, or north to New York.
At one point, 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 the Meadowlands is a far cry from when the East Rutherford oval presented a robust season “under the lights” in the fall.
“I’m not optimistic about where Jersey racing is going, but I have a lot of confidence in Dennis Drazin,” said 73-year-old trainer Tim Hills, who has been on the Florida-Jersey circuit for decades and sits on the board of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “He has been a great leader and I believe he is doing his best for Monmouth Park.”
Drazin, Darby’s chairman and CEO, 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 venue into an entertainment destination to complement horse racing. He signed deals with FOX Sports to broadcast the Monmouth races, and with NYRA Bets for sponsorship and betting opportunities for Jersey customers on both Monmouth and NYRA action. A new 16,000-square-foot Caesars Sportsbook at Monmouth Park, in partnership with longtime partner Caesars Entertainment, recently opened on the clubhouse side of the property.
Most recently, Drazin collaborated with Global Tote on a new multi-state Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) platform called MonmouthBets.
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