For the second time is six weeks, Freehold Raceway will be raising its purses, bringing the total increase to 60 percent. The new purse structure, announced by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) and Freehold Raceway, goes into effect today (March 31) and will reflect a 30 percent increase since the first purse adjustment was made on Feb. 19, bringing the total to 60 percent.
For example, a $10,000 claimer that was racing for a $3,800 purse at the start of the year increased to $4,900 on Feb. 19 and will now grow to $6,000 with the new increase.
“We are very pleased to announce another purse increase for the Freehold horsemen,” said Karen Fagliarone, Freehold’s director of racing. “With this added money, we are hopeful that our racing fans around the country will appreciate the better quality of racing that this purse increase will create.”
Funding for the purse increases came from the $4.8 million allocation from the Purse Enhancement Agreement (PEA).
“It is gratifying that our negotiations on behalf of our Freehold-based horsemen yielded these comprehensive purse increases,” said Tom Luchenton, president of the SBOANJ. “The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which is administering the PEA bankroll, was gracious enough to listen to our request and dedicate these funds for Freehold.”