Bill Text: NJ S3621 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Reduces minimum number of annually required thoroughbred horse racing dates under certain circumstances.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Engrossed) 2026-06-30 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [S3621 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S3621-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator PAUL A. SARLO
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Reduces minimum number of annually required thoroughbred horse racing dates under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on June 24, 2026, with amendments.
An Act concerning the number of race dates held annually by certain horse racing permit holders and amending P.L.2001, c.199.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1[1. Section 30 of P.L.2001, c.199 (C.5:5-156) is amended to read as follows:
30. a. The permit holder at Monmouth Park and the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack together shall schedule annually no fewer than 141 thoroughbred race dates, except that the thoroughbred permit holder may decrease the annual number of scheduled thoroughbred race dates to no fewer than [50] :
25 thoroughbred race dates, upon written consent from the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; or
25 thoroughbred race dates, in the event that the horse racing purse subsidy that is required to be allocated to the thoroughbred industry pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.36 (C.5:5-99.1) is not appropriated in the State's annual appropriations act; or
40 thoroughbred race dates, in the event that the horse racing purse subsidy allocated to the thoroughbred industry by the State's annual appropriations act is less than the amount required to be allocated to the thoroughbred industry pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.36 (C.5:5-99.1), but more than $5 million.
b. The standardbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack shall schedule annually no fewer than 151 standardbred race dates, except that the standardbred permit holder may decrease the annual number of scheduled standardbred race dates to no fewer than 75 standardbred race dates upon written consent from the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.
c. The permit holders at Freehold Raceway shall schedule annually no fewer than 192 standardbred race dates, except that the permit holders may decrease the annual number of scheduled race dates to no fewer than 75 standardbred race dates upon written consent from the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.
d. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2017, c.172)
(cf: P.L.2017, c.172, s.1)]1
11. Section 30 of P.L.2001, c.199 (C.5:5-156) is amended to read as follows:
30. a. The permit holder at Monmouth Park and the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack together shall schedule annually no fewer than 141 thoroughbred race dates, except that the thoroughbred permit holder may decrease the annual number of scheduled thoroughbred race dates to no fewer than [50] :
25 thoroughbred race dates, upon written consent from the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; or
25 thoroughbred race dates, in the event that less than $5 million of the horse racing purse subsidy that is required to be allocated to the thoroughbred industry pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.36 (C.5:5-99.1) is appropriated in the State's annual appropriations act; or
40 thoroughbred race dates, in the event that more than $5 million but less than $10 million of the horse racing subsidy that is required to be allocated to the thoroughbred industry pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.36 (C.5:5-99.1) is appropriated in the State's annual appropriations act.
b. The standardbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack shall schedule annually no fewer than 151 standardbred race dates, except that the standardbred permit holder may decrease the annual number of scheduled standardbred race dates to no fewer than 75 standardbred race dates upon written consent from the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.
c. The permit holders at Freehold Raceway shall schedule annually no fewer than 192 standardbred race dates, except that the permit holders may decrease the annual number of scheduled race dates to no fewer than 75 standardbred race dates upon written consent from the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.
d. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2017, c.172)1
(cf: P.L.2017, c.172, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
