NJ Breeders, Darby Development Have Reached a Compromise on Monmouth Dates Situation

[Wandering Eyes]

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey (TBANJ) has announced that it has reached an agreement with Darby Development, the management company that oversees operations at Monmouth Park, that should end what had been a stalemate concerning future racing dates at the seaside track.

In a statement released Wednesday, the TBANJ said it was supporting “an amended bill that protects Thoroughbred racing and breeding in New Jersey.”

With the possibility that a $10-million subsidy that had been used to enhance purses at Monmouth Park might not be available in the future, Darby Development, which is led by Dennis Drazin, backed a proposed bill that would allow Monmouth to reduce its annual racing schedule to just 25 dates, if it saw the need to conduct a shorter meet. Monmouth normally runs a 50-day meet, which does not include nine days of all-turf racing at the Meadowlands.

The breeders came out in opposition to the bill and said that if it passed and if the meet did end up being cut to 25 days, it would effectively destroy the New Jersey breeding program.

The amended bill, which will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session, will require Monmouth to stick to a 50-day schedule as long as the $10-million subsidy continues. If the purse subsidy is reduced to $5 million, the minimum number of dates can be reduced to 40.

The subsidy is already in the state budget for 2026, but there have been no guarantees made for 2027.

The subsidy would not have been possible without the support of Governor Phil Murphy. Murphy, who served two terms, has been replaced by Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who took office Tuesday. Sherrill has not taken a position on the purse subsidy as of yet.

“The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey will continue to work in lockstep with Darby Development and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to pursue additional revenue streams to strengthen purses and expand the New Jersey-bred incentive program,” said Rory Huston, the president of the TBANJ. “We are committed to defending an industry that generates a $780 million economic impact statewide and supports thousands of jobs across the Garden State.”

TBANJ Executive Director Michael Campbell scolded those who have been posting negative comments about Drazin on social media.

“There have been far too many negative and unfounded comments on social media over the past two weeks regarding Dennis Drazin, head of Darby Development,” he said. “Those claims are simply untrue and need to stop. Without Dennis's commitment to securing the future of Monmouth Park and bringing new revenue to an industry operating in one of the few states without casino gaming or Historical Racing machines to support purses, New Jersey's equine industry would be in far worse shape today.”

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