Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

NJ gets 343 Harness Dates in 2008

December 2, 2007

The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway will offer a combined 343 Standardbred racing dates in 2008. The schedule of 192 dates at Freehold and 151 dates at the Meadowlands was approved by the New Jersey Racing Commission at its November meeting in Trenton. The Meadowlands will host 133 dates, starting on January 2 and concluding on Hambletonian Day, August 2, plus another 18 dates for its Holiday Meet (November 21 to December 27).

The Meadowlands will be closed for live racing on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays in January; Mondays and Tuesdays in February and March (additional dark days on February 3, March 23 and March 30) and on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays in April through July with the exceptions of May 11, June 15 and May 26.

The Holiday Meet at the Meadowlands will feature two weekends in November (November 21-22 and 28-29) as well as the 14 dates in December -- 3-6, 10-13, 17-20 and 26-27.

Freehold’s January 1 to June 14 meet features 102 programs. There will be no racing on Sundays and Mondays in January and February (except January 21 and February 18), plus dark days on January 2, January 22, February 19 and February 26. From March through May, Freehold will be dark on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays (except Memorial Day, May 26) plus May 27.

During Freehold’s 90-date meet from August 7 through December 31, there will be no racing on Sundays and Mondays in August and September (except September 1), with additional dark days on September 2 and September 30. In October through December, the track will be closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays (except on October 13, November 4, November 11 and December 30). Additional dark days will be November 5, 12 and 27, and December 24-25