S 3621 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Reduces minimum number of annually required thoroughbred horse racing dates under certain circumstances.

This bill reduces the minimum annual thoroughbred race dates required for certain New Jersey racetracks under specific funding conditions. It lowers the current requirement of 141 dates to 25 dates if the state fails to appropriate the full $10 million purse subsidy for thoroughbred racing, or to 40 dates if the subsidy is between $5 million and $10 million. The change applies specifically to Monmouth Park and Meadowlands Racetrack (thoroughbred) and also affects standardbred tracks at Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway, which can reduce their minimum dates to 75 with association consent. The policy directly impacts racetrack operators by linking their required race schedule to the state’s funding level for horse racing purse subsidies.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee to add new provisions governing standardbred race date minimums at Meadowlands Racetrack (151 dates, reducible to 75) and Freehold Raceway (192 dates, reducible to 75), and to clarify the thoroughbred race date reduction thresholds tied to state purse subsidy funding levels. The amendments tie the number of required race dates directly to how much of the horse racing purse subsidy is actually appropriated by the State each year.

Scope change

Expanded from covering only thoroughbred race date scheduling to also establishing minimum standardbred race date requirements at Meadowlands Racetrack and Freehold Raceway, with reduction provisions tied to industry association consent.

REQUIREMENT

New provision requiring the standardbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack to schedule at least 151 standardbred race dates annually, reducible to 75 with written consent from the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.

New provision requiring the permit holders at Freehold Raceway to schedule at least 192 standardbred race dates annually, reducible to 75 with written consent from the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.

ELIGIBILITY

The thoroughbred race date reduction thresholds are now explicitly tied to specific funding levels: racetracks may reduce to 25 dates if less than $5 million of the required purse subsidy is appropriated, or to 40 dates if between $5 million and $10 million is appropriated, in addition to the existing option to reduce to 25 with written consent from the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

SCOPE

The bill's scope expanded from addressing only thoroughbred race date requirements to also covering standardbred race date minimums at two additional tracks (Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway).

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (38-1)

upper

Jun 11, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors