New Jersey Keeps Status Quo of 60 Dates for '26
By T. D. Thornton
The New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday approved a 2026 Thoroughbred schedule of 50 spring/summer dates at Monmouth Park and nine for an all-turf autumn meet at the Meadowlands, mirroring the state's allotment of racing days in 2025.
A one-day steeplechase license for Far Hills in '26 is expected to be okayed by the commission at a subsequent date upon completion of local approvals.
The exact opening and closing dates for the meets were not discussed at the Nov. 18 meeting.
In the post-pandemic era, New Jersey's Thoroughbred dates allotments (based on dates awarded by the commission and not actual racing days conducted) have looked like this:
2021: Monmouth 56 dates; Meadowlands seven.
2022: Monmouth 60 dates; Meadowlands 11.
2023: Monmouth 51 dates; Meadowlands 10.
2024: Monmouth 51 dates; Meadowlands 10.
2025: Monmouth 50 dates; Meadowlands nine.