PlayUp and FR Park Racing End Legal Battle Over Freehold Raceway Issue

PlayUp and its former New Jersey market access partner, FR Park Racing, have come to an agreement with the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) to settle their legal dispute. The lawsuit, which centered on revenue-sharing deals and Freehold Raceway’s future, has now been resolved. This settlement puts an end to a legal fight that lasted several months.

Legal Battle Erupeds as SBOANJ Accused PlayUp, FR Park Racing of Breaching Financial Agreements

The legal fight kicked off when SBOANJ accused PlayUp and FR Park Racing of not keeping their word on money tied to sports betting profits. The horsemen’s group said PlayUp tried to move its market entry to a casino partner to dodge what it owed SBOANJ. On top of that, the lawsuit claimed FR Park Racing did not take care of Freehold Raceway as it should have and tried to close down the old track sooner than planned, cutting off a key spot for New Jersey’s racing scene.

The legal battle attracted more notice after PlayUp stopped working in New Jersey in July 2023. This happened because the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement could not get the needed financial information from the company. The fight got worse in September 2024 when FR Park Racing said it would shut down Freehold Raceway by December 28, half a year before its deal to run the place was supposed to end. SBOANJ saw this as a way to dodge paying what they owed and took them to court to stop the early closing.

PlayUp Settlement Ends Lawsuit, But Concerns Remain for New Jersey Horse Racing

During the court case, PlayUp tried to get the lawsuit thrown out. They claimed SBOANJ was not involved in the deal between PlayUp and FR Park Racing, so they could not ask for money. However, the fight over sports betting money stayed at the heart of the argument. SBOANJ wanted to make sure the Standardbred racing industry in New Jersey kept getting financial help.

Now that the settlement is in place, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey has closed the case. The parties have 60 days to finalize the agreement.

After this period, the court will dismiss the case with prejudice. If the parties do not execute the settlement within this timeframe, either side can ask to reopen the case.

The parties have not revealed the specific terms of the settlement. Still, this resolution marks a shift in the ongoing dispute over Freehold Raceway and how it affects the state’s racing industry. Yet, people still worry about whether Standardbred racing in New Jersey can survive in the long run. This concern grows as big industry players focus more on sports betting and other gambling ventures.