The commission approved the race course's schedule - April 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30 and May 1 - unanimously.

Commissioner James G. Aaron was the only commissioner to comment on the approval, saying that, last year, he fully intended to disapprove anything but a 20-day racing schedule at the track.

However, he said, that was before the economy tanked, creating concerns about race track employees who would lose their jobs.

The commission's vote - held in a small, stuffy, windowless meeting room packed with people supporting the race course - prompted a solo clap from someone in the room. Outside the room, race course President Maureen Gallagher Bugdon hugged supporters.

Bugdon said attendance at the course's meets during the passed several years is proof that the track can make a comeback. She said the track already has undergone some upgrades, and told the commissioners that the race course will sink every bit of profit it made this year into further improvements.

"We have not left a stone unturned," she said.

The racing commission warned race course officials when it approved the 6-day racing schedule for 2008 that it wouldn't tolerate anything less than a 20-day meet in 2009. Race course operators said they wanted to run longer meets, but only if they got some of the $90 million.

Atlantic City 's casinos are paying that money over a three-year period to keep video-lottery terminals out of New Jersey 's horse-racing tracks by funding bigger purses at Monmouth Park , the Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway. The previous casino-funded pot totaled $86 million over four years.

Atlantic City Race Course was never part of that agreement.

The race course's attempt to get some of that cash was stymied in part the horsemen's association, which contended the pot was too small to begin with and that reopening the agreement would have more racing organizations scrambling for part of the money.

Association attorney Dennis Drazin told the commission Wednesday that it stopped opposing the track's 6-day race schedule request because the track agreed to stop asking for some of the money and to help bolster the sport in southern New Jersey.

"We're all in this game together," he said.

Bugdon said the commission's approval is good news for the track's full-time staff of about 75 people.

It's also a relief to Hamilton Township officials, who were worried about what would happen to the property.

Township officials were concerned mostly about potential residential development at the approximately 250-acre site, saying it could strain local resources and require construction of new schools.

E-mail Thomas Barlas:

TBarlas@pressofac.com

N.J. tracks

The state's four horse-racing tracks include:

n Atlantic City Race Course, Hamilton Township.

n Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford.

n Freehold Raceway, Freehold.

n Monmouth Park, Oceanport.

The agreement

An agreement reached Tuesday between Atlantic City Race Course, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and the state, and which was detailed for the New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday, stipulates the track will:

n Stop asking for part of a $90 million pot of casino money used to bolster purses at New Jersey race tracks.

n Develop a new financial plan.

n Find ways to upgrade facilities such as the grandstand and stable areas.

n Seek new sources of revenue.

n Back the opening of new off-track betting parlors, possibly near the race course and in either Wildwood or Middle Township.