A bill which would allow horsemen to sit on the New Jersey Racing Commission passed the New Jersey State Senate on Monday by a vote of 37-0, after being amended to include forcing owners and/or trainers that sit on the commission to surrender their New Jersey racing licenses.A second amendment would guarantee at least one seat on the nine-member commission to Monmouth County, home of two of the state's racetracks.

The Assembly version of the bill—identical to the Senate bill but without Monday's amendments—failed to pass the Senate last week, and it was withdrawn from consideration in the Assembly on Monday. It is expected to be changed to coincide with the amended version of the Senate bill passed on Monday and will come up for a new vote on Thursday.

If passed, the bill goes to Governor James McGreevey, who is expected to sign it. The existing commission members will remain seated until McGreevey chooses a new commission.—Howard Bass