The Breeders’ Cup organization and the owner of the Molly Pitcher Inn and Oyster Point hotels reached a courthouse deal yesterday on hotel rates during this weekend’s races at Monmouth Park, the Asbury Park Press reports.

A dispute had arisen over 95 rooms reserved by the organization two years ago at the Red Bank hotels, which are jointly owned. According to the Press, the hotels had originally agreed to charge $165 per night. But when the horsemen started arriving this week for the big event, the hotels claimed the rate was now $499.

From the article:

When Breeders’ Cup officials contacted George Decker, the comptroller for the hotels, he told them the hotels could not guarantee the rate of $165 because the Breeders’ Cup had not specified the names of the guests.

According to the Breeders’ Cup officials, Decker called them on Sept. 26 and said they could only guarantee rooms at rates of $299, $399, $499, $599 or $699 a night, depending on the type of room.

The Breeders’ Cup then hired the Red Bank law firm of Drazin and Warshaw, and the complaint was filed.

“I guess the hotel didn’t understand what the Breeders’ Cup was two years ago,” said attorney Dennis Drazin.

The matter was hashed out in state Superior Court in Freehold with the hotels agreeing to charge a flat $250 per room for guests covered by the contract, the Press reports.

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