NEW JERSEY RACING: Major date cuts, Swamp closure?
 

Future of NJSEA, Meadowlands and Monmouth addressed in this recco and includes possibility ending TB racing at the Swamp and a cut of MTH down to 50 days... Fifty race days would be 10 weeks of 5 day racing or 12+ weeks of 4 day/week racing. Under the current scenario in New Jersey, 50 seems a little light and 91 too much.




Panel out to cut New Jersey races
By Matt Hegarty

http://www.drf.com/news/article/110351.html

Contending that the "status quo is not sustainable," a draft report from a committee examining the finances and future of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has recommended that Monmouth Park hold a 50-day Thoroughbred meet and that the Meadowlands cease hosting Thoroughbred races altogether.

The recommendations, if implemented, would pare the live racing schedule in New Jersey by 91 dates. The report indicates that the 2010 budget for the sports authority's racing operations estimates losses of $13 million under the current racing schedule, which, under an agreement with horsemen in the state, calls for 141 live racing dates a year through 2016.

"We encourage consideration of all the options to make horse racing self-sustaining, including consolidation of racing statewide," the report's authors wrote. "The ultimate goal is to continue to have live racing at a venue where the Sports Authority and its [offtrack betting] system can operate without a subsidy."

Separately, the report states that "without outside financial resources, the authority will be forced to discontinue racing operations in 2010."

Dennis Drazin, the former president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said the report's recommendations had "no chance" of implementation this year because of the existing contract guaranteeing racing dates. Drazin negotiated the existing contract, but he has been prohibited from carrying on any other negotiations because of his recent appointment to the New Jersey Racing Commission.

"They have a contract, they have an obligation to race those days," Drazin said. "I don't think there's any serious backing to the threat" to shut down racing at the two tracks.

No cash, no racing. This state is beyond broke. Corzine was the biggest criminial going.

Spin the bottle once again. There will be a full race calendar in NJ this year. Every time there's money problems they threaten to bulldoze the Meadowlands- instead, how about admitting what a debacle the Xanadu project has been and taking the writeoff there???

Save the Meadowlands!

BTW from what I have been told directly from NJSEA officer's directly many a retailor have been paying rent for a some time and they have little choice but to continue.. It really is a mess

Why?

Going from the JCGC to the Meadowlands is some of the best times I've had at the track. It's a fun place to go.

Hard to believe Meadowlands is at risk with the sulkies...

But I am curious what people feel about maintaining the TB meet?

Is it really a necessary set of dates? Wouldn't those horses simply gravitate to Belmont/Aqueduct and Philadelphia and help fill fields there? This is an ideal candidate for the 'less racing is better racing' discussion.

There you go!

It's ok you can go to JCGC then to Mahattan get all dolled up have a great dinner and still have a great time.. Now need for more races

I actually do agree with this theory and was more or less half joking with my "save the Meadowlands" because I've had fun at that track.

As someone who deeply loves racing it is slighty depressing that the best option may be in closing of tracks and that we can't sustain ourselves as we are.

Agree with this but it sure is a fun place for night racing. There's a lot worse tracks out there.

Go look at the next Fasig Tipton mixed sale catalog.. You will see why racing needs to contract. broodmares that have had 8 foals without any success still being bred. Yearlings from never raced mares from marginal stallions at best. They have 300 odd animals of which 200 plus shouldnt have been created IF racing was serious about policing itself.

I think it's good for people that don't have a chance to play during the day. I know I personally enjoy it. Also I think the night racing draws different people to the track. Whether it's the company parties up in the Pegasus (I know we have had plenty of them) or it a couple of college buddies hitting the track before going out on a Friday night. I just think it could be a different type of entertainment option for people looking for something different to do at night. Hopefully people will enjoy the expierence and want to come back.

50 days at MTH is too short. That wouldn't even span Memorial Day to Haskell Day, assumeing 5 race-day weeks. That short a meet would send me into a depression.

I agree.

The Meadowlands would be much better off as strictly a harness track. Run Monmouth till the middle of October and kill the rest of the dates.

but what will become of The Pegasus Stakes ?

Run it at Atlantic City on the turf in April

The Meadowlands, don't laugh, has an excellent turf course.

I find that horses that race well over the BigM turf course seem to excell everywhere there is turf

Why wouldn't it? It only get used for one month a year. The rest of the time those damn geese are fertilizing it.

Both these tracks really need to be shut down for TB racing. Until/unless they're able to offer FAIR racing, you're not going to get many players interested in what they have to offer. Even the diehard speed-freak dirt players have their limits; apparently. :rolleyes:

Too much other, more interesting/challenging racing being offered at other venues to keep these subpar tracks around just for the sake of having racing in New Jersey.

Take the lead; never look back; get a high Beyer. Right

True, just saying. Run turf only night cards on weekends.

Quality over quanitity:tro:

I don't think that they can fill 2 nights of turf races. Also I personally don't think that they need to race 5 days a week (Monmouth for that matter as well). Maybe a solution could be to race 3 days a week. Friday and Saturday night cards along with either a Monday or Tuesday afternoon card to take advantage of NY being dark.

Yep, we've got plenty here.

Remember when they ran the harness race on it?

It would be ugly if they got a bunch of rain

Ever since Garden State became a shopping mall & Atlantic City runs a 10 day meet, the state has been cut off, for live racing. Lets see go over the bridge to the pha, or Delware park & gee.. guess what...both tracks have slots. Sure the casinos have race books, but to see live racing you either have to travel out of state (which is closer ) , or travel up to middle / north jersey. Its a damm shame what has happen to Atlantic City Race Course, a wonderful place to spend a summers nite.

Nothing like Jersey cops. Look at this guy and try not to laugh.

http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.s...hoboken_s.html

I still miss Garden State. That was a great track.

I agree 100%. Grew up in South Jersey and used to go to both Garden State and Atlantic City Race Course. Now all the racing (two tracks for the fraction of the year as you well know) is in North Jersey.

I miss Garden State. I thought it was a nice facility. But you know, South Jersey can never have enough shopping malls :rolleyes:

Wow what is your next suggestion cancel online brokerage accounts and brokers and require us to show up at the exchanges to purchase stock.

That is such a bad idea on so many levels. Besides, have you ever been to the Meadowlands on a week when there is no live racing going on or even a dark night there? It rivals the Port Authority depot in the city. Let's just say that people wouldn't be rushing back.

judge for yourself


http://www.thebigm.com/sharedimages/Attendance09.pdf

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/n...tml?mode=story

•90 percent of the approximately $89 million bet through NJAW last year came on its Web site, 4NJBets.com, which has been online since 2004.
•Horse racing is the only legal form of Internet sports betting under federal laws, due to the 1961 Wire Act. Several Web sites such as YouBet.com allow bettors around the country to gamble online. However, New Jersey is one of 13 states — the only one in the Northeast — whose residents are not allowed to bet on those sites. The only site where New Jersey residents can legally bet online is 4NJBets.com.

As New Jersey Tightens Its Belt, the Racing Industry Holds Its Breath
By BILL FINLEY
Published: January 30, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/sp....html?emc=eta1

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Meadowlands Racetrack has had some of the highest-quality harness racing in the country and dozens of the sport’s most important races. But in recent years, the track has become a money-losing drain on the state of New Jersey, which now threatens its survival.

John Campbell, the leading driver in career wins and earnings at Meadowlands, said that “anybody who takes this report lightly is sadly mistaken.” Campbell said, “The governor put the committee together for a reason, and if this is what they are recommending, this is a scary situation.”

Mike Gulotta, a harness horse breeder, was the only member of the 13-member committee with ties to the racing industry, which, some critics maintain, is why the final report held out so little promise for the industry.

“The report favored what has traditionally been the casino’s position, which is nothing for horse racing,” said Barbara DeMarco, a lobbyist who represents thoroughbred owners, trainers and breeders in the state.

“Everybody understands the situation and how serious it is,” said Bob Kulina, the general manager for thoroughbred racing at Monmouth and Meadowlands. “What we have to do now is come up with some sort of solution.”

Atlantic City can not compete with Slots in Pa. NY. CT and De. and perhaps Md. soon. AC needs to funnel as much money as they can back into their core business. The whole city depends on the success of those casinos (unfortunately). The horses will find homes were there are dollars available and the drivers will go there to drive them. I really don't get the worry unless your John Cambell and dont feel like moving your family etc. As for the beautiful Monmouth, They can develop a wonderful short boutique meet jammed with bigger fields and higher purses. Those dates will become important and we will see nice full fields with purses that work for the quality of horse that will train and race those 10 weeks.

Remember the Hamiltonian moved to Meadowlands, the Cane Pace and Messenger moved.. Tracks close all the time this is nothing new..