Jersey legislature OK's $30 mil for MTH & MED
 

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201..._bill_tha.html

$30,000,000 over three years, ($15/$10/$5), which hopefully buys time for Monmouth and Meadowlands to figure out best avenues forward. Jeff Gural still supposedly taking over MED on lease basis April 1..

If the governor signs it ,NJ will be first state with internet gambling. With poker being the big game most young people play this will be huge for NJ.The question remains the same what is racing going to do to promote itself to survive on its own.

Monmouth opening unlikely before June 1st. That is the 1st day that the lessee can take over.

:(

Betfair makes alot of sense since they already have the platform in place for exchange betting.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority told Meadowlands Racetrack workers on Monday, March 7 that they are going to be sent a formal notice this week stating that layoffs could be coming in 60 days' time.

Addressing the fact that racetrack owner Jeff Gural is trying to attract financing to take over the Meadowlands Racetrack, Liguori said, "[Gural is] trying to take over an operation that's losing $12 million or so a year, so savings have to come from different places, and the biggest cost is probably payroll — whether management or union. That reality is setting in."

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/11...f_notices.html

Monmouth attracts interest from eight parties
The 8 Parties are:
* Betfair
* MI Developments
* Parx Racing
* John Brunetti
* NJTHA
* Bernard Dowd
* Morris Bailey
* Angelo Gordon Investment Co.

as a long time attendee of the big m, i noticed several things recently. it seems since mr gural (my new hero) attended the races one night and gave a little speech, the amount of workers on site has increased tenfold.

they have people sweeping up tickets that aren't there! there were 3 women selling programs at the same desk, to betters who were nowhere in site! the waste is at ridiculous levels and the sooner ownership changes the better.

it's like a race to get your hours in now because "the times they are a changin"

Monmouth Dates Request on Regulators' Agenda
The latest rumor has Monmouth running 80 days for about $400,000 a day in purses, though the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association must sign off on any reduction in dates.

New Jersey Racing Commission approves amended 141-day meet
By Matt Hegarty

The New Jersey Racing Commission on Friday approved an amended 141-day racing schedule for Monmouth Park’s meet this year, but the length of the meet is still considered to be in limbo because of plans by the state to award a lease to operate the track by June 1. With the approved amendment, Monmouth will only race on weekends and on Memorial Day during May. Last year, the track held 71 race dates, with 50 of the dates conducted under a Friday-to-Sunday schedule.

Under a plan pushed by Gov. Chris Christie, the NJSEA opened up bidding for a private operator to lease Monmouth Park several weeks ago. The winning bidder is expected to push for an amended schedule for the track, according to New Jersey racing officials, a process that will require negotiations between the bidder and the state’s horsemen.

If the process isn't rigged you would think Betfair with its Exchange wagering platform already in place would make the perfect choice. However it will probably go to someone we don't know and they will contract out to build an exchange wagering platform and of course those connected will profit tremendously.. I am one cynical Fuk

Meadowlands only able to card 9 races Thu & Fri as horsemen boycott the track.

No Boycott At All .this Is Strictly A Harness Issue And Has Nothing To Do With This Thread.

saturday entries
big M -11 races 98 horses
big A - 10 races 71 horses
hey al where's the boycott
closing night is not great at the big M
but the big A is running 4 divisions of 7,500 clm:zz:
why make up a boycott story. big AL

Michael Drewniak, spokesman for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, has confirmed that an extension has been granted to Jeff Gural to reach a deal to lease the Meadowlands Racetrack. The deadline, which had been set for today, has now been pushed back until April 14.

http://standardbredcanada.ca/news/3-...extension.html

my wife attended the rutgers symposium today and got to meet mr. gural. he is feeling good about situation.

also, hanson took some good (deserved) heckling from the crowd.

Tellers have apparently rejected Gural's deal by 99-11.

UPDATE: http://www.harnessracing.com/news/pa...ralsoffer.html

$24 an hour? When I was a teller at Lone Star I made $9.25 and there was never a discussion of benefits. I blame this guy:

I don't know what is more mindboggling to me, the fact that they turned down $24 dollars an hour or that they were making close to $29 dollars per hour.

They actually would have made $24 until the contract expired on 2/1/12. After that they'd probably be in the $20 range. That's still a ridiculously good pay rate for that job.