Atlantic City Race Course....DONE

[thespaah]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/89514/greenwood-to-close-atlantic-city-race-course?source=rss

Greenwood has been devastating to NJ Thoroughbred racing.
It all started when the company decided to run year round at the then Phila Park....That essentially crushed Garden State which I believe ended up in the hands of Greenwood. Now it's a mall.
So now they close AC which for the last few years their 6 day meets were drawing crowds of some 10,000 to 15,000 admissions on some days. Handle was decent. Around 700,000 all sources.....
I realize AC was kept open just for the right to hold simulcasting year round.
And save for caring of the turf course, it's not as though Greenwood was putting any money into the other parts of the facility.
So what's it cost them to keep it open for the short meet?

[Brogan]

It looks like their play was to get their OTW (Favorites at Vineland) up, running and generating income, then pull the plug on Aycee. Of course having Aycee was the reason they were given an OTW license.

For years now, the NJ Racing Commission has been bending over for Greenwood and allowing them to operate their annual mini meet for less than the required minimum number of days, which in turn allowed them to offer simulcasting year round.

Their license to operate Vineland should be voided.

[Shemp Howard]

The Fat Man will turn a blind eye once Bob Green's campaign contributions are tallied up.

[Brogan]

The Fat Man will turn a blind eye once Bob Green's campaign contributions are tallied up.

So, business as usual?

[phattty]

Sad day indeed....spent much of my 67 years there.... About 40 years through all the highs and lows


Still remember the great dr Fager battling out in United nations to win grass champion over advocater


Really sad

[SandyW]

Sad day, saw many a race their, flats or harness , it didn't matter!!

[NJ Stinks]

If only

1) they could move that turf course just about anywhere

2) all those people who desperately wanted the smoking bans actually showed up after the bans were enacted

3) greenwood was never allowed to ruin the paramutuel racing in Central and South Jersey

4) the New Jersey Racing Commission gave a crap about the welfare of Garden State Park

[Tom]

Amen, NJ.....very well put.

[wiffleball whizz]

This happened fast and out of nowhere (I think)

Place is so old with the oldest possible televisions at any racetrack I guess reality finally settled in that it was a lost cause, big crowds but nobody betting

Atlantic county is just falling apart at the seams as the casino closures are crippling the area, such a fall from grace

Meanwhile had the days requested off for the meet now that has gone to waste

Various social media sites have people crying that the place is closing but they did their part in not betting when it was open, gonna be hard to bring that place down with the asbestos in that building

[wisconsin]

Dang, was on my radar to visit this year and add to my collection.

[RunForTheRoses]

I stopped in there last weekend after going to Borgata. Place really was a dump, hardly any working TVs as WW wrote, best thing you could say about it was that nobody would bother you. They weren't taking a whole host of tracks-GP,TB,SA,GG...really just went there to get the DRF. Atlantic County is in dire shape with all the casino closings.
It was a lot of fun that Spring Meet but still they could have fixed it up a little more. I think NJ could use a two month AC meet in the Spring, really now it is all Monmouth. As many write I guess it was the owner, they did not allow njbets/TVG account wagering which is a slap in the face to their customers.

[reckless]

I have tons of memories -- professional and personal, all good -- of Atlantic City Race Course. RIP.

But, I am truthfully not surprised Parx closed it because those people are a cancer to the sport and have been since they've come here from England in the 1980s.

Has anyone been to Parx recently? After many, many years as a bonafide dump, it's now simply a first-class shithole, thanks to Greenwood.

[alhattab]

I stopped in there last weekend after going to Borgata. Place really was a dump, hardly any working TVs as WW wrote, best thing you could say about it was that nobody would bother you. They weren't taking a whole host of tracks-GP,TB,SA,GG...really just went there to get the DRF. Atlantic County is in dire shape with all the casino closings.
It was a lot of fun that Spring Meet but still they could have fixed it up a little more. I think NJ could use a two month AC meet in the Spring, really now it is all Monmouth. As many write I guess it was the owner, they did not allow njbets/TVG account wagering which is a slap in the face to their customers.

Place is a certified dump but the 6 day meet was perfect- got both horses and people "legged up" for Monmouth. For the past few years AC served as the kickoff to my personal live racing season. Going there and seeing/smelling horses, smell cigar and cigarette smoke and the dynamic characters that attended that meet was the best waist-up sensory pleasure a Northeast horseplayer emerging from winter could ask for.

Whiff good comment on the oldest TVs on the planet. The oldest TV title now belongs to the ones in Monmouth Park's Picnic Area.

Big M should pick up the April turf meet. Maybe run on Wed-Thu (Parx dark) for 3 weeks 4/22-23, 29-30 and 5/6-7. If they wanted to get ballsy maybe they run day-night DH on Oaks/Derby day too!

[wiffleball whizz]

Just got off the phone with a good friend in his early 60s that was friends with my father as I was growing up and lives in atlantic county and is 1 of usually 7 people betting horses was in tears when we were just talking about the place shutting down

I remember waking up at like 2am the other night checking this forum and seeing this thread I couldn't believe it, track seemed to me immune to the wrecking ball

So sad this place is closing as I thought the place would be getting stronger with all ac race books closing exept borgata

Greenwood is a cancer to this sport **** them

[alhattab]

Just got off the phone with a good friend in his early 60s that was friends with my father as I was growing up and lives in atlantic county and is 1 of usually 7 people betting horses was in tears when we were just talking about the place shutting down

I remember waking up at like 2am the other night checking this forum and seeing this thread I couldn't believe it, track seemed to me immune to the wrecking ball

So sad this place is closing as I thought the place would be getting stronger with all ac race books closing exept borgata

Greenwood is a cancer to this sport **** them

It's too much of a dump Whizz. These days you really don't even need race books- just a nice bar, a smart phone, an account and TVG/HRTV is all you need- never mind the shithole that was ACRC. I guess the people that like to physically attend can't support the costs. Hell same thing happened to NYCOTB really- the die hards that used the physical plants as a social club couldn't support them.

[Shemp Howard]

It's too much of a dump Whizz. These days you really don't even need race books- just a nice bar, a smart phone, an account and TVG/HRTV is all you need- never mind the shithole that was ACRC. I guess the people that like to physically attend can't support the costs. Hell same thing happened to NYCOTB really- the die hards that used the physical plants as a social club couldn't support them.

Al Hattab-----Sharon Brown------Holy Bull------Giacamo.......that's what we're talking about!!!!

[thespaah]

It looks like their play was to get their OTW (Favorites at Vineland) up, running and generating income, then pull the plug on Aycee. Of course having Aycee was the reason they were given an OTW license.

For years now, the NJ Racing Commission has been bending over for Greenwood and allowing them to operate their annual mini meet for less than the required minimum number of days, which in turn allowed them to offer simulcasting year round.

Their license to operate Vineland should be voided. :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:

[thespaah]

If only

1) they could move that turf course just about anywhere

2) all those people who desperately wanted the smoking bans actually showed up after the bans were enacted

3) greenwood was never allowed to ruin the paramutuel racing in Central and South Jersey

4) the New Jersey Racing Commission gave a crap about the welfare of Garden State Park
Greenwood is "mud" to me....Yeah, Brennan( developer of the new GSP) was a jerk, but that was a fine racing facility. It was clean and well run. GSP also offered NJ horsemen a place to race and more or less gave NJ Barns a circuit.
IMO,Garden State should still be operating today, but Greenwood killed it. I believe this was done purposely to make room for their Phila Park ( Now Parx) track..
I really liked the place. Even though it was a 1.5 to 2 hr drive from my former Bergen County home, I made the trip several times during the Thoroughbred and harness meets.

[wiffleball whizz]

Greenwood is "mud" to me....Yeah, Brennan( developer of the new GSP) was a jerk, but that was a fine racing facility. It was clean and well run. GSP also offered NJ horsemen a place to race and more or less gave NJ Barns a circuit.
IMO,Garden State should still be operating today, but Greenwood killed it. I believe this was done purposely to make room for their Phila Park ( Now Parx) track..
I really liked the place. Even though it was a 1.5 to 2 hr drive from my former Bergen County home, I made the trip several times during the Thoroughbred and harness meets.

Ever go to that seafood buffet up in the Phoenix room? As good as it got

Ps. I didn't eat seafood but gave me an excuse to go there as it was a rare treat!!!!

Also I remember my first time at GSP, vividly remember getting there and watching the end of the Denver Jacksonville playoff upset ill never forget it

[therussmeister]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/89585/monmouth-group-interested-in-atlantic-city

[thespaah]

Ever go to that seafood buffet up in the Phoenix room? As good as it got

Ps. I didn't eat seafood but gave me an excuse to go there as it was a rare treat!!!!

Also I remember my first time at GSP, vividly remember getting there and watching the end of the Denver Jacksonville playoff upset ill never forget it
Nah. I was strictly a grandstand apron guy back then. But I used to walk around, checking out the facility. It was a very nice place.

[cj]

Greenwood is "mud" to me....Yeah, Brennan( developer of the new GSP) was a jerk, but that was a fine racing facility. It was clean and well run. GSP also offered NJ horsemen a place to race and more or less gave NJ Barns a circuit.
IMO,Garden State should still be operating today, but Greenwood killed it. I believe this was done purposely to make room for their Phila Park ( Now Parx) track..
I really liked the place. Even though it was a 1.5 to 2 hr drive from my former Bergen County home, I made the trip several times during the Thoroughbred and harness meets.

Spent more nights than I could count at GS, especially after I got stationed at McGuire AFB.

[ReplayRandall]

Nah. I was strictly a grandstand apron guy back then. But I used to walk around, checking out the facility. It was a very nice place.


I'll buy you a beer and we'll go out on the grandstand apron. It's the only place where we can SMOKE our cigars.....:cool:

[thespaah]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/89585/monmouth-group-interested-in-atlantic-city
Let us remain hopeful Monmouth management makes a decision that benefits ACRC.
BTW, should Grteenwood retain ACRC and shutter the track, it is my hope the powers that be in NJ stick to the letter of the law and rescind Greenwood's license to operate the OTW facility in Vineland.

[phattty]

And of the faithful patrons of favorites the last decade..

[Robert Goren]

It's too much of a dump Whizz. These days you really don't even need race books- just a nice bar, a smart phone, an account and TVG/HRTV is all you need- never mind the shithole that was ACRC. I guess the people that like to physically attend can't support the costs. Hell same thing happened to NYCOTB really- the die hards that used the physical plants as a social club couldn't support them. A rare insight into what has happened to racing across the country, not only in NJ.

[wiffleball whizz]

Spent more nights than I could count at GS, especially after I got stationed at McGuire AFB.

Used to love the rare GSP trip from northern nj

My best friend who used to paddock horses had this horse armored truck and we would go there on Saturday nights, I remember GSP harness would race till like 1230am and the drive home was brutal

Currier and Ives dining room and thier version of the terraces dining room just want to share 2 funny garden state stories...

They used to have a seafood buffet up in the Phoenix dining room well one night as were all in suits and ties my friend got paid $20 to take as much shrimp as he could out of the track that night we'll walking out of the Phoenix room and this big bag just falls from underneath my friends jacket and 2 guards just stare at him lolololol you had to see the look on his face I just stared out the window towards the philly skyline


Then there was another night were sitting in terraces at GSP the harness meet is having there biggest night it's the governers cup and John Campbell is driving I think the favorite well to make a long story short he wins but there's a inquiry and he is flashing, some guy in a crowded dining rooms screams out "they will never take Jesus Christ down" everybody just started cracking up and low abs behold be never came down

[badcompany]

I used to like the Announcer at Garden State Harness. When two horses were going head to head for a while, he'd say something like, "It's not a battle. It's a waaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr,!!!"

[lamboguy]

I used to like the Announcer at Garden State Harness. When two horses were going head to head for a while, he'd say something like, "It's not a battle. It's a waaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr,!!!"that was Larry Ledderman

[thespaah]

I'll buy you a beer and we'll go out on the grandstand apron. It's the only place where we can SMOKE our cigars.....:cool:
Let's GO!!!!!!!

[thespaah]

that was Larry Ledderman
I though Keith Jones was on the mic at GSP.....Oh well. It's been a while
Yeah, it looks like Jones did indeed call races at GSP.
According to this article( note the date) took over after Ralph Siracco resigned
http://articles.philly.com/1986-01-08/news/26054081_1_race-track-dullest-races-track-announcer

[alhattab]

I though Keith Jones was on the mic at GSP.....Oh well. It's been a while
Yeah, it looks like Jones did indeed call races at GSP.
According to this article( note the date) took over after Ralph Siracco resigned
http://articles.philly.com/1986-01-08/news/26054081_1_race-track-dullest-races-track-announcer

I believe Jones did the flats and Lederman did the chariots.

I used to make a few trips to GSP on Sat afternoons when I was in college. Train to Market East, bus from 10th and Filbert to the track. GSP ran at night except Saturdays. They'd pull 7 or 8k on Saturdays back then. Was a good spot but some old timers I met said the old place was great.

[thespaah]

I believe Jones did the flats and Lederman did the chariots.

I used to make a few trips to GSP on Sat afternoons when I was in college. Train to Market East, bus from 10th and Filbert to the track. GSP ran at night except Saturdays. They'd pull 7 or 8k on Saturdays back then. Was a good spot but some old timers I met said the old place was great.
I did a Google search on both guys. Lederman's bio did not say anything about him calling harness at GSP....It could have been left out though.
I went to GSP a few times during harness and the place was pretty well populated.
For the Thoroughbreds, Saturday cards had very good crowds. Well over 10k

[AlBundy33]

I did a Google search on both guys. Lederman's bio did not say anything about him calling harness at GSP....It could have been left out though.
I went to GSP a few times during harness and the place was pretty well populated.
For the Thoroughbreds, Saturday cards had very good crowds. Well over 10k

He called harness at GSP for years. Miss that meet because of his calls and it was easier to cash a ticket than the Meadowlands. Not to add that the racing wasn't bad either until the final harness meet.

[Brogan]

Larry also had the distinction of calling the final day of t-breds at GSP.