NJSEA Number's Up

[IRISHLADSTABLE]

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority’s two racetracks, Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands, showed across-the-board gains for the 2004 thoroughbred season, which ended last Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

With 119 racing dates in 2004 (87 at Monmouth and 32 at the Meadowlands), the racetracks combined for a 15.7 percent increase in total handle, 2.9 percent increase in on-track handle and less than a one percent increase in attendance.

"Both meets saw gains in on-track and total handle and that’s something we can build on for next year," said Robert Kulina, vice president of thoroughbred racing for the NSJEA. "The purse supplement aided in promoting quality racing, and quality racing sells."

Average total handle at Monmouth and the Meadowlands was $2,649,490, up by $359,300 per day from ’03 numbers. Average on-track handle was $623,831, while average attendance was 7,683.

[The_Knight_Sky]

That's all fine and dandy. Pocket the money, NJSEA.
Collect your salary Mr. Kulina and the rest.

But from this vantage point ....
what a pathetically forgetful Meadowlands thoroughbred meet it was.

Not only did the extended Monmouth meet (past Labor Day)
detract from the excitement of the traditional Meadowlands opening,
but the track did very little in the way of promoting the live boutique meet.
They've done everything to kill off thoroughbred racing in North Jersey.
Both the management and horsemen must share the blame.

[shanta]

Originally posted by The_Knight_Sky
That's all fine and dandy. Pocket the money, NJSEA.
Collect your salary Mr. Kulina and the rest.

But from this vantage point ....
what a pathetically forgetful Meadowlands thoroughbred meet it was.

Not only did the extended Monmouth meet (past Labor Day)
detract from the excitement of the traditional Meadowlands opening,
but the track did very little in the way of promoting the live boutique meet.
They've done everything to kill off thoroughbred racing in North Jersey.
Both the management and horsemen must share the blame.


I agree 100%. What a horrible meet at the BigM. Now that the harness meet is back I see it advertised everywhere and the give aways and free vouchers have been mailed.
Richie

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally posted by shanta
I agree 100%. What a horrible meet at the BigM.
Now that the harness meet is back I see it advertised everywhere and the give aways and free vouchers have been mailed.

Richie

What vouchers?
The BigM and Monmouth does a lousy job of mailing them.
Either I get them late or not at all.

Anyway, regarding this BOUTIQUE meet concept,
I didn't see any increase in the quality of racing in East Rutherford.
If the NJSEA is bent on destroying what is left of the thoroughbred meet
in favor of a year-round standardbreds well they're making a huge mistake.

I staunchly believe that the monotony of standardbred racing
week after week will cause even further erosion of attendance at the plant.
They can proclaim for the umpteenth time..."world's best harness racing" in their commercials,
but it won't elicit much excitement if the fan base is tired of the same horses
doing the same flat miles every week. :(