NJ Horse Racing Report

[Milleruszk]

It is a good thing that this report did not come out until after the Breeders Cup. It certainly would have dampened the mood. The most startling thing is the 24% decline in handle. Now that most players play from home, NJ horse racing has to compete on a national level. This article does not paint a rosy picture for the future of horse racing in NJ.

The NJ politicians must come together to solve this crisis but don't hold your breath. It seems that the only politician that is on the side of the NJ horse industry is ex Governor Codey. Perhaps the NJ industry is doomed.

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2JmZnYmVs N2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MjE1NjIw

[Notso]

this is not good, but there is hope. I am certain TVG, with it's exclusive rights, can turn this around for New Jersey.
Let's 'Give Peace a Chance'

[kenwoodallpromos]

Jockey club shows in 2005 NJbreds Tbreds 331. How is that enough to support the track or using outside funds to support the NJ horse industry? Sounds like almost all there horses are imports.

[Milleruszk]

Jockey club shows in 2005 NJbreds Tbreds 331. How is that enough to support the track or using outside funds to support the NJ horse industry? Sounds like almost all there horses are imports.

Horse players complain about the New York State bred program but at least in NY they have a program. Believe it or not NJ would do well to emulate the NY program. The NY state program must be successful because if you listen to NY players there are too many NY breds! At least they can run full fields.

[john del riccio]

....i am R E A L L Y biting my tongue here...............



John

[njcurveball]

Convenient use of Statistics, very similar to the casinos saying revenue is down due to the Smoking ban.

They quote 1999 statistics. That was when Garden State ran a full meet and ACRC still had a chance.

The state did nothing to step in and save those tracks. Casinos celebrating gleefully at the lack of competition. When their profits rose, it was naturally due to expansion and great management.

We have a state run Internet Betting option, 4NJBETS. If you live south of Exit 100, you can drive the entire lower half of the state and not find a place to deposit or withdraw your money.

DO they care? Obviously not! They are living off a 20 million "hush money" gift and now crying poor.

On August 5, 2001, acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco signed landmark racing legislation, known as the Off-track and Account Wagering Act. The Act provides for the licensing of the Sports and Exposition Authority to conduct account wagering and establish Off-track wagering sites with certain identified participants.

Guess how many are open? ONE with 200 parking spots in Vineland.

It has been 6 years! People of NJ went looking for the wolf the first few times. Now they can cry wolf all they want. We know better.

They do not want to succeed with racing in NJ. The casinos will be only too glad to see the thoroughbreds leave the Meadowlands in the next few years.

Jim

[Kelso]

The casinos will be only too glad to see the thoroughbreds leave the Meadowlands in the next few years.



So will the land developers. They control almost as many crooks in Trenton as do the teachers and cops. They're licking their evil chops at the prospect of loads of farmland to turn into condomimiums and strip malls

[wonatthewire1]

NJCurve,

I didn't know about the OTB in Vineland - but there supposedly is one in Woodbridge now according to the MED website - the place is appropriately called "Favorites" (dig on the small fields and small prices in NJ?)

http://www.thebigm.com/otw.asp

The cost of land is a major reason for lack of farms - way too expensive up here in Morris to even consider a horse farm

[Milleruszk]

NJ was the center of the universe for harness horse breeding for 20 years. That is apparantly slipping away too. That is the biggest change in NJ horse racing. NJ thoroughbred racing always took a back seat to NY racing.

[onefast99]

NJCurve,

I didn't know about the OTB in Vineland - but there supposedly is one in Woodbridge now according to the MED website - the place is appropriately called "Favorites" (dig on the small fields and small prices in NJ?)

http://www.thebigm.com/otw.asp

The cost of land is a major reason for lack of farms - way too expensive up here in Morris to even consider a horse farm
You are correct there is a new OTB in Woodbridge(actually Fords) it is one of the nicest I have ever seen. The food is run by Mcloones one of the better restaurant people in NJ. Yes no Aramark involvement here! The place has a great atmosphere it is close to the parkway, rt 287 and the NJTP. Racing in NJ is not dead, it needs a breath of fresh air, many of the people that are running the show(NJSEA) have been here too long and their ideas were fine during the 80's . You need to cater to the younger generation, this includes a comp system, for those who would like to be rewarded for betting at any NJ betting facility and tie it in to the casinos. The track(s) need some immediate attention, Monmouth got a facelift but if you look at the facility it is still run down. The owners boxes have an older style beach chair that cannot support anyone weighing over 150#'s. The railings in the grandstand are rotted out. The food is terrible, the pizza from Vals is brought in frozen put in a warming oven and served at room temperature get a real pizza operator in there, there are 100's in the county. There is no more clam or oyster bar, once a favorite of many. The deli style sandwiches have so much sodium in them you need two large beverages to offset the taste. For the healthy food eaters you cannot find anything with less then 20 grams of fat in it, make some salads and wraps. The admission should be free for anyone, keep the clubhouse at $5 to maintain an upscale atmosphere include a program with that admission. treat the owners like kings they are the reason the sport is in existence today. The picnic area is still a pretty good place to enjoy the races, they offer the only family atmosphere in the entire park. Now to the Meadowlands, please no more of this 1980's only for harness terrible venue. Keep racing at Monmouth until Thanksgiving. You can run a Thursday thru Sunday card. Have a Friday "evening" performance starting at 3pm, that will get you the after-work crowd from the immediate area. Many say that Sunday racing is dead it is at the Meadowlands due to the football games. Monmouth would do very well on Sundays. Do a buffet style breakfast in one of the refurbished rooms and offer a football only area for those wishing to see their favorite teams. End the card by 3:30 so those die hard football fans can get home for the 4pm game. Offer free drawings for the two area football teams and even include the eagles for the South Jersey fans. How about the single parents with kids? offer a day-care facility run by professionals similar to the ones being done at Wegmans. If anyone wants to add anything on this feel free, our racing future is at stake and NJ needs help!

[jma]

[QUOTE=onefast99 Keep racing at Monmouth until Thanksgiving. You can run a Thursday thru Sunday card. Have a Friday "evening" performance starting at 3pm, that will get you the after-work crowd from the immediate area. Many say that Sunday racing is dead it is at the Meadowlands due to the football games. Monmouth would do very well on Sundays. Do a buffet style breakfast in one of the refurbished rooms and offer a football only area for those wishing to see their favorite teams. End the card by 3:30 so those die hard football fans can get home for the 4pm game. Offer free drawings for the two area football teams and even include the eagles for the South Jersey fans. How about the single parents with kids? offer a day-care facility run by professionals similar to the ones being done at Wegmans. If anyone wants to add anything on this feel free, our racing future is at stake and NJ needs help![/QUOTE]

Man, the weather at Breeders Cup didn't teach you anything about running at Monmouth in the fall? Whew.

Philadelphia Park sports bar used to have all of the football games on, the card ended early, etc. It drew about, oh, 300 people, all of whom just watched football and didn't bet. All the stuff you are focusing on is attendance-related. Racing is becoming a home-based game. We need to get rebates of some kind and lower takeout. Forget about the stuff to get an extra 200 people to the track. Also, keep in mind you'll draw 2000 people to each of those Monmouth fall days instead of the 12000 they get in the summer. That will make it seem even more dead and suck up purse money used to make the summer racing decent.

[njcurveball]

Thanks for the tip on favorites in Woodbridge. Looks quite nice. And far enough away from the Casinos for them to "tolerate" it. :ThmbUp:

Wish it were closer, I would love to have a place like that around here.

[njcurveball]

Man, the weather at Breeders Cup didn't teach you anything about running at Monmouth in the fall? Whew.




The average daily temperature in October was over 60 degrees. You are basing your opinion on four dreadful rainy days which happened to coincide with the races. Terrible luck for sure, but certainly not enough to base a decision.

I guess if you want to make sure the temperature is above that, they can only run from June till August.

[onefast99]

The average daily temperature in October was over 60 degrees. You are basing your opinion on four dreadful rainy days which happened to coincide with the races. Terrible luck for sure, but certainly not enough to base a decision.

I guess if you want to make sure the temperature is above that, they can only run from June till August.

The crowds at the Meadowlands cannot even be counted on two hands. The fact that Monmouth Park has had a make-over may indeed draw a few more people. The NJ breds will have a chance to continue to run until Thanksgiving thus giving the NJ bred owners and breeders a bit more incentive to breed and own. The race card must be overhauled, they need to add a few more distance races like the 1.25 and 1.5 mile races for the select group that can run that distance on both turf and dirt. They also need to find a way to bring in a 7 furlong race as part of the program. The casinos can be more involved by having them sponsor some fall stakes races. The weather is normally pretty decent here during October and November a little rain never hurts.

[o_crunk]

The average daily temperature in October was over 60 degrees. You are basing your opinion on four dreadful rainy days which happened to coincide with the races. Terrible luck for sure, but certainly not enough to base a decision.

I guess if you want to make sure the temperature is above that, they can only run from June till August.

i agree.

not sure why this weather factor only applies to MTH, but not DEL, PHA, AQU, LRL who all are in the mid-atlantic region and all run into november.

---

i live a couple miles from club med. when the t-breds come up here, i don't even go....that's how bad the meadowlands is. i drive the hour down to MTH almost every weekend in the summer...would welcome them racing into november at MTH in addtion to twilight friday's in the summer, which i think is a great idea.

the night racing at the meadowlands is a pain for everybody. the horsemen i'm sure think it sucks...got to ship in from MTH or NY or PHA...must make for a long day....to get into 5 horse fields or have the race get taken off the turf. it's gotten so bad that i see that they've added state bred optional claimers n2x and they still can't fill them, which i've never seen in the NJ condition book until this year. i'm sure these races would fill at MTH.

rail on MTH, but at least it has some semblence of a horse racing facility. yes, the food sucks (not surprised, it is aramark!) but i feel like i'm at a track whereas club med i feel like i'm at OTB...awful crowd (last time i went a couple months back...some dude took my form and ran off!), awful tellers, awful everything.

in october, i drive to BEL just to avoid the place!

[onefast99]

Man, the weather at Breeders Cup didn't teach you anything about running at Monmouth in the fall? Whew.

Philadelphia Park sports bar used to have all of the football games on, the card ended early, etc. It drew about, oh, 300 people, all of whom just watched football and didn't bet. All the stuff you are focusing on is attendance-related. Racing is becoming a home-based game. We need to get rebates of some kind and lower takeout. Forget about the stuff to get an extra 200 people to the track. Also, keep in mind you'll draw 2000 people to each of those Monmouth fall days instead of the 12000 they get in the summer. That will make it seem even more dead and suck up purse money used to make the summer racing decent.
The owners who have their horses based in NY wont come to Phillypark, thats the difference the racing in NJ is much better than Pa. Monmouth got a complete overhaul it can handle the extra days believe me the people will come if management does the right thing, no admission to the track except the clubhouse. They must try something new! The meadowlands is giving NJ racing a bad name.

[onefast99]

i agree.

not sure why this weather factor only applies to MTH, but not DEL, PHA, AQU, LRL who all are in the mid-atlantic region and all run into november.

---

i live a couple miles from club med. when the t-breds come up here, i don't even go....that's how bad the meadowlands is. i drive the hour down to MTH almost every weekend in the summer...would welcome them racing into november at MTH in addtion to twilight friday's in the summer, which i think is a great idea.

the night racing at the meadowlands is a pain for everybody. the horsemen i'm sure think it sucks...got to ship in from MTH or NY or PHA...must make for a long day....to get into 5 horse fields or have the race get taken off the turf. it's gotten so bad that i see that they've added state bred optional claimers n2x and they still can't fill them, which i've never seen in the NJ condition book until this year. i'm sure these races would fill at MTH.

rail on MTH, but at least it has some semblence of a horse racing facility. yes, the food sucks (not surprised, it is aramark!) but i feel like i'm at a track whereas club med i feel like i'm at OTB...awful crowd (last time i went a couple months back...some dude took my form and ran off!), awful tellers, awful everything.

in october, i drive to BEL just to avoid the place!

I have spoken to a lot of horse racing enthusiasts they seem to agree that the Meadowlands is not for thoroughbreds. The NJSEA has to adopt changes or step down and let some of the younger more agressive marketing professionals take the racing in NJ to the next level.

[alysheba88]

Monmouth regularly outdraws Belmont on the weekends.

I know they cant compete on handle but just mentioning it to point out the fans come out and support racing at Monmouth.

For the person who said owners should be treated like kings, its the player who should be treated like a king, especially the big bettor, at any and every track in the country

[alhattab]

There negativity surrounding racing here is understood- opportunity cost of keeping a farm (may be abating a bit with real estate correction), casinos in pockets of crooked politicians, competition in the immediate area for horses. But I don't think the overly pessimistic view is balanced. Mth is one of the few venues that actually draws people. They need to make the experience better for them- concessions as one poster noted but how about a few video boards around the track so people can tell what is going on?

Bottom line is a LONG-TERM purse deal. Casinos know they can bleed industry dry with one or two more 3 year deals. Breeders can't deal with that uncertainty over a 5 year breeding cycle.

I can't fathom the no VLTs at Meadowlands argument. Seems like a no-brainer from where I sit provided they give AC casinos dibs on running the operation. It will not slow AC development one iota and AC casinos already have "competition" at Harrah's Chester- closer to AC than Club Med. Seems like a win-win-win yet casinos are not supporting it because they would rather bleed racing to death or are holding out for a deal to buy the tracks or something. I don't get it.

[onefast99]

There negativity surrounding racing here is understood- opportunity cost of keeping a farm (may be abating a bit with real estate correction), casinos in pockets of crooked politicians, competition in the immediate area for horses. But I don't think the overly pessimistic view is balanced. Mth is one of the few venues that actually draws people. They need to make the experience better for them- concessions as one poster noted but how about a few video boards around the track so people can tell what is going on?

Bottom line is a LONG-TERM purse deal. Casinos know they can bleed industry dry with one or two more 3 year deals. Breeders can't deal with that uncertainty over a 5 year breeding cycle.

I can't fathom the no VLTs at Meadowlands argument. Seems like a no-brainer from where I sit provided they give AC casinos dibs on running the operation. It will not slow AC development one iota and AC casinos already have "competition" at Harrah's Chester- closer to AC than Club Med. Seems like a win-win-win yet casinos are not supporting it because they would rather bleed racing to death or are holding out for a deal to buy the tracks or something. I don't get it.
Excellent post add to that the Governor is in bed with his casino buddies and thats why he doesnt support racing one bit!

[Kelso]

If anyone wants to add anything on this feel free, our racing future is at stake and NJ needs help!


Except for the 3:30 Sunday close, I think all of your suggestions are worth implementing. I particularly agree that MED should stick to the buggies, and that MTH should be the state's t'bred venue. (I like the idea of 6-month meet, May-October.)

I think MTH should keep at least one restaurant open until perhaps 9PM daily, at least during live racing. The last race ends just as suppertime is beginning. Why not try to keep some fans around for simulcasting by providing a place in which to have a real supper ... not just a microwaved burger?

Properly done ... facility and menu ... it could even become a dining destination in its own right. That might then turn a few from the well-fed set into bettors; genteel and well-heeled gourmands who might never have otherwise known the joys of pari-mutuel degeneracy! :cool:

[jma]

Guys, I guess I'm just too negative, but I think most of the suggestions here just turn the one decent meet left into something more like Philly Park or Delaware---a meet that runs endlessly with nothing that stands out. The Meadowlands as a thoroughbred track is going away eventually. Making Monmouth a neverending six-month slog right through the freezing temperatures is not the answer.

[jma]

i agree.

not sure why this weather factor only applies to MTH, but not DEL, PHA, AQU, LRL who all are in the mid-atlantic region and all run into november.

---



Just to address this, of course bad weather doesn't apply only to Monmouth. The difference is that in the summer, people ACTUALLY GO TO MONMOUTH TO WATCH LIVE RACING. Aside from Pennsylvania Derby day and Delaware Handicap day, Philly Park and Delaware have a couple thousand people there just for the racing, and those might be optimistic totals. Monmouth draws 10 to 15,000 a day on nice weekends. You don't want to take that special summertime event and make it something that runs endlessly May to November. It's like taking Saratoga and saying, "Hey, let's run there from November to May too because Aqueduct is a dump." Ruining one thing because another (the Meadowlands) is bad doesn't make sense.

[onefast99]

Just to address this, of course bad weather doesn't apply only to Monmouth. The difference is that in the summer, people ACTUALLY GO TO MONMOUTH TO WATCH LIVE RACING. Aside from Pennsylvania Derby day and Delaware Handicap day, Philly Park and Delaware have a couple thousand people there just for the racing, and those might be optimistic totals. Monmouth draws 10 to 15,000 a day on nice weekends. You don't want to take that special summertime event and make it something that runs endlessly May to November. It's like taking Saratoga and saying, "Hey, let's run there from November to May too because Aqueduct is a dump." Ruining one thing because another (the Meadowlands) is bad doesn't make sense.
The difference in keeping Monmouth going as opposed to the NY tracks such as Saratoga is simple, NJ has no other thoroughbred racing once Monmouth closes, that of course is if the Meadowlands gets dropped. The idea of keeping Monmouth open also includes the Sunday racing dates. The Meadowlands cannot race on Sundays due to the football games. Monmouth has the ability to put a top notch restaurant within the facility, even one with a view of the track. The level of racing can still be very good. Many want to see a racing card similar to Calder where there is an extreme day, a summit of speed day and other theme days where we could draw some of the best talent in the country to race here. The idea of naming some stakes races after the casinos may bring in a few needed stakes dollars to this track. The area Monmouth is located in is not considered a "seaside-seasonal" town where people head back north after labor day, it is still a solid working community with a large amount of corporations and enough people within a short distance to keep the interest going with fall racing. A few other ideas...Octoberfest, Halloween for the entire family, a wine tasting event as well as a Thursday and Friday farmers market with a small group of specialty vendors to add to the atmosphere. The Paddock Pavillion tent which was set up during the Breeders Cup shold be there year round. Let corporations run functions in it as the tent is climate controlled. The structure is there Monmouth needs to have an infusion of new blood, the current group running this facility had great ideas in the 80's its now time for a change!

[onefast99]

Guys, I guess I'm just too negative, but I think most of the suggestions here just turn the one decent meet left into something more like Philly Park or Delaware---a meet that runs endlessly with nothing that stands out. The Meadowlands as a thoroughbred track is going away eventually. Making Monmouth a neverending six-month slog right through the freezing temperatures is not the answer.
Freezing temperatures? Its going to be 60 degrees and sunny today in NJ! Thats the best racing weather anyone could ask for. The fact Delaware closes 11-4 leaves Philly park or Aqueduct as the only close tracks for the people in this immediate area to go to. The traffic going in and out of Aqueduct is a deterent to those coming from NJ. The level of racing at Philly park is not on the same level as NJ. You say the "meet runs endlessly" it will end in NJ next saturday night November 10th another 15 days wont hurt anyone!

[bane]

I remember a Times aricle (actually cover article) of Atlantic City thinking of plans to reopen and a new smaller grandstand.. whats the deal with that because if that happens NJ can have a full circuit again.

[onefast99]

30-60 day meet at most from early April to May when Monmouth re-opens. they have a 4 day meet now all turf, the main track would need a lot of work some have suggested Levy do a synthetic base.

[njcurveball]

It is interesting that people on this board are more optimistic about ACRC than the actual people who own it or work there.

If you are in the Mays Landing area (yes, it is not in Atlantic City), look for the eyesore next to the Hamilton Mall. That is the remains of one of the greatest tracks in America.

When they decided to shut down (I believe 1998), they sold EVERYTHING they could, including the outdoor tables and chairs.

The 4 day meet is run with NO track maintenance, other than a tractor and incredible skill. The dirt track is so bad many jocks will not even try to give their horse a good run before stepping on the turf.

There is ONE concession stand. In the cafeteria which is hardly a cafeteria any more. It is also the only place with heat or air conditioning.

The cement on the track apron is chipped and worn. Little kids pick up these chips and toss them around. Some toss them at the track, so good thing they do not have strong arms.

The tote board guts are sold, There is only one working elevator. It is in the clubhouse which is closed. And it isn't the clubhouse elevator. It is the service elevator. It is only used for the stewards, racing officials, and track announcers to get up to the Press Box. If it breaks, and it has in the past. They have to climb 3 flights of stairs that would make a nice background for a Mission Impossible film!

The escalators also do not work any more. When they run their four days, it is like pulling teeth to get 25 extra tellers.

Not to mention the stable area is pretty much shut down, no facility to train, the rubber track leading to the paddock is so chewed up, I am surprised a horse doesn't twist his anke walking there.

And back to the clubhouse for a minute. They use to have simulcasting there when the law said you could only simulcast tracks in your own state. They had the 2nd and 3rd floors open and had a regular attendance of 500 or more. On some big nights (Garden State and Meadowlands both running), they could have a 1,000 or even more.

The on track handle could approach 500,000 or more as well.

Now somehow Management decided they did not want to pay someone to operate the clubhouse elevator (yes it is THAT old). And did not want to pay maintenance to keep it running. Local racing regulars know this was the end of simulcasting crowds there. Casinos were only too happy to hear this! Coincidentally it was around the time Casinos were negotiating to pay NJ tracks "hush money". Oh wait it is called "subsidies" now.

They have been promising to build a simulcast facility since 2001 when the law was passed. They have been promising to build a new Grandstand for the last 3 years.

The cost to do either is in the millions and this track has Management who decided that copying the entries for patrons cost too much (heck, 500 sheets of paper is $5 these days).

They do not put up anything like partitions around areas to even try to keep some heat in. Heck, they don't even buy space heaters. The heating lamps in the old ceiling are your only chance not to get frost bite when winter hits.

Of course, that would be if you make it in the track safely while walking over the sheets of ice that form in the parking lot.

Many patrons might even go there despite that, but now bet on-line. You can NOT deposit, withdraw, or BET from your 4NJBETS account at ACRC.

Then they ask WHERE have the people gone? Must be the new smoking law, right?

Unfortunately, this great track is not in any shape to be repaired. And with the steel used to build it, a fortune needs to be spent to tear it down. And don't even start in with the new laws for asbetos and all the other stuff sitting in the track.

They have free bottled water for your enjoyment there. The drinking water was condemned a long time ago. So add in all the plumbing and environmental costs to fix that as well.

30 days of high school kids selling hot dogs and pizza? 30 days of horses shipping in to run on a turf course that has to be maintained with the equivalent of your home mower?

30 days of trying to beg 25 tellers to work and having Management complain they have to pay them Union rates?

Running in April when there is no heat in the track and people stand on a track apron 60 years old and never maintained?

Spending millions for a synthetic track and then millions more for maintenance?

It is also the only track I have been kicked out of the seating area ON the finish line. I was told to leave the 2nd floor area. I told the Security guy (I knew he was Security by the big letters on his yellow rain jacket) you could see the races better on the 2nd floor.

He said it was closed and you could not bet there. I said fine, I only want to watch the race. NO SIR you cannot watch races here! Truer words were never spoken!

Sure I guess anything is possible. Heck someday I might even be able to bet at a NJ race track using my NJ racing account! :ThmbUp:

Of course, this is the state that decided 433 million isn't a good enough reason to allow tracks to have VLTs!

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/SPORTS/711010454

[onefast99]

I agree with a lot of the things you mentioned this facility is an eyesore but it has the "back class" to be a welcome addition to the horse racing calender as no other racing in NJ is going on at this time except harness. Lets look at the positives, the track can draw, the simulcast room is on the 1st floor and open year round. The turf course is one of the better ones in the area due to the fact it gets used for 4 days only. The main track is 100% sand, the main track would be in need of a complete re-make to make it safe for dirt racing. If the rains come in as they normally do this time of year the races get cancelled. The main facility is detereorating right in front of everyones eyes, this needs to be addressed but I lived thru one season at Gulfstream where everything was done under tents and even a severe thunderstorm that dropped 3 inches of rain in an hour didnt dampen the spirits of those hard core bettors. The AC racecourse can be a viable track if some money is spent to refurbish it. Some ideas were to add an additional toll on the AC expressway to pump that money into the track, I dont know if anyone has voted on this idea or not. If I hear of anything going on with this track I will post it.

[bane]

Im just an optomist, any track that hasn't been torn down yet: Hialeah, ACRC, Birmingham and yes at one time AK-SAR-BEN. It's just ACRC and Hialeah are relics of horse racing new to the important races and horses that were there. And I believe that if they were popular they can still run you just have to get creative or focus on a diffrent market. I'm a firm believer Hialeah can have an almost Keeneland like meet and should atleast stay open for atleast a tranning center or something because it's now the only course in FL that can handle the Breeders Cup... unless Calder gets a drastic face lift. ACRC was known for it's turf course and I honestly think can be succesful if the powers to be allow it, heck if Mountaineer can become a popular and very succesful track (like I said by creative ways and laws allowing a casino/resort ) back in the late 90's so can ACRC.

[alhattab]

The difference in keeping Monmouth going as opposed to the NY tracks such as Saratoga is simple, NJ has no other thoroughbred racing once Monmouth closes, that of course is if the Meadowlands gets dropped. The idea of keeping Monmouth open also includes the Sunday racing dates. The Meadowlands cannot race on Sundays due to the football games. Monmouth has the ability to put a top notch restaurant within the facility, even one with a view of the track. The level of racing can still be very good. Many want to see a racing card similar to Calder where there is an extreme day, a summit of speed day and other theme days where we could draw some of the best talent in the country to race here. The idea of naming some stakes races after the casinos may bring in a few needed stakes dollars to this track. The area Monmouth is located in is not considered a "seaside-seasonal" town where people head back north after labor day, it is still a solid working community with a large amount of corporations and enough people within a short distance to keep the interest going with fall racing. A few other ideas...Octoberfest, Halloween for the entire family, a wine tasting event as well as a Thursday and Friday farmers market with a small group of specialty vendors to add to the atmosphere. The Paddock Pavillion tent which was set up during the Breeders Cup shold be there year round. Let corporations run functions in it as the tent is climate controlled. The structure is there Monmouth needs to have an infusion of new blood, the current group running this facility had great ideas in the 80's its now time for a change!

ONEFAST- I think you have some good ideas here. The new Patio Terrace should have been contracted with a local restaurant (I talked to owner of Sallee Tees who said he would've considered it). Unfortunately I think NJSEA re-upped with horrible Aramark. In terms of racing I would really like to see Mth run its traditional "summer" meet, 4 days a week, running into September. Then have some racing all through the winter on selected dates (e.g., Christmas Week, Presidents Day). Obviously changes to track would be needed and people would be restricted to Clubhouse and some themed outdoor areas. However this gives NJ Breds year-round opportunities. And as you note, there are many people living in the area that have very little to do during the winter and racing say one weekend a month might be a welcome diversion. Sort of a European approach to a race meet.

[alysheba88]

I have never understood why a casino didnt come in, buy out the AC track, completely remodel it and even put some slots in there. Could shuttle in their high rollers to the track with special events and stuff. Have a one month Saratoga like meet.

[njcurveball]

even put some slots in there. .

You have my vote to legislate this one! :ThmbUp:

[alysheba88]

You have my vote to legislate this one! :ThmbUp:

lol, hey it only took what five years to get an OTB in place in NJ.

Amazing how slow things work here in NJ.

[njcurveball]

Remember this is the state that did a "study" showing they can make over 400 million by putting slots in Racetracks and refuses to do it. :lol:

[Milleruszk]

lol, hey it only took what five years to get an OTB in place in NJ.

Amazing how slow things work here in NJ.

The reason everything moves so slowly, is that there is a long line of politicians that have to get paid, in one form or another, before anything can get done. Today is election day and you can count on one thing in NJ. All the crooks that are not re-elected will be replaced by new crooks. It really is unbelievable what goes on in this state.

[alysheba88]

The reason everything moves so slowly, is that there is a long line of politicians that have to get paid, in one form or another, before anything can get done. Today is election day and you can count on one thing in NJ. All the crooks that are not re-elected will be replaced by new crooks. It really is unbelievable what goes on in this state.

not just the politicians who have to get paid. Long line of "others" as you know also

[onefast99]

These issues with the politicians are not new to this state by any stretch. If former acting Gov Cody runs for office again he will get in and restore some sort of order to the horse racing industry. I cant help but laugh at everytime Zarro talks about this issue he says we just have to wait for the Governor to respond, when did you ever hear of a good attorney waiting for the other side to respond? The time for change in NJ is now, as winter approaches all of the issues will be tabled once again until the horses arrive at the barns on April 1st 2008. The current group of racing officials in NJ must take a pro-active approach now or we will see the quick demise of NJ thoroughbred racing.

[Brisson]

the demise has ALREADY happened

[njcurveball]

. If former acting Gov Cody runs for office again he will get in and restore some sort of order to the horse racing industry. .


Very optimistic, since he had the chance and did practically nothing. He was shot down with even the little things like installing lights at Monmouth.

He certainly did nothing to help the online betting or OTB situations in the state.:ThmbDown:

[onefast99]

The lights were shot down due to the local redidents having an issue with them. They are not needed at all to still have a successful Monmouth meet. Cody is on the side of the horse owners,breeders and bettors he is a solid politician and can only help the industry to gain what is needed to survive.

[onefast99]

the demise has ALREADY happened
that is a bold statement considering the upgrades made to Monmouth and the fact that the top trainers across the USA all sent horses here during the meet to get a feel for the track prior to the Breeders Cup. The enhancements made will help the bottom line immensely! The demise is at the Meadowlands why do you think the Devils ran from there it is a poorly run and operated facility now the Nets will soon depart.

[Brisson]

you must be joking onefast, thats not a bold statement at all. just look at the racing from 1987 up until 2007 and tell me thats BOLD. the 2007 season was below par, at best and you said it they ran this year because the BCup was at Monmouth Park. That will not be the case in 2008 and beyond. Like i said the DEMISE has already happened :(

[onefast99]

you must be joking onefast, thats not a bold statement at all. just look at the racing from 1987 up until 2007 and tell me thats BOLD. the 2007 season was below par, at best and you said it they ran this year because the BCup was at Monmouth Park. That will not be the case in 2008 and beyond. Like i said the DEMISE has already happened :(
This meet was shortened due to the fact that the Breeders Cup took some of the racing days away. If you are going to go back to when the casinos came in and compare the racing back in the 80's and early 90's with 4 tracks as compared to now with one(meadowlands is too short to use in comparison)that would be pretty unfair as the casinos have weakened horse racing in NJ and also NY. Demise would be defined as minimal fields with reduced purses. I still think NJ has a good chance to regain some of the old luster if we can work something out with the casinos.

[alhattab]

you must be joking onefast, thats not a bold statement at all. just look at the racing from 1987 up until 2007 and tell me thats BOLD. the 2007 season was below par, at best and you said it they ran this year because the BCup was at Monmouth Park. That will not be the case in 2008 and beyond. Like i said the DEMISE has already happened :(

Brisson- while I agree with your thoughts in fairness same could probably be said about most major, non-"alternative gaming" infused racing venue in the country, particularly the summer meets. Notably Belmont and Saratoga have seen a marked decline in the overall quality of racing, California is a maiden claimer fest and in Maryland horses that ran for $5k step up and win NW1X allowance races. Monmouth is no exception to this trend. Long gone are the days when we could see Craig Perret at 6/5 in a NW2x Allowance on a Tuesday afternoon.

It is important that Mth get enough money, or change its schedule, so that it is a clear No. 2 (AAA level) venue in the East/Mid Atlantic. That will require at least $400k and probably $500k/day. If they can't do that over 70-80 days then they'd be better off going boutique starting in June, ending on Labor Day and scattering a bunch of other days throughout the year.

[john del riccio]

The reason everything moves so slowly, is that there is a long line of politicians that have to get paid, in one form or another, before anything can get done. Today is election day and you can count on one thing in NJ. All the crooks that are not re-elected will be replaced by new crooks. It really is unbelievable what goes on in this state.

AMEN.

John

PS NJ State Motto "whats YOUR problem.."

[wonatthewire1]

Thanks for the tip on favorites in Woodbridge. Looks quite nice. And far enough away from the Casinos for them to "tolerate" it. :ThmbUp:

Wish it were closer, I would love to have a place like that around here.


Supposedly, there were to be at least 4-6 venues in North Jersey. The closest to me was going to be in Dover (Morris county) in a converted supermarket; it hasn't happened yet - but I find that many times these types of places are not in the best of areas to visit & I would be better served staying home on 4njbets - the changes though have been terrible.

It would be nice to have a venue where handicappers could get together outside of going over to the MED - nothing against the place but I can't stand driving over there. :eek:

I was going over to East Stroudsburg PA for awhile (haven't in a couple of years) but there is smoking there and not that big a space to avoid it. :ThmbDown:

[onefast99]

I hope NJ does the right thing and adds at least 2 more OTB sites. Favorites is really nice and looks as if it can take some abuse(garbage cans are dent proof)!:bang: