samyn on the green
03-03-2010, 05:05 AM
Monmouth goes for an upscale branding (http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2010/03/02/news/top_stories/doc4b8d77f3c14ed152163955.txt)
When New Jersey elected governor Christie last year it seemed like a referendum against the incumbents and the ubiquitous corruption blanketing the region. Unlike most elected officials in the last two years Christie has been a pleasant surprise. Christie is backing a plan to boost purses at Monmouth to $1 million a day. During his six years in office as US Attorney general Christie gained the reputation as something of a corruption-buster, having won (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_J._Christie) convictions or guilty pleas from 130 public officials, both Republican and Democrat. Christie did not lose a single case. While NJ is poised become the premier Northeast venue, vultures are circling New York racing. Don't be surprised if the Belmont stakes in run at Monmouth as soon as 2011 as the situation at NYRA is more dire than many believe.
Monmouth Park
http://kelso-construction.com/images/cr_monmouth_park_racetrack.jpg (http://kelso-construction.com/images/cr_monmouth_park_racetrack.jpg)
It looks like Christie is listening to smart racing people (http://gregcalabrese.blogspot.com/2009/09/right-sizing-racing-product.html); unlike New York he is acting on their advice. Christie has come up with a branding approach for New Jersey racing that will define New Jersey racing as an upscale event (http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2010/02/monmouth_park.html). For the first time in recent racing history an American track is actually positioning themselves in the market as something other than just another track running yet another race that you can make yet another bet on. Monmouth already has trumped the attendance figures of Belmont; the appealing shore location helps, but now Monmouth is positioned to trump the handle and prestige as well.
When New Jersey elected governor Christie last year it seemed like a referendum against the incumbents and the ubiquitous corruption blanketing the region. Unlike most elected officials in the last two years Christie has been a pleasant surprise. Christie is backing a plan to boost purses at Monmouth to $1 million a day. During his six years in office as US Attorney general Christie gained the reputation as something of a corruption-buster, having won (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_J._Christie) convictions or guilty pleas from 130 public officials, both Republican and Democrat. Christie did not lose a single case. While NJ is poised become the premier Northeast venue, vultures are circling New York racing. Don't be surprised if the Belmont stakes in run at Monmouth as soon as 2011 as the situation at NYRA is more dire than many believe.
Monmouth Park
http://kelso-construction.com/images/cr_monmouth_park_racetrack.jpg (http://kelso-construction.com/images/cr_monmouth_park_racetrack.jpg)
It looks like Christie is listening to smart racing people (http://gregcalabrese.blogspot.com/2009/09/right-sizing-racing-product.html); unlike New York he is acting on their advice. Christie has come up with a branding approach for New Jersey racing that will define New Jersey racing as an upscale event (http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2010/02/monmouth_park.html). For the first time in recent racing history an American track is actually positioning themselves in the market as something other than just another track running yet another race that you can make yet another bet on. Monmouth already has trumped the attendance figures of Belmont; the appealing shore location helps, but now Monmouth is positioned to trump the handle and prestige as well.