Monmouth Park Experiment must be over.

[BIG49010]

http://www.monmouthpark.com/calendardates.aspx?id=93

Looked at website today, back to small fields, small purses, and no interest!

It's going to be a long summer waiting for Saratoga to open!

[Beachbabe]

What's with the 6 days at Meadowlands, and they're not even consecutive ?
:confused:

[cj]

It was fun while it lasted.

[therussmeister]

Quote from the provided link:

2011 Monmouth Park racing dates are subject to change.

[Dave Schwartz]

Possibly a state requirement to take bets?

[Southieboy]

No way there racing on the turf at BigM in late November.

[onefast99]

There will be a press conference tomorrow, hopefully!

[BIG49010]

No way there racing on the turf at BigM in late November.

They race at Aqu sometimes into December on the grass.

[BIG49010]

Possibly a state requirement to take bets?

I see a season pass also, maybe to sell it people want to know how many days they are going to get.

[MaTH716]

No way there racing on the turf at BigM in late November.

I wouldn't be so quick to come to that conclusion. You would figure that the course should be in pristine condition, due to the general maintenance and more importantly the lack of use. As long as the weather cooperates somewhat, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to run races over the turf during that time.

[Southieboy]

I wouldn't be so quick to come to that conclusion. You would figure that the course should be in pristine condition, due to the general maintenance and more importantly the lack of use. As long as the weather cooperates somewhat, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to run races over the turf during that time.

They didn't even bother running on the turf at MTH last November, so what makes you think they do so at the BigM?

[RichieP]

Except in the cold months where tracks like Gp, Tam, can support 5 day a week racing with full fields and some quality product the other tracks/ meets should be no more than 4 days in today's racing climate. Even Tampa sees the light here switching to a 4 day a week platform in March after running 5 early on in the meet.

Curious to see what happens at Woodbine this meet with field sizes and quality with their 5 day a week schedule.

:4:

[MaTH716]

They didn't even bother running on the turf at MTH last November, so what makes you think they do so at the BigM?

Cause by that time the Monmouth Turf course would have been chewed up from 5 plus months of racing. My guess is, that it was a combination of the track condition and the weather that eventually leads them to stop racing on the sod.

[macguy]

Except in the cold months where tracks like Gp, Tam, can support 5 day a week racing with full fields and some quality product the other tracks/ meets should be no more than 4 days in today's racing climate. Even Tampa sees the light here switching to a 4 day a week platform in March after running 5 early on in the meet.

Curious to see what happens at Woodbine this meet with field sizes and quality with their 5 day a week schedule.

:4:

Woodbine has been running 5 days a week for a long time now.

The slots purses at woodbine are higher than they should be for the quality of horses that race there. There's a strong contingent of Ontario breds that race at Woodbine and don't often ship to other tracks. With big purses and a long meet, trainers are able to make a living racing exclusively at Woodbine, without the need to ship to other tracks throughout the year.

If anything, Fort Erie has suffered the past few years while Woodbine seems to be going strong. Fort Erie doesn't have the quality of horses or purse size that Woodbine has.

Doubtful we will see a horse shortage at Woodbine anytime soon, as long as Maiden Allowance races keep running for $70k.

[wonatthewire1]

Woodbine has been running 5 days a week for a long time now.

The slots purses at woodbine are higher than they should be for the quality of horses that race there. There's a strong contingent of Ontario breds that race at Woodbine and don't often ship to other tracks. With big purses and a long meet, trainers are able to make a living racing exclusively at Woodbine, without the need to ship to other tracks throughout the year.

If anything, Fort Erie has suffered the past few years while Woodbine seems to be going strong. Fort Erie doesn't have the quality of horses or purse size that Woodbine has.

Doubtful we will see a horse shortage at Woodbine anytime soon, as long as Maiden Allowance races keep running for $70k.


Same with the jockey > don't see too many of them ride elsewhere either. Think that this is the first year that David Cohen moved to the States for AQU. Can't think or remember any others this season.

[macguy]

Same with the jockey > don't see too many of them ride elsewhere either. Think that this is the first year that David Cohen moved to the States for AQU. Can't think or remember any others this season.


Chantal Sutherland has been trying to make a go at it in California this winter. Rumor is she's going to stay down there for the summer.

[lamboguy]

if she was smart, she would stay in canada this summer. she is to good a rider for california.

[macguy]

if she was smart, she would stay in canada this summer. she is to good a rider for california.


Easier money at Woodbine for her too. She's already established herself as a top rider in Ontario, she's pretty much starting from scratch in California.

[BIG49010]

http://www.nj.com/horse-racing/index.ssf/2011/04/monmouth_parks_five_year_lease_expectedI_to_go_to_ new_york_real_estate_developer.html

This is who is going to get the lease, it doesn't sound too bad.

[BIG49010]

http://media.nj.com/horse_racing/photo/9447530-large.jpgNoah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerJockeys gallop along the backstretch last May at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.
New York real estate developer Morris Bailey is expected to be awarded the five-year lease to Monmouth Park starting this summer after submitting the strongest of three bids for the shore racetrack by Thursday’s 5 p.m. deadline, according to three people familiar with the process.

The people requested anonymity because Bailey’s bid must now be forwarded to Gov. Chris Christie for approval.

Hialeah Park owner John Brunetti and the state’s Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association also submitted final bids by the deadline from the original eight parties (http://www.nj.com/horse-racing/index.ssf/2011/03/eight_perspective_lessees_deposit_checks_in_bid_to _lease_monmouth_park.html) that plunked down a $25,000 deposit.

Bailey, who purchased Resorts Casino last fall for $35 million, is a horse owner and a frequent patron of Monmouth Park. He also owns a home in Deal.

In addition to a five-year lease to Monmouth, the winning bidder will take control of the Woodbridge Off-Track Wagering facility and will have four additional licenses for OTWs in the state.

The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority put Monmouth Park up for lease after losing $6.1 million on the track last summer. (http://www.nj.com/horse-racing/index.ssf/2011/03/monmouth_parks_ownership_future_schedule_uncertain .html)

The state would only confirm that it “received multiple bids” for Monmouth by the deadline, according to Christie spokesperson Michael Drewniak.

Monmouth is scheduled to open May 14, with the new operator taking over no later than June 1, according to the terms of the lease.

It’s expected that approval for Bailey’s bid will be completed in a week to 10 days, the sources said. Still to be worked out is the length of the racing season, with legislation calling for 141 racing days but a new owner likely to seek a reduced meet to cut losses, possibly a 70-day meet similar to last year. Six of those days would be all grass races at the Meadowlands in the fall.

[castaway01]

The Monmouth/NJ issues has been dissected to death (I'll just say don't believe the numbers---trusting politicians is even dumber than trusting racetrack owners, yet their lies get repeated over and over), but I'll just say I wish the best to the new, um, renter and hope he can keep the quality of racing as high as it was last year, no matter the purses (that is not sarcasm, it was the most interesting racing at Monmouth in a long time).

[lamboguy]

what i can see is that no matter who gets monmouth, the place will not be the same as in years past. i would expect less racing dates and less purses. in case it goes to parx racing we know for sure what will happen. its not pretty for the prettiest racetrack in north america.

[Robert Goren]

what i can see is that no matter who gets monmouth, the place will not be the same as in years past. i would expect less racing dates and less purses. in case it goes to parx racing we know for sure what will happen. its not pretty for the prettiest racetrack in north america.Unless they are able to turn it to racino, it will not turn into Parx. As long as the only way they to make a buck is the racing business, they have to put some effort in to it. Whether they are smart enough or will get enough cooperation from the horsemen to turn it into a profitable business remains to be seen.

[ronsmac]

According to hana, the 2009 meet avg 7.4 horses per race. If they go back to a schedule similar to 09' the meet will be a disaster.

[onefast99]

Unless they are able to turn it to racino, it will not turn into Parx. As long as the only way they to make a buck is the racing business, they have to put some effort in to it. Whether they are smart enough or will get enough cooperation from the horsemen to turn it into a profitable business remains to be seen.
Good point Robert, mr Bailey will meet with Mr Gural and then the horseman and the unions. There is a lot of fat that needs to be cut out and hopefully Mr Bailey has the patience to deal with some of these groups. The water recycling project pay back was removed from the RFP as it should have been from day 1.

[Kelso]

I'll just say I wish the best to the new, um, renter and hope he can keep the quality of racing as high as it was last year,I hope he hires a Racing Secretary who understands the value of competitive fields. It won't matter if the entire meet is nothing but claimers (and the Haskell), so long as the results are not standard MTH chalk-heavy. If the Secretary produces competitive races, the new owner will see heavier handle without ridiculous purses.

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I hope he hires a Racing Secretary who understands the value of competitive fields. It won't matter if the entire meet is nothing but claimers (and the Haskell), so long as the results are not standard MTH chalk-heavy. If the Secretary produces competitive races, the new owner will see heavier handle without ridiculous purses.

If Bailey wins, there is a very good chance that you will be seeing the same faces in the Administration Building. He is close friends with all of them- unfortunately.

[Canarsie]

Just a hunch but since our Governor is so much casino friendly there must be more than meets the eye here. He recently vetoed online poker could a change of heart be in order? Did Mr. Bailey promise him donations from more than himself when aspires for higher office? Is Christie going to release the purse subsidy now?

I wish him the best in his endeavor. Just another opinion but to me he doesn't mind losing a few million to keep the racing product like it was last year.

[onefast99]

[QUOTE=Canarsie]Just a hunch but since our Governor is so much casino friendly there must be more than meets the eye here. He recently vetoed online poker could a change of heart be in order? Did Mr. Bailey promise him donations from more than himself when aspires for higher office? Is Christie going to release the purse subsidy now?

I wish him the best in his endeavor. Just another opinion but to me he doesn't mind losing a few million to keep the racing product like it was last year.[/QUOTe
Bailey can be seen at MP watching his horses run, he will do what he feels best for the sport and the longevity of racing. He has a lot to do to get this house in order but he is a man on a mission and the results will be a better product for everyone involved.

[Robert Goren]

If there is any subsidy from the casinos to Monmouth Park, Christie will lose all of his creditability as a tea party republican. I don't see it happening for that reason. It is going be up to the new management and the horsemen to make this work. I am not optimistic that the horsemen are willing give enough for it to have any chance of success, but you never know.

[lamboguy]

after 30 years of casino's in atlantic city, the state is dead broke. if the fleebags that own the casino's don't have to pay for purses the next step will be welfare for the casino's.


the purse payoff at least keeps the breeding industry alive in jersey that is more productive than slots.

[Kelso]

if the fleebags that own the casino's don't have to pay for purses the next step will be welfare for the casino's.This makes absolutely no sense. If the you expect the casinos to need welfare, where in hell are they going to get the money to continue paying welfare to the horsemen??? How does saving money increase one's need for welfare ... even in New Jersey?


the purse payoff at least keeps the breeding industry alive in jersey that is more productive than slots.The life, or death, of any state's breeding industry is of no legitimate concern to any casino.

[Hanover1]

Add to the mix that the flagship of harness is on life support in NJ, with new owner Gural stepping up to the plate, and it all makes for some interesting reading this summer....I don't expect the horsemen alone can fix this mess.

[alhattab]

Book's out $45k for open MSW, $75k overnite stakes. Using a rough rule of thumb based on 2010 $75k MSW and avg distribution of about $800k/day, you get something like $450-$500k/day. Not sure how they're doing that maybe the GOV is going to pony up after all.

[Robert Goren]

Book's out $45k for open MSW, $75k overnite stakes. Using a rough rule of thumb based on 2010 $75k MSW and avg distribution of about $800k/day, you get something like $450-$500k/day. Not sure how they're doing that maybe the GOV is going to pony up after all.Maybe they are going cut the takeout rates and see their handle sky rocket. Nah, that makes too much sense.

[ronsmac]

Goodbye full fields hello 7 horse fields ,with the exception of NJ bred races of course. Let's hope they at least have the sense to run 3 days a week or maybe just weekends for the entire meet.

[alhattab]

Goodbye full fields hello 7 horse fields ,with the exception of NJ bred races of course. Let's hope they at least have the sense to run 3 days a week or maybe just weekends for the entire meet.

State law requires 141 days. That requirement can be overcome by agreement w/horsemen like last year.

One thing I found out today is that some sort of rule/law requires J-bred races be run for a specified minimum purse over the same open company class. To circumvent this, they carded a J-bred maiden claimer with the claiming tag of $100k (otherwise they would have to run a J-bred MSW for $51k or so).

With NY running open maidens around $50k, Delaware around $40k and Parx @ $45k it is going to be a long summer.

[Robert Goren]

State law requires 141 days. That requirement can be overcome by agreement w/horsemen like last year.

One thing I found out today is that some sort of rule/law requires J-bred races be run for a specified minimum purse over the same open company class. To circumvent this, they carded a J-bred maiden claimer with the claiming tag of $100k (otherwise they would have to run a J-bred MSW for $51k or so).

With NY running open maidens around $50k, Delaware around $40k and Parx @ $45k it is going to be a long summer.Neither Parx or Del will get much handle. And furthermore, Parx's overnight sheets are not exactly cluttered with also eligibles.

[RXB]

One thing I found out today is that some sort of rule/law requires J-bred races be run for a specified minimum purse over the same open company class. To circumvent this, they carded a J-bred maiden claimer with the claiming tag of $100k (otherwise they would have to run a J-bred MSW for $51k or so).


Each racing state is becoming like a little walled fiefdom controlled by in-state breeders who churn out crappy horses that get to run for equal or higher purses in protected company-- i.e., against their ratty compatriots.

[ronsmac]

Neither Parx or Del will get much handle. And furthermore, Parx's overnight sheets are not exactly cluttered with also eligibles.
You must not be too familiar with racing in the east. If you've followed Monmouth the last 5 or 6 yrs. You'd have noticed the fields have been terrible with the exception of last yrs meet. The best from a gambling standpoint since the early to mid 80s. There are too many tracks in close proximity to race at the current purse levels, and have a meet worth betting . Unless you like 6 horse fields with 4/5 shots. Even Maryland is getting purse subsidies from slots now. Monmouth might as well just close permanently if the GOV. does not give the 15 mill. subsidy that was allready approved. Or allow the track to pursue slots like all the neighboring states.

[Robert Goren]

You must not be too familiar with racing in the east. If you've followed Monmouth the last 5 or 6 yrs. You'd have noticed the fields have been terrible with the exception of last yrs meet. The best from a gambling standpoint since the early to mid 80s. There are too many tracks in close proximity to race at the current purse levels, and have a meet worth betting . Unless you like 6 horse fields with 4/5 shots. Even Maryland is getting purse subsidies from slots now. Monmouth might as well just close permanently if the GOV. does not give the 15 mill. subsidy that was allready approved. Or allow the track to pursue slots like all the neighboring states.A horseman point of view. I do not own horses, never have, never will. I only bet on them. About only people who thought MP was great place to bet last year are horsemen. I am not the only gambler who has said so. Maybe you and your fellow horsemen think if you repeat that over enough somebody will believe you. If a gambler says different you and your fellow horsemen jump all over him. I am sick of horsemen telling me whats a good to bet is. It is my money you need, not some casino's or the NJ taxpayer's. Act like you want me to bet on a NJ run horse races. It would be a refreshing change. If the horsemen put as much effort into getting people to bet on their races as they do try to con money from the state they wouldn't need money from the state.
Tell how are all those racinos in neighboring states doing? The only thing that slots do is keep tracks going that people have stopped betting. Every horse that races in NJ is one less running some place else. There are too many tracks operating that area. I just find it strange that they are willing to compete for horses, but not gamblers. Like has stated before, there is over 3 million in takeout sensitive handle out there from the CA boycott, but not one race track has done anything to grab it. It all about the horsemen and not about gamblers anymore. I know sometimes I come off as hating NJ racing, but I just want them to put out a product that worth betting on. 75k md races and $1500 appearence fees just don't cut it.

[ronsmac]

Monmouth outhandled Philly, Deleware, and Pimlico combined last yr. So I guess you and your 2 friends that didn't like betting Mnth last yr were the only ones. Daily handle went up over 100 % and Field size 20%. Whether slots is good or bad for racing is debatable, what is not debatable is if all the tracks surrounding u have slots, then you have no chance. Maryland is a prime example of that. Takeout is high at all tracks, but listening to you, one would think Mth. is the only track who needs to lower the take. Maryland, Pa , and Deleware have slots and higher takeout rates. There are also a number of rebate shops that take Monmouths signal, which will lower your effective takeout.

[Robert Goren]

Monmouth outhandled Philly, Deleware, and Pimlico combined last yr. So I guess you and your 2 friends that didn't like betting Mnth last yr were the only ones. Daily handle went up over 100 % and Field size 20%. Whether slots is good or bad for racing is debatable, what is not debatable is if all the tracks surrounding u have slots, then you have no chance. Maryland is a prime example of that. Takeout is high at all tracks, but listening to you, one would think Mth. is the only track who needs to lower the take. Maryland, Pa , and Deleware have slots and higher takeout rates. There are also a number of rebate shops that take Monmouths signal, which will lower your effective takeout. And yet you want to copy what they are doing. More horseman logic. If Monmouth did so well last year handle wise, then why are they back asking for outside money. The simple fact is that they refuse to compete for the horseplayer's money like they do horses. It is like it is beneath their dignity.
Money from bets at rebate shops contribute little to a race track's bottom line, but it does wonders for the handle numbers. Depend on the deal it takes at least 5 dollars bet at one of them to equal one bet at the track. It could be as much as $10. Good luck trying to get those numbers, you get only very vague answers. But we do know when the tracks in IL and CA started to demand 6% of the handle from the ADWs last year, there was a public revolt. From what i have been able to garner, it highly unlikely that MP got even so much as 4% last year with 2-3% more likely.

[thespaah]

http://www.monmouthpark.com/calendardates.aspx?id=93

Looked at website today, back to small fields, small purses, and no interest!

It's going to be a long summer waiting for Saratoga to open!
condition book link..
Opening day has 15 races carded. Avg purse is $50k...
Parx condition book link through mid May...
http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=CB-PRX-20110423-20110524D

Looks like Mth's avg purse is higher than Parx. So will these tracks be competing for the same stock?...This is one the issues facing the game. Too many tracks operating simultaneously in close geographic proximity competing for the same horses.

[jelly]

I bet Monmouth a lot last year mainly because of the 15% takeout on the pk4 and pk5.The big fields didn't hurt either.

[Robert Goren]

I bet Monmouth a lot last year mainly because of the 15% takeout on the pk4 and pk5.The big fields didn't hurt either.Good for you. Too bad they won't give win and exacta betters the same 15% break.

[onefast99]

[QUOTE=thespaah]condition book link..
Opening day has 15 races carded. Avg purse is $50k...
Parx condition book link through mid May...
http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=CB-PRX-20110423-20110524D

Looks like Mth's avg purse is higher than Parx. So will these tracks be competing for the same stock?...This is one the issues facing the game. Too many tracks operating simultaneously in close geographic proximity competing for the same horses

Excellent point the object is to work together and no one does.

[point given]

are going on with Morris Bailey to take over on June 1st with dates subject to change from 141 days.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/62426/njsea-confirms-monmouth-lease-negotiations

[BIG49010]

Rather quiet these days, do you think they cut the race week?

[BIG49010]

The deal calls for 71 racing days at Monmouth Park through the fall this year, with an average of around $400,000 in purse money daily, or about $28.4 million in total purse money.

http://www.app.com/article/20110506/NJNEWS/305060017/Racing-toward-deal-Monmouth-Park?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage


:jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump:

[thespaah]

The deal calls for 71 racing days at Monmouth Park through the fall this year, with an average of around $400,000 in purse money daily, or about $28.4 million in total purse money.

http://www.app.com/article/20110506/NJNEWS/305060017/Racing-toward-deal-Monmouth-Park?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage


:jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump:
11 freaking unions?!!! For Christ's sake get these union thugs the hell off the property.
LAbor is the number one largest percentage cost of doing business.
If the new lessee can negotiate wages downward or just take it on the chin this year then at the end of the union's contracts, tell them he no longer wishes to do business with the unions, perhaps costs can be brought under control and a return to break even will be possible.
All things considered there is 100% probability of losing money with the current labor situation in place.

[Robert Goren]

11 freaking unions?!!! For Christ's sake get these union thugs the hell off the property.
LAbor is the number one largest percentage cost of doing business.
If the new lessee can negotiate wages downward or just take it on the chin this year then at the end of the union's contracts, tell them he no longer wishes to do business with the unions, perhaps costs can be brought under control and a return to break even will be possible.
All things considered there is 100% probability of losing money with the current labor situation in place. Not true of the horse racing business. The purses are by far and the way the biggest cost to any race track. The cashiers, etc could work nothing and NJ racing would still lose money with the purse structure they have.

[thespaah]

Not true of the horse racing business. The purses are by far and the way the biggest cost to any race track. The cashiers, etc could work nothing and NJ racing would still lose money with the purse structure they have.Well if you can produce a link containing some kind of material that backs up your claim, I'm all ears.
For now, I stand by my statement. Labor is the highest percentage cost of doing business. Now understand what that means. Labor does not necessarily cost the most. Labor is the highest percentage expense.
Typically labor costs are in the 30 to 40% range.
For example...
Let's say Mth has 1,000 employees. Now remembering that labor is stright cost, comes off the top and generates no revenue, let's say the average wage is $50,000 per year. Sounds about right given the fact that these people are represented by unions. We also want to throw in medical benefits and of course their pensions. So that could very well add 25% to the cost of each worker....
So now we're up to $62,500 per .....Times 1,000 that's a payroll of $62 million er year. Purse distribution is $26 million...
So unless these union people are makiig HALF of the hypothetical $50k per year( highly doubt that) Pay roll is nearly three times purses....Now even if the track has just 500 employees, the labor is still 30 million bucks.
I am not quite understanding your point here.
What's more important, paying purses to insure decent stock and larger fields are there for the bettors or linmoing the pockets of workers who could easily be replaced with cheaper non union labor?
Or are you arguing just to argue.
Is that what they do in Nebraska when there's no corn or wheat to harvest/plant?

[Robert Goren]

http://www.jockeyclub.com/roundtable_07.asp?section=3
according this article, the track and the horsemen receive approximately the same percentage of the takeout in NY. The track has to pay for a lot of things other than cashier wages out their share. Things like track upkeep , utility bills computers to run the wagering, etc
I could not find what happens in NJ last year. Most of what went on with NJ racing is very hard to find because they lost money. When something makes money, the numbers are all over the place, but when they lose money, well.....

[Robert Goren]

Is that what they do in Nebraska when there's no corn or wheat to harvest/plant? We watch NJ shores. You must be really proud of Snooki and her gang.

[thespaah]

http://www.jockeyclub.com/roundtable_07.asp?section=3
according this article, the track and the horsemen receive approximately the same percentage of the takeout in NY. The track has to pay for a lot of things other than cashier wages out their share. Things like track upkeep , utility bills computers to run the wagering, etc
I could not find what happens in NJ last year. Most of what went on with NJ racing is very hard to find because they lost money. When something makes money, the numbers are all over the place, but when they lose money, well.....
True. You made a statement that implied fact. I simply challenged that statement.
I based my figures on wages from the numbers paid to for example the mutuel tellers at the Meadowlands ($24.00/ hr). Tellers are very likely among the lowest paid workers on track. To simplify ,I took their wages which can get into the hoigh 40K range if they work 5 shifts per week and bumped it to $50k for clarity sake.
The bottom line is both of the people looking to operate NJSEA properties are focusing on reducing labor costs. That to me translates to the lesee's analysis concludes that labor costs are excessive and for the lesee's deals to work, labor costs must be reduced.
I say this fully realizing that in some people's minds the moment unions are invloved with any notion of pay and benefit reduction, the knee jerk reaction is "It's union busting"...
That phrase no longer carries the evil connotation it once did.
People in this country just do not have empathy for union people or unions anymore.
So my reaction to "union busting" is....So what. Who cares.

[thespaah]

We watch NJ shores. You must be really proud of Snooki and her gang.Here's the thing..None of the cast members are from NJ....
And yes I grew up around these "guidos" I depsised every single one of them.
The women filthy mouthed high manitenence stock holders in one or more of the many makeup companies...They had to be. Otherwise how in the hell could they afford to put on those clown faces each day...
The men, short tempered, quick fisted, Mr T starter kit wearing jackasses.

[Robert Goren]

True. You made a statement that implied fact. I simply challenged that statement.
I based my figures on wages from the numbers paid to for example the mutuel tellers at the Meadowlands ($24.00/ hr). Tellers are very likely among the lowest paid workers on track. To simplify ,I took their wages which can get into the hoigh 40K range if they work 5 shifts per week and bumped it to $50k for clarity sake.
The bottom line is both of the people looking to operate NJSEA properties are focusing on reducing labor costs. That to me translates to the lesee's analysis concludes that labor costs are excessive and for the lesee's deals to work, labor costs must be reduced.
I say this fully realizing that in some people's minds the moment unions are invloved with any notion of pay and benefit reduction, the knee jerk reaction is "It's union busting"...
That phrase no longer carries the evil connotation it once did.
People in this country just do not have empathy for union people or unions anymore.
So my reaction to "union busting" is....So what. Who cares.You can subsutute Horsemen for unions as far I am concerned. Why should I care about a group that will not police its own and fights every move to get to get the cheaters and dopers out the sport? The stunt pulled with Uncle Mo gives racing a bad name on its biggest day. Yet not not one horseman is saying something to the people involved. The same trainer dirty the name racing last fall at the Breeders Cup. Again no hue and cry from the horsemen. Clean up your own act before you go blaming racing's woes on the teller's wages.

[onefast99]

Opening Day & Great Destinations Travel Show

Saturday, May 14, 2011


Monmmouth Park is set to open for another great season of racing. June marks another big change this year for the NJ racing scene, new track management will be in place under Morris Bailey and not under the direction of the NJSEA. Purses will equate to $440-500K per each race day. The highlight of the meet, purse wise, will take place on Haskell day Sunday July 31st.