Status of Jersey Racing - An Inside Take

[Kelso]

Submitted to the Asbury Park Press, 8/26/07, by Dennis Drazin, President of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association:

APP.COM - Corzine must add horse racing to his priority list | Asbury Park Press Online


From the article (emphasis added):

"There are things that can be done while a long-term solution for our industry is advanced. Most importantly, the governor needs to aggressively move forward on establishment of 15 off-track wagering facilities. These facilities were to produce upwards of $20 million for horsemen and $40 million for racetrack operators — money that racing and breeding desperately needs.
The law to establish these facilities was passed in 2001. It is now 2007 and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority still has not opened a facility while its partner, who is also a competitor from Pennsylvania, has opened one in Vineland. There is nothing horsemen can do about it because it is in the hands of the racetrack operator, who happens to be the state of New Jersey.

New Jersey racing and breeding interests are now in panic mode because we are only four months away from the end of the year and nothing has been done to ensure a viable racing season for next year and subsequent years.

Contrary to incorrect information given by the casino industry, the deal with the casino industry to supplement purses ends Dec. 31. Without a supplement or another mechanism for generating revenue for purses starting Jan. 1, New Jersey racing may as well pick up a shovel and dig its own grave."

[HorseRun]

sounds like they waited a little too long to start worrying now....they have no one to blame but themselves and that idiot Zoffinger, was more concerned about his sons law firm getting business than actually building OTB network

[Milleruszk]

The casino lobby is against any expansion of gambling outside of AC. The NJ
politicians have been bought by the casino lobby. The longer they can drag this out the better for their pals in AC. They don't really give a damn about racing.

[HorseRun]

the problem is the morons in AC can NOT control gambling OUTSIDE AC, they can ONLY control it INSIDE NJ, its now everywhere just outside AC/NJ and until they realize that, it will be too late and they will all suffer, casinos, NJ horsemen and hopefully all the crooked politicians as well

[o_crunk]

The governor needs to come to Monmouth Park and see how all of the improvements made to the track over the past year have been the catalyst to a successful season.



yes, please come and see the place is an effin' construction site. the first thing he'll see coming in from the paddock entrance is a cafeteria that's been torn up and under construction all season long. a blight.

then he'll see concession stands slapped together or still under construction.

then he'll see a grandstand that doesn't look like one dollar was spent on it out of the 30 mill supposed 'imporvements'

then he'll see toteboards that don't work on haskell day.

then he'll see some of the plant life and bushes all torn up and not replaced. a multi million dollar turf course that has had it's rails out all summer long.

then maybe he'll see where all that 30 mill went...to a couple thousand flat screen teevees that aren't much bigger or better placed than the old ones.

i'm SURE having the gov check out the track will really do wonders

----

if i was a breeders cup rep checking out the place a mear 56 days away i would be mighty concerned.

[o_crunk]

oh...and these are the fools that had the whole thing so well planned out that they took away a month of racing at nj 'crown jewel' of tracks because they were so 'prepared' for the breeders cup.

i hear this dude drazin say all the time that the BC at mth should not be a one time event....

these dudes are straight up delusional

[speedking]

Originally Posted by o_crunk

oh...and these are the fools that had the whole thing so well planned out that they took away a month of racing at nj 'crown jewel' of tracks because they were so 'prepared' for the breeders cup.

i hear this dude drazin say all the time that the BC at mth should not be a one time event....

these dudes are straight up delusional

Drazin is a lawyer (at least his law firm has been well paid by the NJ horsemen for representation)...Need I say more?

speedking

Originally Posted by Milleruszk

The casino lobby is against any expansion of gambling outside of AC. The NJ
politicians have been bought by the casino lobby. The longer they can drag this out the better for their pals in AC. They don't really give a damn about racing.

The post after this, about how AC needs to wake up to the fact gambling is everywhere now, is also true. (They slowly are doing so, but the fact they tried to keep any other "attractions" from opening in AC that might take people out of the casinos and, say, shopping is coming back to haunt them.) However, Milleruszk's post sums up the "mystery" of why the 15 off-track betting parlors haven't opened around the state (I think there's one open in Vineland). Simple as that. Of course money that would be bet off track is a drop in the bucket compared to what the casinos have lost to slots in PA and other states, but they're holding on to every penny they can. I guess that's what they're in business for, but it's a shame for horseplayers.