Meadowlands critcally endangered, sulkies could come to Monmouth

[andtheyreoff]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...nds-after-2011

Excerpts:

Live racing at the nation’s premier harness track would end under a recommendation from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s panel on the future of casinos and racetracks in the state.

A commission chaired by developer Jon Hanson released a supplemental report Nov. 15 saying there is no way New Jersey can support two state-run tracks. For that reason, it proposes ending live racing at Meadowlands and consolidating it at Monmouth Park.

The proposal would allow a six-day Standardbred meet at Meadowlands next August. Standardbreds would race 30 days at Monmouth in the fall of 2011, and have a 70-day meet there in subsequent years.

__________________________________________________ ________


As an NJ resident, I may be biased, but is running standardbreds at MP the best idea, much less in the fall? Crowds are already practically non-existant for the fall T-bred stand (last Saturday, I counted about 30 people in the seats at post time for the 10th), imagine how low attendance and handle would go at a harness meet. In addition, the surface would need to be changed dramatically to allow for both harness horses and thoroughbreds to compete.

The obvious solution, of course, would be to sell the Meadowlands Racetrack to a private enitity (sp?). If two state run tracks would be too much, then having just 1 run by the state and 1 by a seperate company would be the better solution for NJ racing and harness racing in general (Pardon me if this is not allowed for some reason).

[onefast99]

I posted this over a month ago and some people thought it was pure BS. This story has been around the MP backside for quite a while now. It looks as if the Meadowlands may be used for something else, hopefully a casino!

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by onefast99

I posted this over a month ago and some people thought it was pure BS. This story has been around the MP backside for quite a while now. It looks as if the Meadowlands may be used for something else, hopefully a casino!

Did you read the Bloodhorse article linked by the O.P. ?
The same shenanigans from the same old casino allies.

They want to ultimately demolish the racetracks so as early as 2012 so
as a favor to the casinos.
Horse Racing would get phased out in the state with little or nothing in return.
__________________________

I posted the excellent Finley article last week:
What's best for NJ? Christie don't care
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ho...bill&id=5796039

Most people in New Jersey horse racing circles think it's far more nefarious than that, that he has formed an alliance with Atlantic City in an attempt to put horse racing in the state out of business so the casinos can come in and have the Meadowlands all to themselves.

[onefast99]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

Did you read the Bloodhorse article linked by the O.P. ?
The same shenanigans from the same old casino allies.

They want to ultimately demolish the racetracks so as early as 2012 so
as a favor to the casinos.
Horse Racing would get phased out in the state with little or nothing in return.
__________________________

I posted the excellent Finley article last week:
What's best for NJ? Christie don't care
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ho...bill&id=5796039

Most people in New Jersey horse racing circles think it's far more nefarious than that, that he has formed an alliance with Atlantic City in an attempt to put horse racing in the state out of business so the casinos can come in and have the Meadowlands all to themselves.

It is more evident now that Christi doesn't want horse racing to survive. The best part is that his commission member(s)may have the most to gain if he does decide to do a free-standing casino at the current racetrack site, that is a lot of money that some of these developers will walk away with. The only word I can think of to describe this panel that the Governor assembled is biased.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by onefast99

The best part is that his commission member(s)may have the most to gain if he does decide to do a free-standing casino at the current racetrack site, that is a lot of money that some of these developers will walk away with.

I'm still surprised that the current leadership of the NJSEA are not correcting
the untruths being presented in the media by this commission.

I'm concerned that speaking out on January 1, 2011 may be too late to correct the situation.

_____________________________________

The Star Ledger reports:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...ommends_m.html

It added the property at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford "is simply too valuable to be occupied by a money losing business."
A spokesman for the governor did not respond to requests for comment.

The head of New Jersey’s harness racing association, however, called the plan "a death sentence" for horse racing in the state.

"It’s completely and utterly a death sentence," said Tom Luchento, president of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey. "The harness and thoroughbred and breeding and other industries such as the pleasure horses depend on us. They will go down, too. When the veterinarians and the farmers leave and even the hay people and blacksmiths, they fold up, too, in the state. They will all fold."

[onefast99]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

I'm still surprised that the current leadership of the NJSEA are not correcting
the untruths being presented in the media by this commission.

I'm concerned that speaking out on January 1, 2011 may be too late to correct the situation.

_____________________________________

The Star Ledger reports:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...ommends_m.html

It added the property at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford "is simply too valuable to be occupied by a money losing business."
A spokesman for the governor did not respond to requests for comment.

The head of New Jersey’s harness racing association, however, called the plan "a death sentence" for horse racing in the state.

"It’s completely and utterly a death sentence," said Tom Luchento, president of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey. "The harness and thoroughbred and breeding and other industries such as the pleasure horses depend on us. They will go down, too. When the veterinarians and the farmers leave and even the hay people and blacksmiths, they fold up, too, in the state. They will all fold."

The NJSEA will not give up that very valuable piece of property. There has to be a plan worked out to appease all involved. Once the new year comes in look for the NJSEA to comment a lot on this subject.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by onefast99

The NJSEA will not give up that very valuable piece of property.

onefast99 -

What is the relationship between the current members of the NJSEA
and the ex-members like Hanson and Mulcahy?

NJ SBOA president Luchento called it a death sentence.
Hall of Fame driver John Campbell called it "unbelievable".
Not such quotes reported yet from the thoroughbred side.

Things are getting interesting right now.
Too close for comfort.

The commission recommends both tracks be sold.
Who would actually buy The Meadowlands under a "no live racing" condition?

[onefast99]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

onefast99 -

What is the relationship between the current members of the NJSEA
and the ex-members like Hanson and Mulcahy?

NJ SBOA president Luchento called it a death sentence.
Hall of Fame driver John Campbell called it "unbelievable".
Not such quotes reported yet from the thoroughbred side.

Things are getting interesting right now.
Too close for comfort.

The commission recommends both tracks be sold.
Who would actually buy The Meadowlands under a "no live racing" condition?

Mulcahy who was the former President of the NJSEA, left that position and became AD at Rutgers, he was foced out of that position and I guess Mr Christi felt he could use him on his advisory panel based on the great job he did at RU with revelations of secret deals with football coach Greg Schiano and the awarding of a no-bid sports marketing contract given out to a company where his son was on the payroll. Hanson once was the chairman of the NJSEA and it seems as if he has a very limited education as far as the horse racing industry goes. As you know the advisory panel is not paid, so therefor they are not bound by the open meeting laws or the open public records act. You can't script this any better!

[owlet]

You guys lament the actions of the State, but what about the fact that neither Meadowlands nor Monthmouth are profitable and can't survive on their own. Christ said so at the beginning of the Mon. meet-THE BUSINESS MODEL IS UNSUSTAINABLE. Blame the governor, blame the casions but he business is UNSUSTINABLE.

Look, you run a steel factory. You can't make money (for whatever reason, competition, changing consumer tastes, etc.). Do you seriously expect someone to hand you money because you "used" to be important? Because you generate jobs?

Get serioius.

[onefast99]

Originally Posted by owlet

You guys lament the actions of the State, but what about the fact that neither Meadowlands nor Monthmouth are profitable and can't survive on their own. Christ said so at the beginning of the Mon. meet-THE BUSINESS MODEL IS UNSUSTAINABLE. Blame the governor, blame the casions but he business is UNSUSTINABLE.

Look, you run a steel factory. You can't make money (for whatever reason, competition, changing consumer tastes, etc.). Do you seriously expect someone to hand you money because you "used" to be important? Because you generate jobs?

Get serioius.

The NJSEA underperformed as the entity that ran the horse racing industry. The casino industry has been given huge tax breaks as well as gifts from the NJSEA in the form of the new Convention center for one which by the way brings conventions into AC and not one dollar goes back to the NJSEA. The NJSEA owns MP and the Meadowlands, the Meadowlands is one of the most coveted pieces of real estate in the world today. The business model is flawed and no one wants to fix it they just want it to go away. The reality is the industry has deeply planted roots in this state and the people of NJ will not let it disappear while monies from the state government are sent to AC in an attempt to raise it from the dead. Let the NJSEA build out more OTW's and work off the less is better theory for racing dates with decent purses. A casino at the Meadowlands is NJ's best bet.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by owlet

You guys lament the actions of the State, but what about the fact
that neither Meadowlands nor Monmouth are profitable and can't survive on their own.

I think the truth is severely twisted. I don't think you can have a more successful Elite Summer Meet than they did at Monmouth Park this year.
Sure it was helped by the subsidies for this year but the three day/week format seems to be promising. Monmouth deserves a shot at making it into the black in the near future.

If you look back more than 10 to 15 years ago, both Monmouth and the Meadowlands were very good performers. How good? We'll never really know if the revenues were funneled out of horse racing and into ill-advised projects around the state. The simulcasting business at the Meadowlands has always been terrific and has kept the track afloat in the lean times.

Right now, it's obvious that The Hanson Commission wants to demolish The Meadowlands Racetrack and put up casino(s) in the same location.That doesn't help horse racing if it the Meadowlands casino is fully owned by Atlantic City factions.

It is important to understand that ulterior motives are at play here.
Just about everyone in South Jersey knows that Atlantic City is a lost cause today. They want to move into some highly valued real estate up north at the expense of a major industry in the state.

[DRIVEWAY]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

I think the truth is severely twisted. I don't think you can have a more successful Elite Summer Meet than they did at Monmouth Park this year.
Sure it was helped by the subsidies for this year but the three day/week format seems to be promising. Monmouth deserves a shot at making it into the black in the near future.

If you look back more than 10 to 15 years ago, both Monmouth and the Meadowlands were very good performers. How good? We'll never really know if the revenues were funneled out of horse racing and into ill-advised projects around the state. The simulcasting business at the Meadowlands has always been terrific and has kept the track afloat in the lean times.

Right now, it's obvious that The Hanson Commission wants to demolish The Meadowlands Racetrack and put up casino(s) in the same location.That doesn't help horse racing if it the Meadowlands casino is fully owned by Atlantic City factions.

It is important to understand that ulterior motives are at play here.
Just about everyone in South Jersey knows that Atlantic City is a lost cause today. They want to move into some highly valued real estate up north at the expense of a major industry in the state.

Your conclusions are 1000% on the money.

[Hambletonian]

It was nice while it lasted, best standardbred track in the country, the view from the Pegasus was unbelievable, decent racing nearly year round that held it's own...but apparently the doofus you folks elected has decided that he cant live without the AC on all the time.

AC, the corrupt cesspool/sinkhole of the gambliong world, where all the jobs and money coming in and not leaving really did not a whit of good to the surrounding area..a place I visited once, saw a racebook that sucked even by NYC OTB standards, and never wished to revisit.

I love AC Race Course, Monmouth and the Meadowlands are special, and it is all about to be a crying shame for alot of people. You can talk all you want about whether there should be year round racing in every state, but we are not Europe, horses train at the track and not regional farms, and the effect on all aspects of the racetrack community from track workers to breeders is devestating when you end up with just a few months of racing.

Let's face it, the Monmouth meet this year was probably a one off, if they could do that with their own money and not the subsidy that would be one thing, but they can't. How the preeminent harness track on this side of the Atlantic Ocean is not worth saving is beyond me. Moving it to a toxic waste site (maybe appropriate in that it is not exactly a pristine area where it sits right now, or to share Monmouth Park, it just makes no sense at all.

Great governor you have there, better enjoy live racing while you can folks.

[GatetoWire]

Originally Posted by Hambletonian

It was nice while it lasted, best standardbred track in the country, the view from the Pegasus was unbelievable, decent racing nearly year round that held it's own...but apparently the doofus you folks elected has decided that he cant live without the AC on all the time.

AC, the corrupt cesspool/sinkhole of the gambliong world, where all the jobs and money coming in and not leaving really did not a whit of good to the surrounding area..a place I visited once, saw a racebook that sucked even by NYC OTB standards, and never wished to revisit.

I love AC Race Course, Monmouth and the Meadowlands are special, and it is all about to be a crying shame for alot of people. You can talk all you want about whether there should be year round racing in every state, but we are not Europe, horses train at the track and not regional farms, and the effect on all aspects of the racetrack community from track workers to breeders is devestating when you end up with just a few months of racing.

Let's face it, the Monmouth meet this year was probably a one off, if they could do that with their own money and not the subsidy that would be one thing, but they can't. How the preeminent harness track on this side of the Atlantic Ocean is not worth saving is beyond me. Moving it to a toxic waste site (maybe appropriate in that it is not exactly a pristine area where it sits right now, or to share Monmouth Park, it just makes no sense at all.

Great governor you have there, better enjoy live racing while you can folks.

The reason the Meadowlands cannot survive is that there is now way too much competition for the horses they need to run a world class meet.

You cannot have Yonkers, Pocono, Monticello, Chester, Dover and Saratoga Harness all running harness meets fueled by slots and expect the Meadowlands to survive.

The Meadowlands was a great place to bet and watch the races at when they had the best horses.
Once these other tracks started to take away the best horses the handle dipped....leading to lower purses....leading to a little lower class racing....and into the downward spiral.

Monmouth will have the same fate now that there is no purse boost. Who is going to race there when you can race in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York for twice the money?

Slots have just created a welfare state that has allowed these tracks to continue to operate.

Lets be honest do we really need all of these tracks on the East Coast????
I love visiting them but we have too many tracks racing against each other.
None of them are profitable on there own.

It's just sad

This is what you get when you go on welfare (Slots) to survive!!!!!

Imagine how great the racing would be if we had half the tracks we have now. We might generate enough handle to support ourselves instead of taking hand outs from the casino.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by Hambletonian

How the preeminent harness track on this side of the Atlantic Ocea
is not worth saving is beyond me. Moving it to a toxic waste site
(maybe appropriate in that it is not exactly a pristine area where it
sits right now, or to share Monmouth Park, it just makes no sense at all.

I wouldn't mind a relocation of the racetrack as long as it is a 1 mile track and it benefits from casino revenues that may start up on the current racetrack property. But that's a looong way off.

Right now the Standard Bred Owners and Breeders Association won't go quietly. On the thoroughbred side it's quiet, but they too may be phased out
if they can't fund the purses to compete at Monmouth Park. Right now time is of the essence.
_______________________________

Press release from the NJSBOA:

Racing is not a money-losing venture, according to Luchento.

“It is not our fault that the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority is losing money,” he explained. “They have had to take on projects at the request of a succession of governors. These were money losers.

“We have been working with our legislators to put together a package of bills that will make it possible for racing to be self-supporting by 2013,” he added. “The Hanson Report ignores these plans and disregards the efforts of the senators and assembly members.

“We hope that Governor Chris Christie will take the time to listen to our ideas and reject the Hanson Report,” Luchento said. “Failing to do so will open up a can of worms, including legal action.”