up for grabs: Monmouth Park and 4 OTW's

[The_Knight_Sky]

RFP Being Developed for Monmouth Park Suitors - By Tom LaMarra

New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officials are preparing a request for proposals for parties interested in purchasing Monmouth Park.

The Monmouth RFP will include provisions for four off-track wagering parlors assigned to the NJSEA. Christie recently conditionally vetoed OTW legislation and suggested changes in light of ongoing negotiations; the bill currently requires license-holders to show “progress” in developing OTW parlors by January 2012.

Thus far the NJSEA has opened only one of nine possible betting facilities. Two private track operators in New Jersey have each opened one, but they only each get three.

[Robert Goren]

P T Barnum once said "There is a sucker born every minute." This will put his theory to the test.

[onefast99]

As I mentioned several weeks ago when you posted on the Meadowlands 4 sale sign appearing in the wondow, the present administration feels as if the NJSEA cannot run its race-tracks so the 4-sale sign is now out at MP. A few things to scare off any potential buyer would be the inability of the OTW's to eventually be built due to the towns fighting them(Greenbrook NJ for one)and the possibility the Meadowlands fails and eventually becomes a full casino. Add the NY slots and probably eventual full casinos to the mix which would keep those NYC betting dollars right in New York. Combine that with the issuance of the OTW licenses to the owners of AC and Freehold(allowed 3) and the competition for those horse racing dollars would make any investor think twice before getting involved.

[Canarsie]

Who gets to run exchange wagering if private investors are buying the tracks?

I wonder if Dave Weaver being dropped by TVG has anything to do with the first question.

I don't think Gural is buying (hope I'm dead wrong) is buying the Meadowlands but if I'm wrong wonder if TVG has a deal to broadcast Tioga. That also goes to question one.

Old Bridge would a great location for an ADW right on the Monmouth/Middlesex border. I know a perfect location if the BJ's warehouse ever decides not to renew their lease. The law banning ADW's in Monmouth also needs to be repealed.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by Canarsie

Old Bridge would a great location for an ADW right on the Monmouth/Middlesex border.

I'm not 100% sure if Old Bridge wants to host OTW at this time.
But it's about 15 minutes from Woodbridge and
that sports-bar OTW is nearly always packed.
So there's interest in the Central NJ area for sure.

Convenience is the name of the game.

That said I think there should be OTW's on the northern NJ border
where New Yorkers can travel in and play without the ridiculous OTB surcharge.
Also a few on the western border (including Cherry Hill) would take advantage of people unwilling to travel out of state on a regular basis.

[onefast99]

Also a few on the western border (including Cherry Hill) would take advantage of people unwilling to travel out of state on a regular basis.

There lies the problem if you think Parx is going to let an OTW in the Cherry Hill area without a fight you are mistaken. It has been rumored for quite a while that the site selected by the NJSEA at the Cherry Hill Mall seems to be taking forever to get up and running. Wonder why.

[point given]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

I'm not 100% sure if Old Bridge wants to host OTW at this time.
But it's about 15 minutes from Woodbridge and
that sports-bar OTW is nearly always packed.
So there's interest in the Central NJ area for sure.

Convenience is the name of the game.

That said I think there should be OTW's on the northern NJ border
where New Yorkers can travel in and play without the ridiculous OTB surcharge.
Also a few on the western border (including Cherry Hill) would take advantage of people unwilling to travel out of state on a regular basis.

You can pay a $5 admission at Suffern otb and get track prices there FYI.

[Canarsie]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

I'm not 100% sure if Old Bridge wants to host OTW at this time.
But it's about 15 minutes from Woodbridge and
that sports-bar OTW is nearly always packed.
So there's interest in the Central NJ area for sure.

Convenience is the name of the game.

That said I think there should be OTW's on the northern NJ border
where New Yorkers can travel in and play without the ridiculous OTB surcharge.
Also a few on the western border (including Cherry Hill) would take advantage of people unwilling to travel out of state on a regular basis.

I have given up going to Favorites you can't get a seat, it's insane. I have no idea why Old Bridge would want one they have tons of room for it. A location off Rt. 9 would be a slightly longer drive for the Staten Island gambler but my hunch is that they would make it much larger.

Sayreville would be another good spot they are business friendly. Of course putting one or more in Monmouth would be the best bet.

[Robert Goren]

One of sad facts of horse racing is that most people would rather have an adult bookstore open in their neighborhood than an OTW.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by point given

You can pay a $5 admission at Suffern otb and get track prices there FYI.

That's something to keep in mind. I've heard it's "filthy" though.

A few Meadowlands patrons on NFL shut-out days, go to the closer Pearl River OTB (surcharge)

Originally Posted by point given

I have given up going to Favorites you can't get a seat, it's insane.

As Yogi Berra used to say...

"It's so crowded, no one goes there anymore".

And he's right. The parking lot is always packed if you don't get there at least 30 minutes before the first race of the day on weekends.

As a result, Yogi and I go elsewhere.

[DSB]

I've been reading this thread for some time and maybe some things need clarification.

First, the OTW sites can't just go anywhere a racetrack wants to put them. If memory serves me correctly, each track was given a territory bounded by county lines, and was given the right to place one in each county up to the maximum each track was allotted.

Woodbridge is in Middlesex County. So anyone who thinks places like Old Bridge or Sayreville would be a good place to put one - it is pre-empted by law because the NJSEA opted to put one in Woodbridge already. I think the NJSEA has the right to place others in counties such as Essex, Bergen, etc. You would have to look up the particulars.

Freehold Raceway was given Ocean, Mercer, Camden, and maybe one other... I'm not sure. But the main one - the OTW which has already been approved by Cherry Hill - has not gotten off the ground. The reason is that Parx, which is a 50 /50 partner with Penn Gaming on the Freehold deal, will not permit a potentially major competitor to its Pa. track and Philly OTB's, and is fighting Penn Gaming to prevent it from being built. There is an ongoing lawsuit between Parx and Penn to resolve the matter.

If ever there has been a good reason for the state to force the divestiture of racing assets, this is it. What has happened in the case of Freehold is that two big out-of-state companies - with detrimental interests to the good of racing in NJ - have hampered the progress of the nation's oldest parimutuel harness track.

Everything at Freehold has been slashed - including racing days. If Penn Gaming and Parx - known as Pennwood - had their way, there would be no live racing at all, just simulcasting at the plant and its OTW sites.

[Steve 'StatMan']

Originally Posted by Robet Goren

P T Barnum once said "There is a sucker born every minute." This will put his theory to the test.

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

One of sad facts of horse racing is that most people would rather have an adult bookstore open in their neighborhood than an OTW.

There might be a corellaion!

[The_Knight_Sky]

Betfair seeking to purchase Monmouth Park.

Betfair wants to raise its stake in the New Jersey racing industry, said Stephen Burn, the chief executive officer for the TVG horse racing television network, a Betfair subsidiary.

The company broadened its U.S. presence in 2009 when it bought TVG for $50 million.

Betfair has successfully lobbied to bring exchange wagering to New Jersey. The new eBay form of gambling, where bettors with opposing opinions are paired at fixed odds, was signed into law by Christie on Jan. 31, though the program is on hold until the betting rules are reviewed by the state Attorney General's Office.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/artic...-Monmouth-Park

[Vinman]

Originally Posted by Canarsie

Who gets to run exchange wagering if private investors are buying the tracks?

I wonder if Dave Weaver being dropped by TVG has anything to do with the first question.

I don't think Gural is buying (hope I'm dead wrong) is buying the Meadowlands but if I'm wrong wonder if TVG has a deal to broadcast Tioga. That also goes to question one.

Old Bridge would a great location for an ADW right on the Monmouth/Middlesex border. I know a perfect location if the BJ's warehouse ever decides not to renew their lease. The law banning ADW's in Monmouth also needs to be repealed.

Where/when was it announced that Dave Weaver is leaving TVG?

This would seem rather odd, especially after Todd & Simon actually made an audio clip right on the air last weekend of the Phil Collins song they always use to razz Dave about betting a certain Quarterhorse trainer.....Zamudio (sp?)

Just a week or two ago Simon snuck up on Dave and gave him a pie in the face as Dave was doing a live trackside interview at Los Alamitos. Was that all part of the pink slip ritual? I just took a look at the TVG on air talent page on their website. His mug is still there. Google search of "Dave Weaver leaving TVG" articles turned up nada. What gives?


Vinman

[Mike_412]

Maybe the poster meant Dave Brower from the Meadowlands? He used to do segments during Drive Time with Gary Seibel, but was dropped at the beginning of the year I believe.

I do find it interesting that Betfair wants to bid on Monmouth Park. Do they really want it or is it to help ensure they receive the betting exchange contract? Any opinions?