“[A]nybody who takes this report lightly is sadly mistaken,” said John Campbell in a New York Times article highlighting the grim recommendations for New Jersey racing made in a committee report released by New Jersey Governor

Chris Christie in January. “The governor put the committee together for a reason, and if this is what they are recommending, this is a scary situation.”

The report recommends solutions for the financial problems of the Sports and Exposition Authority, a state-run agency that owns the Meadowlands, Monmouth Park and portions of the state’s off-track betting system. Suggestions include commercial redevelopment of the Meadowlands Racetrack, possibly as a NASCAR facility, and drastically reducing the number of racing days at Monmouth Park.

“If they follow through with some of these recommendations, is it the end of racing in New Jersey? Yes, it will be the end of racing in New Jersey,” Tom Luchento, president of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, was quoted as saying in the article. “They’ll be leaving New Jersey in caravans for tracks for other states.”

To read the New York Times article in its entirety, click here.

(With files from the New York Times)

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