Speaking at a racing symposium at Perretti Farms earlier this week, New Jersey State Senator Jennifer Beck cut to the bone in regard to the state's fight with its neighbours in regard to gaming competition

.

Speaking specifically about the competition problems that the Meadowlands has faced over the past couple of years, Senator Beck cut directly to the bone.

“I suggest to you that as the negative is stated about our industry (the horse racing industry), that we continuously remind folks that this industry generated a profit right through 2007," Beck was quoted as saying by Harness Tracks of America. "It wasn’t until that moment in time, when Pennsylvania opened up its casinos, that we saw the decline.

"Horse racing can be self-sustaining. There is no doubt. But we failed to react to the competition on our borders. New Jersey is to blame, not the horse racing industry.”

State Assemblyman Joe Malone, a colleague of Assemblyman Ron Dancer, son of Stanley, both from the horse-rich farm country of Central New Jersey, added, “If this was a battle, New Jersey lost. It’s absolutely disgraceful that New Jersey allowed itself to be surrounded.”

(With files from Harness Tracks of America)