"We're not planning to do business as usual. I think the Meadowlands will have a different product next year, and maybe later this year. Obviously we're not going to go out and put out the same product that frankly hasn't kept up with the times

. The people have voted with their feet when it comes to harness racing and we've got to bring them back into the fold and give them a product where they can wager without being astute handicappers."

Those are the words from Jeff Gural, who starts as the lessee-operator of Meadowlands Racetrack as of June 1. While Gural will in effect be in control starting that date, his mark on the product won't be immediate.

"I think it's inconceivable that we'll have a written deal in place by June 1," Gural told Sam McKee before Saturday night's card. "Hopefully they'll give me some decision making powers because I'm paying the bills. I don't think you're going to see a lot of radical changes overnight. Next year, you'll see a lot of changes. I believe in 2013 with the new building, you'll see completely different product but next year the racing product will be different. I've got a lot of ideas to implement that will improve it."

Gural was asked about pressing issues for horsemen: the racing schedule and the possibility of slots. McKee asked point blank if slots were to come to New Jersey if assurances were in place to see that the Meadowlands and horse racing would benefit. Gural's answer: no.

"All along they made it clear to me there were two things that were not on the table - a subsidy from Atlantic City and slots. We did get some language that would protect us in case they do decide to bring slots and someone opened a casino, obviously we'd be wiped out. We worked something out along those lines.

"I have no way of knowing whether the stars will ultimately align to give us slots. Obviously it would be nice, I'm not going to lie to anybody out there, it would certainly put us back as the number harness racing track but I'll figure out a way to make us the #1 harness track anyway."

With respect to the racing schedule, Gural was adamant in sticking to the the 81-day meet previous announced.

"Positively no fall meet. We're committed to 81 days. I would hope to talk to the people at Chester about them maybe opening a week later so that when we close, they open, so there's no overlap."

Gural also revealed that in order to complete the deal to lease the Big M, he personally bolstered the purse accounts for New Jersey horse racing to the tune of $2.5 million.

"I agreed to give $1.5 million out of my pocket to the thoroughbreds for purses this year. So as not to insult the standardbred horsemen, I'm giving them $1 million out of my pocket for harness purses. I hope all the people who we need to support us, the drivers, the trainers - could appreciate, I don't want to hear about you can make more money racing at Yonkers and Chester because I took a million dollars out of my pocket to put in the purse account, and that's a lot of money, it's real money, and I gave a million and a half to the thoroughbreds, and if I didn't do that we wouldn't be sitting here talking."

The full interview is available for viewing below.

(Video courtesy Meadowlands Racetrack)