The Meadowlands Racetrack is pleased to announce the hiring of Valerie Harlan as director of Marketing for the New Meadowlands Racetrack and Winners Bayonne, effective December 10, 2012.

Harlan has considerable experience in casino marketing programs, with a significant amount of that experience in Atlantic City and Pennsylvania at various properties such as Caesars, Showboat, Resorts, Harrah’s Chester and various Trump properties. A graduate in Marketing from Western Carolina University, she launched her career in various roles within casino gaming from promotions/special events, business marketing, slots marketing, direct mail, players club, and database marketing programs. Harlan is an award-winning marketing professional with experience in building market presence and driving revenue growth within highly competitive markets.

Harlan utilizes expertise in organizational leadership and customer relationship management to identify and capitalize upon business development opportunities and is excited to begin this new chapter of her career. “The thrill of my first live horse race was an experience that is still not forgotten,” said Harlan. “I recently saw a quote that struck a chord,” she added. “'A racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time.'”

Harlan is looking forward to bringing her experience to the New Meadowlands Racetrack. “I am bringing over 25 years of casino marketing experience to the Meadowlands and hope to use that skill set to complement and invigorate the Meadowlands customer experience. I hope to introduce the sport to new customers and to enhance it for our regulars.”

In addition, Christopher Abraham will be joining the American Racing and Entertainment Group to assist in creating a brand and synergy with the marketing efforts of all of Jeff Gural’s properties, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, the Meadowlands Racetrack and 'Winners.' Abraham, a native of New Jersey, comes with significant experience in casino marketing. Previously, he was the vice president of Marketing, overseeing the Golden Gaming, Inc. marketing efforts in all of its jurisdictions, including Black Hawk, Colorado, Pahrump, Nevada as well as all of Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to joining Golden Gaming, Christopher was assistant vice president of Marketing and Advertising for Station Casinos. Prior to Station Casinos, Abraham served as the senior director of Marketing for Isle of Capri, and Colorado Central Station in Black Hawk, Colorado. Abraham received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Richard Stockton College in Pomona, New Jersey before earning a Master’s of Business Administration from Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey. His marketing career has taken him to gaming companies around the country including the Showboat Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, International Game Technology in Reno, Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas, Acres Gaming in Las Vegas, Isle of Capri Casinos in both Biloxi and Black Hawk, and Station Casinos Inc. in Las Vegas.

Abraham is looking forward to joining the New Meadowlands team saying, "I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Gural and the Meadowlands team to promote the Northeast's premier racing and entertainment experience."

Jeff Gural, chairman and operator of New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC strongly believes in promoting the sport of harness racing to the younger generation. He feels this is a move in that direction. “This winning combination of talent to our businesses will lead us to new levels in marketing our vision to the public and will enhance our future by achieving results that are needed to promote our franchise to existing and new clientele. These two hiring’s represent our commitment to market the sport of harness racing in an effort to attract new, younger customers which we think is a must if our sport is going to have any long term future.”

(Meadowlands)