Intent on a showdown with the National Football League over a push for legalized sports wagering in the state, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has made a declaration in court that it will be digging in its heels over the issue.
As reported by John Brennan in The Bergen Record, the NJTHA, which operates thoroughbred raceway Monmouth Park, have filed a motion in U.S. District Court in an attempt to allow legalized sports wagering to become a reality in the state and at Monmouth on January 9, 2013. That is the date when, according to Brennan, a moratorium on issuance of sports betting licenses to racetracks or Atlantic City casinos is scheduled to be lifted.
This past August, the NFL, on behalf of itself and four other major sports leagues, filed a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey in an effort to stop the legalized sports wagering from becoming reality. A federal judge yesterday (Wednesday, November 21) ruled against a request from the sporting leagues to have the court timetable for the issue pushed back by roughly one month. Thus, oral arguments on the issue are scheduled to be heard December 18 and the original expiration of the moratorium is still in place.
Although their standardbred brethren have not yet pushed for sports wagering, New Jersey's thoroughbred horsemen have included the popular wagering form as a major aspect of their survival, and the survival of Monmouth, going forward.
(With files from The Bergen Record)