According to a report, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority may be at the helm of the Meadowlands Racetrack and Monmouth Park longer than originally
anticipated.
An article by Bob Jordan in the Asbury Park Press explains that a bill has been advanced in New Jersey which would see the NJSEA remain as the operator of the two facilities through a one-year transition period.
New York Racetrack operator Jeff Gural is currently in the process of trying to secure financing for his vision for making the Meadowlands Racetrack and some of the state’s off track wagering locations work.
The report indicates that the bill is sponsored by Ronald Dancer, John Burzichelli, Joseph Malone, Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande.
The article quotes Dancer as saying that the legislation "will allow racing to continue without interruption as all the details and licensing involved in the transfer are completed."
(With files from the Asbury Park Press)
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I would like to add my two
I would like to add my two cents into the debate about the Meadowlands possible termination and Jeff Gural.
I have been a fan of harness racing since my father bought me a pacer named HARRY HY in 1954. We raced him at TROIS-RIVIÈRES and had lots of fun, so much that my sister met trainer-driver JULES LANDRY and married him. Jules Landry was and still is part of the BOUCHER family of horsemen and women.
OK Here is what I have to say. Harness racing is no longer appealing to a lot of folks for the simple reason that it is still the same old game. One mile around the track and thank you. I still love the pacers and trotters but I cannot watch a full card and my friends even less. BORING they say. Always the same thing. They are right. Why do you think BLUE BONNETS closed. Gamblers went someplace else to put their dollars.
Why can one do something different to attract crowds, young ones at that. Why not do what they do in FRANCE. We all know that trotting races are a big deal over there. Why not do races under saddles, different distances, on grass and what not?
I know that most horsemen don't want this approach, they better think about it because yes, as Jeff Gural says, it's going to die and pretty soon. I don't think that building a smaller grandstand at the Meadowlands with lots of t.v. monitors and gambling inside a new hall will change much.
It is the show itself that is boring. OK we watch the fast horses in fast stakes but so what. They are still in line to the 3/4 mile and than Let's go. Why not do half mile races, and so on?
TRY something new.
Jean Blanchette
Montreal.