"The mutuel clerks union, cutting their own nose to spite everyone's face. Keep in mind this is the only union that's already been replaced by machines 12-15 years ago."
On Saturday's episode of Down The Stretch on Sirius Satellite Radio with Dave Johnson and Bill Finley, Jeff Gural expressed some surprising optimism on the Meadowlands deal. Another guest, however, usually prone to offering commentary and statistics was on fire with a verbal tirade on the Meadowlands mutuel clerks union.
That guest: Bob "Hollywood" Heyden, who stated the quote above and continued to lash out on the union that refused to vote on a new deal on Thursday night - the vote that could effectively cease harness racing at the world renowned New Jersey plant.
"Part of the problem predates where we are now. Mutuel clerks, a lot of them have been there since 1976 and they think that 35 years entitles them to some sort of part ownership deal. I've heard clerks tell me that they helped build the place.
"As far as the union voting, I think way too few are speaking for way too many. Give you an example: yout think the two-time-a-week clerk knew that if he was part of this no vote or maybe nay vote that as of May 12, nobody would be working? I tend to think that he thinks he'd be working minus live racing but having Balmoral, Woodbine and all of those places intact. To me, the mutuel clerks are drunk with power....in the restaurant business we call this 'beer muscles.' Someone's conversation at 12 at night after six or seven brews is awfully different the next morning when you're trying to wipe the sleep out of your eyes."
Gural agreed with Heyden's comments.
"I've spoken to 20 clerks, 19 of them said thank you for doing this," said Gural. "In all my travels I've met one teller who said to me 'no, I think we should close. Prove yourself.' I said 'Prove myself? I'm investing 100 million dollars!' This is a true story, the two clerks on either side of her were saying 'let's put it to a vote.
"I think Bob [Heyden] is right, they probably said to themselves 'a-ha! what's the big deal, we'll still be open for simulcasting, they're only going to race 81 days anyway, so what's the big deal?' There's no way that the Governor's going to do that. He understands that he loses money just being open for simulcasting."
To hear the full interview, click the play button below.
Jeff Gural, Bob Heyden on Down The Stretch
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