Outspoken and progressive racetrack owner Jeff Gural has let the cat out of the bag in regard to the theme of his upcoming New York Gaming Summit keynote speech
. Those that fear change and, to a certain extent, retraction in the horse racing industry will not be pleased.
The summit will be taking place on June 21 and 22 in Tarrytown, New York; and in an article by The Saratogian, Gural has given everyone a heads up as to what his address will generally consist of.
“All slots have done at racetracks is increase purses,” he was quoted as saying in The Saratogian piece. “I don’t know anyone who thinks the current model works. People go to Saratoga in the summer. Why? It’s fun.”
The article explains that instead of operating year-round, Gural said New York Racing Association should have fewer days and higher purses — a concept Monmouth Park in New Jersey has adopted this year to much fanfare of its customer: the wagering public.
“Every other sport has an opening day and an end — the Super Bowl or World Series,” he said. “In horse racing, it just goes on. There’s too much.”
(With files from The Saratogian)