NEW JERSEY RACING: Major date cuts, Swamp closure?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by pointman

The Meadowlands was a big part of the reason that Roosevelt Raceway closed down and Yonkers nearly did. For once, Jersey can't try to steal money from New York at the Meadowlands because of their refusal to compete against Atlantic City. As Freddy rightly says, if the Meadowlands closes down both the Thoroughbred and Harness industry will disperse to surrounding states. Yonkers likely will be the big beneficiary and be restored back to the status it should be as the premiere Harness racing facility in the U.S. (though I wish they could install a mile track or at least a 5/8 track as it creates more interesting betting races than a 1/2 mile track) and regain some of the races that should be in New York anyway, such as the Messinger and the Cane Pace.

This is the unfortunate reality of the racing business, but some contraction of racing facilities is not necessarily bad for the sport. As for John Campbell, he's rode at Yonkers as well when the money is right and a few miles over the George Washington Bridge to Yonkers will not kill him. Hopefully Monmouth will survive as that is a truly nice facility. However, the reality is that unless these facilities can find a way to be profitable, their end is only a matter of time.

There end needs to come.. They developed a business on the premise that casino dollars would never be at risk and they would continue to flow like milk and honey.. Sorry

I live in the heart of standardbred country and grew up going to the track (freehold) everyday of my life.. Watched Skip by Night, Willow Wiper, fan Hanover, Genghis Khan, My Bill Forward and others in the same dam race. It was electric stuff that the sport failed to capitalize on. The NJSS program was a gold mine for horseman.. Now the gold is gone and things have to change..

Monmouth isnt going anywhere and if they shorten the meet and significantly invest the purses back into the track and horseman wil become an awesome meet that the shore looks forward to in a big way.. Monmouth has a lot going for it IF it plays its cards right.. Monmouth is a great alternative to Belmont and Saratoga any horseman would rather race in West Long Branch instead of Philly IF the purses are close..Which they could be if they race fewer dates