For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Hold Off on the Champage For Now

John Brennan from The Record, writes on his blog that Morris Bailey, the supposed operator of Monmouth Park is still having problems with the NJTHA and the thoroughbred breeders with regards to the number of racing days and purse levels which Bailey believes he can operate Monmouth at.

As a result of this, unless the horsemen come around  it is possible Monmouth Park will not have a lease agreement by June 1 which may result in a shutdown of racing at Oceanport track.  If, as Governor Christie has indicated, he wants to have both leases resolved at the same time, it is possible that Jeff Gural may not be able to officially take over the Meadowlands on June 1.  To make matters worse, if the thoroughbred horsemen are not racing, there is a good chance that thoroughbred simulcasting can come to an end state-wide.

Quite honestly, I don't understand why the thoroughbred horsemen are having a problem with this.  First of all, if they acccept the terms offered by Bailey, they will be racing as many days as last year.  Yes, the purses will be about half of last year, but with the big out of state stables not being at Monmouth this year, New Jersey horsemen will have better chances of winning purse money than they had last year.

I used to think standardbred horsemen were clueless.  I guess I was wrong.

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