Sports authority will reapprove Meadowlands' schedule, after Gov. Christie vetoed it, to allow racing through April
Muscle Massive (6), driven by Ron Pierce wins the $1.5 million Hambletonian by a nose at the Meadowlands Racetrack, in this August photo.TRENTON — Racing will continue at the Meadowlands with state support through April as owners and an investor try to negotiate a lease for the track, Gov. Chris Christie announced today.
Under an agreement arranged by the governor's office, the Standard Bred Owners Association will be permitted to negotiate a lease of the track that will be partially funded through off track betting.
Christie vetoed the schedule for racing at the Meadowlands last week after a study recommended ending meets at the track to allow for privatization. The sports authority will reapprove the track's schedule, Christie said.
Jeff Gural, the owner of two harness racing tracks, came forward as a prospective leaser this week, Christie said.
Gural said after successful starting a new track at Tioga Downs, he is confident there is a model to make harness racing profitable. An new grandstand will be built at the track, Gural said, across from the existing one.
The new grandstand will include a simulcast area, where betters can wager on races at other tracks across the country, and Gural added he's already spoken with some food vendors about moving into the space.
"It's an opportunity to show that harness racing can stand on it's own two feet and not require subsidy from the state," Gural said. "Had we lost the Meadowlands, not only would it have been a big blow to New Jersey, it would have been a big blow to the industry."
The arrangement will permit the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority to continue to subsidize purse and operation costs until April 1, Christie said. At that time, if a lease has been negotiated the state will continue to collect a portion of the simulcasting profits to repay the costs for the first three months of racing, about $1.2 million, he said.
If a lease cannot be negotiated by April 1, racing at the park will cease, but the state will still be repaid the $1.2 million through simulcast collections, Christie said.