TRENTON — New York real estate developer Jeff Gural say he met with state officials in Trenton to discuss a plan to take over management of the Meadowlands Racetrack. In an e-mail to The Associated Press today, Gural said the two sides are making progress but there is still a long way to go. He did not offer specifics....
Bruce Saunders, from East Rutherford, works a horse at the Meadowland Racetrack in this July 2010 photo.TRENTON — New York real estate developer Jeff Gural say he met with state officials in Trenton to discuss a plan to take over management of the Meadowlands Racetrack.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press today, Gural said the two sides are making progress but there is still a long way to go. He did not offer specifics.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, did not return an e-mail from the AP seeking comment.
Christie has threatened to shut down the Meadowlands harness meet except for a few major races unless someone steps in and takes over management of the track, which has been losing money.
The state Legislature has reached an agreement with the standardbred horsemen to mandate a minimum of 75 harness racing dates at the track, about half the previous figure.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Racing Commission to set preliminary 2011 dates for tracks
• N.J. will fund Meadowlands harness racing while lease is negotiated
• Gov. Chris Christie to address standardbred horse racing at Meadowlands
• Christie says he wants to save N.J. horse racing industry, but not with state subsidies
• Meadowlands Racetrack developer unveils plan for new grandstand
• N.J. legislators slam proposal to sell Meadowlands Racetrack
• Proposal to sell N.J. racetracks angers, saddens track regulars