Lengthy Meeting Yields No Compromise in Jersey

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After an eight-hour meeting in the Trenton offices of the N. J. Racing Commission Wednesday, no real progress was made towards the resolution of several issues that have divided horsemen and track operators concerning future legislation that could bring off-track and account wagering to New Jersey.

"We tried to negotiate this thing, but they (the Sports Authority)
didn't want to negotiate," said Frank "Bud" Keegan, president of the NJTHA, who said one issue that was tackled was the minimum number of live race dates the parties could agree to. The NJTHA requests a 170 day live race per year minimum, while the Sports Authority wants a 120 day minimum, with no guarantee of live racing protection after five years.

"You can't have continuity in a racing circuit running only 120 days,"
Keegan said. "The Sports Authority is trying to bury live racing in New Jersey while trying to save themselves."

The meeting, which was arranged by N. J. Racing Commissioners John J. Tucker and Basil J. Plasteras, was also attended by Hal Handel of Pennwood Racing Inc., which owns Freehold Raceway and leases Garden State Park; Bruce Garland and James DiEleuterio Jr. of the Sports Authority, and three other representatives of the NJTHA.

Frank Zanzuccki, executive director of the N. J. Racing Commission, said that the Commission did arrange a meeting for both sides to try and negotiate in good faith and resolve the impasse concerning the off-track and account wagering legislation.

But, said Zanzuccki: "As part of the discussion we had asked all
parties involved to keep what was said in strict confidence. As such, we are disappointed that a representative of the NJTHA chose to breach that agreement and speak publicly on the matter. The N. J. Racing Commission will have no further comment."

In an unrelated matter, Zanzuccki said that the Commission will meet on December 21 to consider Atlantic City's revised 10-day meet application for 2001, and had not as yet heard whether Garden State Park intended to re-apply for 2001 dates. Garden's original six day application was rejected by the Commission at its meeting on Nov. 21.

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