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Hurricane Sandy Impacts Northeast Tracks

Initial reports suggest tracks across the Northeast suffered some damage and power outages as a result of Hurricane Sandy, but that damage was moderate compared with the devastation in the area.

Officials See Monmouth Meet as Starting Point

Monmouth Park registered gains in average daily attendance but declines in pari-mutuel handle for its 65-day meet, officials said Oct. 7, closing day of the meet.

Newlin Leaves Meadowlands for PNGI Post

Mike Newlin, general manager of Meadowlands in New Jersey, has left to take a job as general manager of the Penn National Gaming Inc.-owned Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club in central Florida.

Atlantic City Ushers in Jersey Racing Season

Atlantic City Race Course will begin the live Thoroughbred racing season in New Jersey April 27 with the usual full fields for its all-turf program.

Hearing Officer Upholds Monmouth Park Lease

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has accepted a hearing officer's recommendation that the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association retain control of Monmouth Park.

Gural: Use Slots Money for Testing, Marketing

A proposal floated by Jeff Gural, who leases Meadowlands and operates two racetrack casinos in upstate New York, to use a percentage of gaming revenue for other pro-racing programs has support among USTA members.

Monmouth Seeks Approval for 75 Racing Dates

Monmouth Park, expected to be under lease to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, proposes to begin its live meet May 12 and offer 75 days of racing, 10 of them all-turf programs at Meadowlands.

Sports Authority, Horsemen OK Monmouth Lease

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority said March 1 it has reached an agreement with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for the lease of Monmouth Park in time for the track's 2012 racing season.

Report: Progress on Plan to Lease Monmouth

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority have reached a preliminary deal on the lease of Monmouth Park, according to a state newspaper.

Report: Horsemen Intend to Operate Monmouth

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has submitted a plan to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to lease Monmouth Park beginning this year.

Christie OKs Monmouth, Meadowlands Agreements

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Dec. 20 officially announced separate deals for the continuation of live racing at Monmouth Park and Meadowlands in 2012.

Report: Agreement Reached in New Jersey

Horsemen and state officials in New Jersey have reportedly reached agreement on dates and purses for the 2012 Monmouth Park meet, ending the question of whether the track would be open next year and under what circumstances.

New Jersey Privatization Deal Hits Roadblock

A deal brokered earlier this year that would have privatized the horse racing industry in New Jersey has hit a stumbling block just as all parties were set to sign off on it.

Report: Monmouth Park Lease in Jeopardy

Less than two days past the deadline to finalize a lease agreement for Monmouth Park, negotiations have ended because of a dispute between horsemen and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Monmouth Adds Six Days to 2011 Schedule

Monmouth Park will be open for an additional six days of live racing from Nov. 11-20 under the "Meadowlands at Monmouth" meet banner.

Monmouth Park Lease Negotiations Continuing

Prospective Monmouth Park lessee Morris Bailey and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority continue negotiating a deal that apparently has hit a snag.

NJ Breeders Challenge Purse Fund Veto, Splits

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey has filed an appeal in connection with Gov. Chris Christie's veto of a decision by the New Jersey Racing Commission to award $15 million in purse supplements.

N.J. Gov. Vetoes Racing Subsidies

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a move by the state Racing Commission to provide $15 million in state subsidies for Thoroughbred and harness racing purses.

NJ Purse Money Split, But Governor Must OK

The New Jersey Racing Commission, in what could end up being nothing more than a symbolic gesture, has divvied up $15 million in casino money that would be used for purses in 2012 should Gov. Chris Christie approve.

NJ Senate Committee OKs Racing Legislation

A Senate committee in New Jersey moved legislation June 20 that would allow the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to jointly operate Monmouth Park and Meadowlands pending licensing of lessees.

NJ Panel to Address Racetrack Lease Bill

A Senate committee in New Jersey is scheduled to address legislation June 20 that would allow the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to jointly operate Monmouth Park and Meadowlands pending licensing of lessees.

NJ Racetrack Leases Have Some Loose Ends

Negotiations regarding the lease of two New Jersey racetracks by private operators continued June 1, the date state officials had set to wrap up the transfers.

Monmouth on Verge of Five-Year Deal

Published reports and unofficial word from track management say that a five-year lease deal for a 71-day live meet with an average daily purse level of $400,000 has been struck.

NJ Track Leases Approved, But Issues Remain

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed off on lease agreements for Monmouth Park and Meadowlands effective June 1, but pressing issues remain.

Meadowlands Spared for at Least a Month

Meadowlands in New Jersey will remain open through May as negotiations continue on a long-term lease of the facility.

Gural: Negotiators Boycott Big M Meeting

Jeff Gural, who is in negotiations to lease Meadowlands from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, said he met with pari-mutuel tellers April 20 but six of seven members of the negotiating committee boycotted.

Would-Be Lessee of Big M to Meet With Tellers

A group of mutuel tellers has agreed to meet April 20 with the would-be lessee of Meadowlands, offering some hope the New Jersey racetrack will remain open for live racing and full-card simulcasts.

ACRC: Track Left for Dead Offers Stability

A racetrack whose obituary was written more than 10 years ago finds itself in the odd situation of being the most stable track in New Jersey -- for now at least -- as it prepares to open its 65th season April 28.

Meadowlands Appears on Verge of Shutting Down

Barring a reversal by mutuel clerks that refused to vote on a proposal for wage concessions, it appears Meadowlands in New Jersey will not reopen for harness racing in May and the track's simulcast operation will shut down.

NJSEA Confirms Monmouth Lease Negotiations

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority confirmed April 11 it is negotiating with developer and casino owner Morris Bailey for the lease of Monmouth Park.

Monmouth Purses Down at Least 40%

As expected, purses won't be nearly as high as they were last year when Monmouth Park begins its 2011 meet May 14.

NJ Lease: Monmouth, OTW Parlors, ADW Share

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officially released a request for proposals for the lease of Monmouth Park.

RFP Being Developed for Monmouth Park Suitors

New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officials are preparing a request for proposals for parties interested in purchasing Monmouth Park.

Racing-Related Bills Progress in New Jersey

Legislation geared toward the horse racing industry unanimously passed the New Jersey Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Jan. 20.

Bill Provides $30M for New Jersey Racing

A bill that would shift $30 million from the Casino Redevelopment Authority to the horse racing industry over a three-year period progressed in the New Jersey legislature Jan. 10.

NJ Dates Granted, Betting Parlors Licensed

The New Jersey Racing Commission Dec. 22 awarded full racing dates for 2011 and also licensed four off-track wagering facilities for the coming year.

Proposal Offered to Privatize Meadowlands

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and horse owners have reached a temporary deal to keep harness racing alive at Meadowlands through the spring, buying more time to privatize the operation.

Poll Shows Support for Slots at Meadowlands

An informal poll conducted by the Hall Institute the week of Nov. 15 showed more than half would support installing slot machines at Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Jersey Handle Up $123M With 50% Fewer Dates

The consolidation of Thoroughbred racing at Monmouth Park this year led to a $123 million increase in total handle despite 50% fewer racing dates, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officials said Nov. 21.

NJ Officials Slam Report, Threaten Litigation

Organizations representing owners and breeders in New Jersey blasted the latest recommendations from a commission created by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, saying the plans would destroy racing and breeding in the state.

NJ Commission: Close Meadowlands After 2011

Live racing at the nation's premier harness track would end under a recommendation from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's panel on the future of casinos and racetracks in the state.

Jersey Dates Approved But Expected to Change

Racing dates for 2011 in New Jersey were awarded Nov. 10 even though they are expected to change under legislation that could be approved by the end of this year.

NJ Lawmakers Question Commission Report

New Jersey lawmakers questioned the research behind a report on gaming and racing in the state Sept. 29 and suggested it left too many unanswered questions, particularly in regard to options for the horse racing industry.

NJ Racing Interests Seek 'Diversification'

A second "summit meeting" on horse racing and gaming was held in New Jersey Sept. 10.

Monmouth Adjusts Purse Structure for Fall

Monmouth Park's post-Labor Day meet will offer higher average daily purses than originally projected, officials at the New Jersey racetrack said Aug. 24.

Poll: Racing, Track Gaming Supported in NJ

A recent poll indicates support for horse racing and racetrack gaming in New Jersey.

Amid Uncertainty, Meadowlands Makes Statement

Meadowlands, which went from cash cow to undesirable according to a recent report, got a boost Aug. 7 when its Hambletonian Day program produced the third-highest total handle in harness racing history.

Jersey Horsemen: 'We Are Not Going Quietly'

About 150 members of the harness racing community met at Meadowlands July 29 to discuss their options in the wake of a recent report that suggests racing at the New Jersey track is no longer viable under state ownership.

In New Jersey, It Has Only Just Begun

A report on gaming and racing in New Jersey may only be the starting point of a long, drawn-out process during which its deficiencies will be exposed.

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What's Going On Here: High-Stakes Games

Why support an industry that cannot sustain itself? Because wherever this debate occurs, it's important to see that the racetrack is only part of the equation.

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