Meadowlands: No Disruption in Racing Despite Report

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority said Friday there is no plan to suspend racing at The Meadowlands and relocate to Monmouth Park should a NASCAR track be built at the East Rutherford facility. The NJSEA issued the statement in response to an article that appeared in the Star-Ledger newspaper April 6.

The NJSEA has an agreement with the International Speedway Corp. through July 1 that allows for a feasibility study at the sports complex. The Star-Ledger reported that NJSEA spokesman John Samerjan said the state could consider a transfer of racing from The Meadowlands to Monmouth.

The story made no mention of when such a switch would occur. The Meadowlands offers Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing, and Monmouth only Thoroughbred racing.

"The Meadowlands is the most profitable sports venue in New Jersey, and one of the most profitable horse racing facilities in the country," Bruce Garland, senior executive vice president of racing for the NJSEA, said in a statement issued to horsemen and employees. "It is vitally important to the financial stability of the NJSEA, to the horse racing industry in the state, and to the preservation of farmlands associated with horse racing. For those reasons, it is critical that the racing operations at The Meadowlands be sustained."

The Star-Ledger said an auto track at The Meadowlands would be patterned after the one at Dover Downs, where a harness tracks sits inside of an asphalt car track. The story also said officials in South Jersey want the NASCAR track and would view construction of it in North Jersey as a betrayal.