East
Rutherford, NJ - As the
calendar turns to 2017 at The Meadowlands, the reasons are many to be
optimistic about the future of harness racing's flagship racetrack. A total of
91 live Standardbred racing dates have been granted
for the new calendar year, a slight increase over 2016.
While there's no
denying that the defeat of the expanded gaming referendum was a disappointment
to those directly and indirectly affected, The Meadowlands Racetrack
remains committed to the long term future of horse racing at the
facility. Meadowlands management will continue to endeavor
to preserve jobs at the track and within the industry and do our very best
to help protect green space.
Clearly,
generating sufficient revenue to operate at the desired level and keep quality
racing on the track is an ongoing problem. The purse account currently
stands overpaid by more than $5 million. That issue required
considerable contemplation, turning the tide of red ink while
continuing to offer owners and horsemen the type of stakes program that is
expected from The Meadowlands, done without the advantages of an alternative
source of revenue.
Rather than reduce
the stakes as was originally proposed, Jeff Gural considered the remarkable
optimism demonstrated by the buyers of yearlings at the major sales last fall
and realized a vision of how to maintain the stakes program while
holding the line on overnight purses.
He proposed that
industry stakeholders share in the support of The Meadowlands stakes program
by becoming stakes sponsors, contributing to help cover the nearly $5
million in added money for 2017 thus lightening the burden on the purse
account.
The response was
overwhelmingly positive, with breeders, owners, drivers, trainers and
veterinarians all answering the call. As a result, with that support The
Meadowlands stakes program will continue virtually intact for 2017. All of
the marquee open stakes remain on the schedule with the added
money levels maintained largely on par with years past.
An adjustment was made to stimulate
nominations to the Mistletoe Shalee for three-year-old filly pacers, which has
seen a steady decline in numbers. The payments were reduced by 25% while
the added money remains at the same level.
Without the cost of the Breeders
Crown this year, The Meadowlands will add the $1.25 million Fall Final Four
stakes for two-year-olds to the fall meet in November.
With the final
touches currently being added to the informational ads, the entirety of the
2017 stakes information will be available on The Meadowlands website very soon.
It is our hope
that horsemen will support both the stakes and overnights with their entries
this coming season to enable The Meadowlands to be the most popular
betting product in the Standardbred world, as it has been for a
generation.
On the horizon is
the hope of welcome relief from gaming. The fact is the as the citizens of
Manhattan and Northern New Jersey continue their travel to game at
Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut locations, Atlantic City continues
to decline. As more casinos open in PA and eventually down state New York,
voters will recognize the importance of a casino in Northern NJ and the
prospect of adding what Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural estimates to
be $500 million in annual tax revenue to New Jersey coffers.
When that day comes, the forecast for
harness racing at The Meadowlands immediately becomes bright and sunny.
