MANALAPAN, NJ – December 10,
2013 – Legislation to create Instant Racing at New Jersey’s racetracks was
released from committee on Monday, December 9, 2013.
The action was taken by the
Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
Committee in Committee Room 7 of the State House Annex in Trenton.
Among those testifying on
behalf of the Senate Bill 2935 was Standardbred Breeders & Owners
Association of New Jersey President Tom Luchento.
“I urge you to support
Senate bill S 2935,” Luchento told the committee. “In late 2010, the
Governor, following the recommendation of the Hanson report, moved to privatize
horse racing in New Jersey. The standardbred industry secured Jeff Gural
to take the Meadowlands racetrack off the state’s hands. He
privatized the track and built a new grandstand, modernizing and upgrading the
race experience. That facility opened just two weeks ago to rave
reviews. We have, as the Governor asked, taken control of our own
destiny.
“We are here today to ask
your help in completing that plan,” he continued. “We still lag behind
the surrounding states that have alternative gaming at their tracks. We
are not asking for that today but what we are asking for is a new and exciting
way to wager on horse races through instant racing machines. We are not
asking for anything from the state but rather just a chance to help ourselves.
This would also grow the economy and add jobs to New Jersey. The revenue from
our game would be put back into the purses and operational overhead to make
racing self sufficient.
“We have already lost most
of the breeding industry in our state, as stallions have moved to better
programs in surrounding states, and, this summer, Perretti Farms announced
their complete dispersal of horses and the farm will close this December 31,”
Luchento added. “This pari-mutuel game will give us the chance to
revitalize our breeding industry and bring stallions back to New Jersey.”
Instant [also known as
historic] Racing permits the bettor to make wagers on races that have been
previously contested. The bettor is provided data about the horses but
not the names and dates.
In addition to Luchento,
testimony was provided by AJ Sabath, on behalf of Jeff Gural; Dennis Drazin,
representing Monmouth Park and thoroughbred horsemen; Michael Campbell for the
thoroughbred breeders and Louis A. Cella, vice president and CEO of the Oaklawn
Jockey Club who is also vice president of RaceTech LLC, which operates the historic/instant
racing pari-mutuel racing system which debuted at Oaklawn in January
2000.
Cella pointed out that with
the additional funds generated by Instant Racing, Oaklawn increased its purse
distribution from $140,000 a day in 2000 to $400,000 a day for 2014.
Gural’s statement pointed
out that “Instant Racing will provide a much needed shot adrenaline to our
industry by generating a consistent flow of business at the new grandstand and
other tracks throughout the state, during a time when the industry is in much
need of continued business. Instant Racing offers a possible new path
towards a more sustainable future for New Jersey horse racing.”
The bill, approved
unanimously, will need to be amended to assure constitutionality and establish
which agency would oversee Instant Racing, said Sentor Jim Whelan, who chairs
the committee.
-Submitted by Carol Hodes
for SBOANJ
