Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Racinos & Tracks can Both Succeed

February 7, 2010

New Jersey must allow slot machines at our horse racing tracks to catch up with surrounding state competition or face doing nothing and losing our horsemens' future, open space, farmland and other agriculture jobs, revenue and lands associated with the equine industry.

Gov. Chris Christie formed an independent panel to investigate the pros and cons but the time for talking is over. We must have the New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority independently move forward and install and manage the slots at tracks with live racing, with a percentage of that revenue reinvested into purses. This would draw the top-bred racehorses back. Partnerships with the NJSEA, the horsemen and the casinos on slots at racetracks with live racing could have monies divided equally.

Let the horsemen purchase the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park and manage installed slot machines and live racing themselves, giving the state a percentage of revenues.

Christie must step up to the plate and soon. The horsemen and the racetracks need new marketing ideas to get more people to the tracks, such as having a game like bingo played in between races along with live entertainment and family friendly days. Reintroduce the horse to the public. After all, it is the state animal.

Atlantic City wants to reinvent itself as a tourist destination. All sides must meet in the middle. Time is running out. With all the income this would generate, I see a win-win situation for the state, the horsemen and the casinos if they all agree to move forward.