Governor Chris Christie's office confirmed today that live harness racing will return to Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday, May 7
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"With significant progress being made toward Governor Christie's goal of establishing a self-sustaining racing industry, the May racing calendar at the Meadowlands Racetrack will proceed as scheduled," said Michael Drewniak, Governor Christie's press secretary, in a statement released Friday evening. "New union agreements with concessions have been reached by Jeff Gural, but at this point it is clear that additional time is needed to complete work on the outstanding issues that remain. The live standardbred meet will open on May 7 and simulcasting will continue and both will be held until the end of May. The parties will continue discussions next week in an effort to try and resolve the remaining issues."
The Saturday, May 7 with a card will feature eliminations for the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial and Graduate stakes, along with a new event for conditioned pacers
The new event includes multiple $11,000 divisions for pacers who are non-winners of $6,000 in their last five starts. The highest money-earners from the preliminary round will advance to a $30,000 final the following Saturday, May 14. Entries for the Saturday program are due by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4.
Click here to view the condition sheet for online at MeadowlandsRacetrack.com.
Morning qualifiers will be held Tuesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 5 at 10 a.m. The entry box will close Saturday, April 30 for the Tuesday qualifiers and Tuesday, May 3 for Thursday. The deadline is 10 a.m. To enter, contact the race office at 1-877-STABLES.
Meadowlands Racetrack will operate on a Thursday-Saturday live racing schedule in May. Post time is 7 p.m.
A special Mother's Day matinee program will be raced on Sunday, May 8. Post time is 1:10 p.m. for the card, which includes the CKG Billings Delvin Miller Amateur Driving Series. Entries are due by noon on Thursday, May 5.
According to Bob Jordan of the Asbury Park Press, Jeff Gural met with state officials on Friday and hammered out a deal for the split of simulcast betting at the Meadowlands. Gural is opposed to a bid from thoroughbred horsemen at Monmouth Park to have their share of the split raised. Gural is currently in talks to resolve that matter, but it won’t hold up the resumption of racing at the Meadowlands.
In 2010, Meadowlands simulcast-generated purse money totaled $10.7 million, with the thoroughbreds getting $2.9 million or 27 percent.
The deal marks the end of a questionable period in the track's future since it was announced that the state would no longer operate and fund the track, prompting many within the industry to consider relocating to other jurisdictions. Gov. Chris Christie sought an overhaul at the money-losing track, and the call was answered by Gural and his investors.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)
Greg I agree everyone,
Greg I agree everyone, especially the tracks need to work together but they don't. Too many tracks going head to head against each other in the same province!
As far as the Meadowlands we need the horsemen to support the track. They didn't show much support the last weekend they were open when they really needed it. Their leading driver in 2010 bailed on them. Greed may be the undoing of it all?
Jeff Gural is a hero. Let's
Jeff Gural is a hero. Let's hope that this venture is sucessful.
Great news...now, we all
Great news...now, we all have to work together to support not only the Meadowlands, but all tracks.
There are some wonderful possibilities if everyone is pulling in the same direction and I think we're starting to see signs of that recently.
All the best for another great summer at the Big M!
Having had the pleasure of
Having had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gural, he is a man who loves this industry and wants it to survive. He has stepped up and put his and his investors money where his mouth is. We owe him a debt of gratitude, and are lucky to have someone in the industry that believes in it.
Jeff Gural is better than
Jeff Gural is better than Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy combined! Thank you Jeff Gural for saving the Big M!
Thank You Jeff Gural. You
Thank You Jeff Gural. You have just put back a lot of faith in this industry. Hats off to you.
Most appreciated,
Doug McIntosh
The best harness track with
The best harness track with the best harness racing is back in business.
Nice to see.