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looks like big m has reduced purses slightly ??
And if he didn't pick up days people would be pissed...
The horse population is at it's highest now. Thursday night has no US Harness tracks. A few decent races with 10 horse field should do well. If you card all crap the handle reflects it.
Meadowlands President Jeff Gural spoke about losing money, “Even though we spent over $100 million to build a beautiful new facility which caters to owners, it has not resulted in drawing people, even horse people, to come to the track.“The reality is that for us to continue to conduct a 90-day harness racing meet, The Meadowlands, like all the other harness tracks in the Northeast, needs the revenue a casino generates to help fund purses and operating costs.“Every year our main competitor, Yonkers, receives $50 million for purses while Pocono and Harrah’s Philly each get around $30 million in ancillary revenue from gaming. Without casino revenue, we receive only a $6 million grant from the state and unlike the other tracks, we share our sports betting revenue with the horsemen. “The truth is harness racing only exists in NJ because I continue to underwrite the losses in the hope of getting a casino and making my investment pay off but I'm not getting any younger and our customers are continuing to die off which weakens our case each year."
Well folks that about sums it up. Spoken like a true businessman thank you for the informative post.
I've never been a big fan of Jeff Gural. I'm sure he's aware of the many negative comments said about him. If I was him, I'd just say "Fuck it", and retire. He must be in his mid 70's by now and I'm guessing he has enough cash to retire in comfort. Who needs the aggravation? The Meadowlands was the "showcase"of harness racing for a long time. It may still be, but the sport has changed. So why not just get out? Let New Jersey and the horse folk worry about it.
He is not getting a casino, period. By self declaring himself as "savior", he thought the state of NJ would give him one. NJ politics doesn't work that way-and Gural is finally comprehending that fact.Now he thinks by holding harness racing hostage, that will get him a casino.NJ politics doesn't work that way.He will not get a casino, period.