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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: G on August 09, 2026, 09:27:54 AM
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If it wasn't for this man there would be no racing in New Jersey. I'm in New York guy and have gotten to know Jeff over the years,, he's a good man.
We all should be thankful that Jeff has done when he's done for the sport. Thank you Jeff!
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Yes...without Jeff we would be racing The Hambo
in Hicks County, Kentucky
with all the bumpkins wagering their $2
e.g. Red Mile...
Real Racing has always been in the US northeast
and Canada...after the Hambo left the Midwest.
Kentucky racing is great for a week or 2 in the fall..
other than that...its all Tbreds..
Harness Racing is virtually non existent other than that..
No players follow the racing from a gambling standpoint.
Monticello does way more $ wise..
Without the casino there is 0.00 racing in Kentucky.
I remember going to the Red Mile...a gorgeous track..
and I bet $200 on a 4-1 shot at 1 minute to post
and the next flash the horse was 2-5.....
and lost.
Look at the betting pools....0 interest..
Maybe I am wrong....
Not saying that the drivers or trainers are not worthy..
just overall mediocre racing save for a few Sire Stakes
and maybe an Open Pace and Trot.
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One of the heroes of our sport! tmbz1
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One of the heroes of our sport! tmbz1
tmbz1
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any comments on the 17.5% decrease in handle from 2025?
73cv.2
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Pacer2 is demanding a recount, say's they're thriving.
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any comments on the 17.5% decrease in handle from 2025?
73cv.2
The handle doesnt matter. Horsemen dont get a % of handle. Its the purses that matter more and they're great!!!
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Pacer2 is demanding a recount, say's they're thriving.
The handle doesnt matter. Horsemen dont get a % of handle. Its the purses that matter more and they're great!!!
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The handle doesnt matter. Horsemen dont get a % of handle. Its the purses that matter more and they're great!!!
While the handle decrease is something that could be talked/studied by management, I think it was a great day of racing at the Meadowlands. Although I invested $200, and didn't cash a ticket, it was fun to watch. I was at the Brook Casino where folks were betting the races there. And while the betting at the Spa probably outnumbered the Hambo Day 10-1, there were some young kids taking some shots at the Meadowlands. And while the glitz and glamour of the big throughbred events like the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup make Hambo Day seem amateurish, the Meadowlands did a good job putting on this event. Purses were great.
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If it wasn't for this man there would be no racing in New Jersey. I'm in New York guy and have gotten to know Jeff over the years,, he's a good man.
We all should be thankful that Jeff has done when he's done for the sport. Thank you Jeff!
Why not just thank him when you two have lunch.
tmbz1
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Why not just thank him when you two have lunch.
tmbz1
I will next week.
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I will next week.
ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
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Why not just thank him when you two have lunch.
tmbz1
FYI, he's on the Saratoga Raceway apron right now as a 3 year old trotter he co-owns won the first race. He is still there as he has another one in the 2nd race. How come you're not there now?
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I will next week.
Little E LLC just won the 2nd race too. How come you're not in the winners circle with him?
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How come you're not in the winners circle with him?
How come you're not?
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How come you're not?
I'm not the friend of the owners! tmbz1
Thanks for posting.
Anything else on your mind concerning this?
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Great race for your horse rainman2. I wasn't thrilled with post but didn't thiink the favorite should be that over bet. So I took $20WP on your horse and a $3EX up and back! I got lucky with the bomb winning!
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Great race for your horse rainman2. I wasn't thrilled with post but didn't thiink the favorite should be that over bet. So I took $20WP on your horse and a $3EX up and back! I got lucky with the bomb winning!
The 6 at 1/2 on the board was in trouble before the start! Had to catch the gate which used precious energy and the front half was extremely fast. This helped the closers immensely!
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The 6 at 1/2 on the board was in trouble before the start! Had to catch the gate which used precious energy and the front half was extremely fast. This helped the closers immensely!
Although i've made good money with your horses over the years, I think this one may be the best you've ever had. I made a nice tidy profit today. Congrats!
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Although i've made good money with your horses over the years, I think this one may be the best you've ever had. I made a nice tidy profit today. Congrats!
Lucky you're a gambler instead of an owner.
The 3 year old will have something to say when it's all said and done down the road
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I too will jump on the bandwagon and thank Mr. Jeff for going thru the giant headaches that one must endure while organizing a production of an event of this scale! One could say that he only does this for his own agenda, but it still takes alot of time and effort no matter how many times you have done it! I hope he gets the Casino because if he doesn't, racing will change as a whole as we know it, Two thumbs 👍 tmbz1 for another production well done!!
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I too will jump on the bandwagon and thank Mr. Jeff for going thru the giant headaches that one must endure while organizing a production of an event of this scale! One could say that he only does this for his own agenda, but it still takes alot of time and effort no matter how many times you have done it! I hope he gets the Casino because if he doesn't, racing will change as a whole as we know it, Two thumbs 👍 tmbz1 for another production well done!!
Is Mr. Gural the only major entity that owns racetracks that is not gambling oriented (MGM, Penn National, etc.)?
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If it wasn't for this man there would be no racing in New Jersey. I'm in New York guy and have gotten to know Jeff over the years,, he's a good man.
We all should be thankful that Jeff has done when he's done for the sport. Thank you Jeff!
Great post G! We should all be grateful and thankful to Jeff for doing what it takes to put on a wonderful Hambletonian day for our great sport. Without him, the Meadowlands would be out of business.
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I too will jump on the bandwagon and thank Mr. Jeff for going thru the giant headaches that one must endure while organizing a production of an event of this scale! One could say that he only does this for his own agenda, but it still takes alot of time and effort no matter how many times you have done it! I hope he gets the Casino because if he doesn't, racing will change as a whole as we know it, Two thumbs 👍 tmbz1 for another production well done!!
tmbz1
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Great post G! We should all be grateful and thankful to Jeff for doing what it takes to put on a wonderful Hambletonian day for our great sport. Without him, the Meadowlands would be out of business.
thanks! I agree with you without this man there would be no racing in New Jersey.
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Great post G! We should all be grateful and thankful to Jeff for doing what it takes to put on a wonderful Hambletonian day for our great sport. Without him, the Meadowlands would be out of business.
But your fellow misfit Poser2 said everything was thriving with harness racing
You misfits better get your stories straight ngc3
Want some chapstick ngc3
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But your fellow misfit Poser2 said everything was thriving with harness racing
You misfits better get your stories straight ngc3
Want some chapstick ngc3
It is thriving. Thanks to Jeff!
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It is thriving. Thanks to Jeff!
Chapstick? ngc3
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Chapstick? ngc3
Owners, trainers and drivers are making record money. If you’re not then you have no idea what you’re doing and probably not classifying your horses correctly. People are making more money than they ever have. Those are just the facts.
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Owners, trainers and drivers are making record money. If you’re not then you have no idea what you’re doing and probably not classifying your horses correctly. People are making more money than they ever have. Those are just the facts.
No longer owners.. got out long ago..
No slot welfare, no harness racing
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No longer owners.. got out long ago..
No slot welfare, no harness racing
Who’s talking about slot welfare?!?! I guess you conveniently ignored the fact that racetracks existed before these casinos join them so just because a racetrack has inflated purses, that’s the cost of doing business with a racetrack and that’s how the casinos were able to get their doors open. But of course you conveniently ignore that.
We’re talking about owners trainers and drivers making record money. That’s thriving.
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47'states have casinos, how many states have racetracks, a helluva lot less. If a racetrack closed down, the casino would still be in busines. If the welfare was cut or eliminated entirely purses would drop big time and some tracks would wind up closing.and that's a fact whether you accept it or not n
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47'states have casinos, how many states have racetracks, a helluva lot less. If a racetrack closed down, the casino would still be in busines. If the welfare was cut or eliminated entirely purses would drop big time and some tracks would wind up closing.and that's a fact whether you accept it or not n
he [?] womt tmbz1
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Paintbrush looks like he overdosed on turpentine today because he's mixing it up with everyone in between agreeing with "G" and kissing Mark Ford's ass
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Gural is an exception to harness racing. He is personally involved in owning and breeding! He has skin in the game! The majority of other racetracks are owned by gambling coops--e.g, MGM, Penn National, et al.
Whether you like him and his policies or not he is doing what he thinks is best. He gets this privilege as he actually is responsible for running racetracks. Right/wrong/good/bad! He is actually fan friendly too! I said hello to him at Tioga Downs for the Empire Breeders Classic. The staff actually encourages you to do this too!
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Jeff thanks you for the testimonial
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Who’s talking about slot welfare?!?! I guess you conveniently ignored the fact that racetracks existed before these casinos join them so just because a racetrack has inflated purses, that’s the cost of doing business with a racetrack and that’s how the casinos were able to get their doors open. But of course you conveniently ignore that.
We’re talking about owners trainers and drivers making record money. That’s thriving.
Casinos exist because people WANT THEM. It is that simple. The rest is just politics and there is not reason a casino needs to have a racetrack. In fact, a racetrack is just a drag on the casino business. Why should the government give handouts to racing when the general public could care less that racing even exists? As a racing fan, I would celebrate the ending of the handouts.
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Gural is an exception to harness racing. He is personally involved in owning and breeding! He has skin in the game! The majority of other racetracks are owned by gambling coops--e.g, MGM, Penn National, et al.
Whether you like him and his policies or not he is doing what he thinks is best. He gets this privilege as he actually is responsible for running racetracks. Right/wrong/good/bad! He is actually fan friendly too! I said hello to him at Tioga Downs for the Empire Breeders Classic. The staff actually encourages you to do this too!
That was not true at the beginning. When slots came in, the racing industry SOLD OUT to the casino companies.
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That was not true at the beginning. When slots came in, the racing industry SOLD OUT to the casino companies.
says the guy with a tape recorder in his pocket. Another fucking loser who is jealous of Jeff
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says the guy with a tape recorder in his pocket. Another fucking loser who is jealous of Jeff
What's for lunch, G? ngc3
Jeff's, FATSO's, Steve's cock? ngc3
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Race Tracks were owned by people and families. They actually enjoyed racing, most were in attendance every night. Knew the patrons, people on the backside.
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Race Tracks were owned by people and families. They actually enjoyed racing, most were in attendance every night. Knew the patrons, people on the backside.
I was at Batavia last year as the meet was opening, and Byron Brown was walking around the facility. He was well dressed and said hello to people as they were walking through. Batavia Downs actually makes radio commercials with racing involved as a part of the entertainment package that is available. Do any other tracks promote racing?
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I was at Batavia last year as the meet was opening, and Byron Brown was walking around the facility. He was well dressed and said hello to people as they were walking through. Batavia Downs actually makes radio commercials with racing involved as a part of the entertainment package that is available. Do any other tracks promote racing?
Pretty sure all racetracks promote racing!
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Pretty sure all racetracks promote racing!
On Radio advertising? The first part of the advertising is for live racing, then other events.
What tracks actually advertise racing first?
On a different note:
Years ago, across the street from Yonkers, there was a Mohegan Sun billboard up!
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I live about 20 minutes from Harrah's Philly. It's located in Chester, PA in a bad neighborhood with high crime. There's virtually no one at the track for live racing, the casino is 3/4 empty, and they do no promoting at all. There's also a minimum-security prison 2 blocks away.
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I live about 20 minutes from Harrah's Philly. It's located in Chester, PA in a bad neighborhood with high crime. There's virtually no one at the track for live racing, the casino is 3/4 empty, and they do no promoting at all.
Isn't the prison [jail] in the same area as the track?
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2 blocks away, it's a small prison.
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2 blocks away, it's a small prison.
Is there enough room for a few more?
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It's called SCI (State Correctional Facility) Chester and is a medium security prison for men.
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Years ago Pete Szymanski did a live interview around 5pm every night on the radio in Buffalo. Give pics talk about card
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Who’s talking about slot welfare?!?! I guess you conveniently ignored the fact that racetracks existed before these casinos join them so just because a racetrack has inflated purses, that’s the cost of doing business with a racetrack and that’s how the casinos were able to get their doors open. But of course you conveniently ignore that.
We’re talking about owners trainers and drivers making record money. That’s thriving.
tmbz1 tmbz1 unfortunately you're talking to these bust out losers that are brain dead. I have a bunch of horse racing most of them are making a lot of money.
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Years ago Pete Szymanski did a live interview around 5pm every night on the radio in Buffalo. Give pics talk about card
I remember that!
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I don't get the love/hate thing with Gural. Did the guy save the Meadowlands from closing? I think he did. Nobody else single-handedly had the credibility, connections, and stature to do it. I am sure the NJSBOA would have formed a committee to do something and after about a year, they would finally agree where to buy office supplies from.
Do I agree with everything he's done since? Absolutely not. But that doesn't mean I hate the guy. I think too many doomsayers and doomsdayers are consumed by negativity and want to see the Meadowlands close. They are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Why even pay attention to them. To what end. I still go to, support, and bet at the Meadowlands. I contribute, in my own way. Everyone can say whatever they want. But the sport, industry, track ownership/management, they may not always know who to listen to, but they certainly know who not to listen to.
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I don't get the love/hate thing with Gural. Did the guy save the Meadowlands from closing? I think he did. Nobody else single-handedly had the credibility, connections, and stature to do it. I am sure the NJSBOA would have formed a committee to do something and after about a year, they would finally agree where to buy office supplies from.
Do I agree with everything he's done since? Absolutely not. But that doesn't mean I hate the guy. I think too many doomsayers and doomsdayers are consumed by negativity and want to see the Meadowlands close. They are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Why even pay attention to them. To what end. I still go to, support, and bet at the Meadowlands. I contribute, in my own way. Everyone can say whatever they want. But the sport, industry, track ownership/management, they may not always know who to listen to, but they certainly know who not to listen to.
Gural is the only track owner who is will to use other revenue to subsidize racing. Most of the rest have been sold to casino companies. It is only a matter of time before the casino companies get tired of seeing the red ink from racing on the reports from the bean counters and pay off whoever they need to in order to shut down racing.
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Jeff is a friend. At lunch he asked me if I knew a good Proctologist. He has a G problem that needs to be removed.
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Jeff is a friend. At lunch he asked me if I knew a good Proctologist. He has a G problem that needs to be removed.
ngc3
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Gural is the only track owner who is will to use other revenue to subsidize racing. Most of the rest have been sold to casino companies. It is only a matter of time before the casino companies get tired of seeing the red ink from racing on the reports from the bean counters and pay off whoever they need to in order to shut down racing.
The process began a few years ago when pompano park closed (RIP)!
Gulfstream next??
Wasn’t there a big shuffle of finances in Pennsylvania and other parts of Canada?
What tracks will be the next ones to close?
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Gural is the only track owner who is will to use other revenue to subsidize racing. Most of the rest have been sold to casino companies. It is only a matter of time before the casino companies get tired of seeing the red ink from racing on the reports from the bean counters and pay off whoever they need to in order to shut down racing.
I would say he's a smart businessman
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I would say he's a smart businessman
Did you personally thank Jeff for pushing the Hambo to Hoosier??? BTW, if you're personally thanking him for anything, why on Horseplop? Want his number? ngc3
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Gural is the only track owner who is will to use other revenue to subsidize racing. Most of the rest have been sold to casino companies. It is only a matter of time before the casino companies get tired of seeing the red ink from racing on the reports from the bean counters and pay off whoever they need to in order to shut down racing.
I don't disagree. I've long said I don't begrudge Gural for wanting a casino. He took over the Meadowlands thinking/hoping he'd get one and I am OK with that. He is a capitalist. He's supposed to want to and make a profit. While the casino referendum will not be on the 2026 ballot, if it gets on the 2027 ballot, and the Meadowlands gets a casino, I'd rather see him get it than simply a casino company. Obviously casino companies and racetracks have been a poor solution. Sure, it works in the t-breds but it's still the exception and not the norm. For every Oaklawn Park, there's a Yonkers or Gulfstream. The latter falling to decoupling. Whether it's casinos, VLT's/real slots, HHR's, sportsbooks, whatever, I want to see real horsemen, who will support racing, get them.
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I also do not agree with everything Gural says/does. However, I do like that he gives horsemen a voice. Whether he agrees or not is secondary, but he does listen. I also think the result of the losing the Hambo is an atrocity.