HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Racetime on August 13, 2026, 06:37:49 PM
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And the Hambletonian goes to ???
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Hoosier!
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You have to be kidding me
Sport is dead. They just killed it so they can a parade and old society members can have feelgood luncheons
They wont top 4 million there
.fu john campbell..thanks for nothing
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Next three years at least. 11.wp
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It's hard to imagine Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands without the Hambletonian....
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is Jeff still a saviour?
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is Jeff still a saviour?
Of course he is, and Pacer2 had the honor of having dinner with him a few years ago.
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Be interesting to hear what Jeff Gural has to say.
he said he was waiting to have lunch with The Governor(seriously)
he wouldn't commit for more than one year at time
John Campbell apparently doesn't think there will be a M1 casino
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You have to be kidding me
Sport is dead. They just killed it so they can a parade and old society members can have feelgood luncheons
They wont top 4 million there
.fu john campbell..thanks for nothing
The reason why it going to Hoosier goes directly to Jeff Gural
Not john campbell.
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Yesterday "G" said he was meeting with John Campbell next week to discuss the Hambletonian, there's goes that lunch.
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he said he was waiting to have lunch with The Governor(seriously)
he wouldn't commit for more than one year at time
John Campbell apparently doesn't think there will be a M1 casino
From what I have heard, the vacation excuse for missing the casino vote was not well received
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The average handle per race at Hoosier is 61k...bahaha
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They M[1] played coy and wouldn't commit on a contract. So I guess boo hoo if appropriate to say now.
Sledgehammer: I guess it won't be called 'Hambletonian Day' now at M[1]
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If you believe Jeff Gural's excuse.
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From what I have heard, the vacation excuse for missing the casino vote was not well received
glad someone else heard what he said and it wasn't just me
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Yesterday "G" said he was meeting with John Campbell next week to discuss the Hambletonian, there's goes that lunch.
He will be down to 11 lunches next week now. ngc3
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Maybe they could start having the buglers, instead of the traditional call to post, they can play 'TAPS' ;D
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not so sure The Big M Pace is safe from the fallout
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BigM used to be an awesome to watch every Saturday night and was now down to only 2 awesome cards a year anymore. And they just lost one of those. Just close the fucking place down!
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The article stated that Hoosier is home to "world class harness racing."
Now that is comedy gold.
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Not a good look to lose the hambo when the life of your business is hanging on getting state subsidies
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At least we'll be maximizing our Gabe Pruitt airtime. hvc.1 hvc.1
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Hoosier Park has more Hambletonian Society races than any track in NA I believe ?
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Does The Oaks go with it?
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Does The Oaks go with it?
yeth
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The article stated that Hoosier is home to "world class harness racing."
Now that is comedy gold.
$61k per race handle. Only 21 times over $1 million
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Hoosier will now have to create new ffa races to fill up the undercard or move Dan Patch and Maturity to that day. I the the Cane and Shady Daisy which draw small fields ate Hambo Society races
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Well I bet that will make it at least 22 by then so dry those tears. 11.wp
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https://x.com/i/status/2088052669612990895
Telling comments from one of the leading trainers in the sport
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At least we'll be maximizing our Gabe Pruitt airtime. hvc.1 hvc.1
ngc3
Imagine how long the post drag will be for that card
Pathetic and pitiful that it has come to this
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https://x.com/i/status/2088052669612990895
Telling comments from one of the leading trainers in the sport
That is pretty damning coming from Nancy..
She sounds pissed.
The only thing that would really come close to this is if the LBJ ever left Delaware.
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Probably move the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty to the card ?
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So Apex has only raced at the Big M this year
Many trainers use the Big M as the place to get their horse ready
Moving it to Indiana??? Are they having prep races there.
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So Apex has only raced at the Big M this year
Many trainers use the Big M as the place to get their horse ready
Moving it to Indiana??? Are they having prep races there.
the Emily Gaskin is 2 weeks before The Hambletonian
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The racing product between Hoosier and the Big M is just not comparable. Two wide flow is weak to non-existent and the racing is just dull. It’s a pacing track and I think this is a pretty shitty day for the Hambletonian and sport in general. I say that as a guy from the Midwest
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Sources indicating Gural will announce a $5 million Meadowlands Trot to compete directly with Hambo
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Sources indicating Gural will announce a $5 million Meadowlands Trot to compete directly with Hambo
Let’s hope.
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If true, that will show how much he 'CARES' about the sport. No one to blame but himself.
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Let’s hope.
Gural is in it for the casino, plain and simple. He could give a shit about the hambo, probably just never thought they do it to him as he's been harping what a martyr he's been for NJ. Insufferable blow hard who always has his best interest at heart before the sport or the horsemen. Good for Indiana
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Can someone tell me who is paying the purse for this. Indiana? Where are the purses coming from, the general purse fund? The overnight purses there aren't great to begin with.
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Can someone tell me who is paying the purse for this. Indiana? Where are the purses coming from, the general purse fund? The overnight purses there aren't great to begin with.
my guess is Caesars is sponsoring/paying for a lot of it
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Not to worry, harness racing fans. Jeff Gural already has a back up plan. Starting 2027, the Meadowlands will stand host for the inaugural Amateurtonian.
Sincerely, Silent One
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Maybe Nancy and her dad can get "THE MESSIAH" to intervene, and have him Build a casino at The Meadowlands. He owned a casino before, OH Wait.... it went bankrupt.
But seriously, that is a shame. IMO regular racing has gone downhill with many a night with average to awful fields. The people deserve a better product than that.
There is nothing like Hambo Day IMO and now it's gone.
Who determines the total purse because it used to be 1.5 mil right. Does The Hambo Society have a set amount and Gural can raise it, or could have raised it in past years.
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(https://i.ibb.co/bVBwV9x/Ford-NJ-Dead.png) (https://ibb.co/DFCcF2N)
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As a New Jersian and long time Meadowlands patron and horse owner, this just sucks. I live in South Jersey now so I haven't been to live racing in a long time but this might be the final nail in the coffin for M1. I remember 6 days a week racing where I couldn't wait to get the Star Ledger in the morning to see the fields and predictions and circle my choices in the early '90's. There was no better fun time than going to Hambo Day in the '90's.
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please help me out here, I don't claim to be up on all this stuff----
was there no love lost between the Hambletonian society and Jeff Gural?what was that all about
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Sources indicating Gural will announce a $5 million Meadowlands Trot to compete directly with Hambo
I doubt he has $5 million to play with but if he did he could structure an event with up to 30 entries. No elimination. Instead structure it like the races at Pocono on Sun Stakes day. The top 10 money earners race for $2.5 million, the second 10 race for $1.5 million, and the third 10 race for $1. Car it the same day as the Hambo and he would have every three year old trotter at the Meadowlands.
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please help me out here, I don't claim to be up on all this stuff----
was there no love lost between the Hambletonian society and Jeff Gural?what was that all about
The Hambletonian Society wanted a multi year commitment
since Gural isn't getting his casino anytime soon-he wasnt happy about digging into his own pockets to keep the failing entity called "racing" going
he still wants to wear the "saviour" hat but doesn't want to be paying for the rights to wear that hat
he fooled most for 12 years but the snake oil salesman in him is finally being exposed
you cannot be declaring yourself "The Saviour" if all you really wanted was a casino the entire time
and that's why there exists some anti-Gural sentiment
some folks would categorize that as being one of his "shortcomings"...which I find hilarious and sad simultaneously
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A horrible move by the Hambletonian Society. Does Campbell make 300K a year? Other than presenting trophies what does he do?
Rename it to the welfare Society.
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A horrible move by the Hambletonian Society. Does Campbell make 300K a year? Other than presenting trophies what does he do?
Rename it to the welfare Society.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/610593889/202523219349303817/full
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The Hambletonian Society wanted a multi year commitment
since Gural isn't getting his casino anytime soon-he wasnt happy about digging into his own pockets to keep the failing entity called "racing" going
he still wants to wear the "saviour" hat but doesn't want to be paying for the rights to wear that hat
he fooled most for 12 years but the snake oil salesman in him is finally being exposed
you cannot be declaring yourself "The Saviour" if all you really wanted was a casino the entire time
and that's why there exists some anti-Gural sentiment
some folks would categorize that as being one of his "shortcomings"...which I find hilarious and sad simultaneously
How many checks do you expect him to write to support a money losing operation when most of the other tracks have casinos?
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https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/610593889/202523219349303817/full
Thank you. I believe all tracks could/would collect the stake payments and do minimal advertising themselves. I don't see a necessary service being provided.
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As a New Jersian and long time Meadowlands patron and horse owner, this just sucks. I live in South Jersey now so I haven't been to live racing in a long time but this might be the final nail in the coffin for M1. I remember 6 days a week racing where I couldn't wait to get the Star Ledger in the morning to see the fields and predictions and circle my choices in the early '90's. There was no better fun time than going to Hambo Day in the '90's.
I also live in south jersey and for me it was The Sports Eye I couldn't wait to get my hands on
Jay Bergman selections, Brower did the charts, Hirt At Large, etc
I attended most of The Hambletonians in the 90s and there was no better fun
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How many checks do you expect him to write to support a money losing operation when most of the other tracks have casinos?
if you want to be called "Saviour"......you write checks and stop bitching
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Campbell told me at lunch it didn't look good for the Meadowlands.
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Look at the card at Hoosier tonight
This will be the similar card with the Hambo next year
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if you want to be called "Saviour"......you write checks and stop bitching
How much money do you think he has?
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Look at the card at Hoosier tonight
This will be the similar card with the Hambo next year
The Meadowlands does triple the average per card handle.
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How much money do you think he has?
The Misfits say he is a billionaire-so a few small checks to be a saviour isn't asking much
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Hambo day will have all the same grand circuit race and I'm sure they will have a great under card, they're not stupid. Who knows they might put on a better show. I think everybody should get it, you have see the best of the Big M stake racing. Remember there was one bid!
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M[1] had that flamer judging hats and fashion on Hambo Day. Maybe Hoosier could get Dave Little
to be the food critic and tour the concession area. 11.lgzh
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Send the flamer a check and plane ticket he'll be at Hoosier, he'll judge anything.
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Only if they serve food on the plane.
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They should of moved it back to Du Quion
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The Misfits say he is a billionaire-so a few small checks to be a saviour isn't asking much
Small check = 10,000 times your annual income.
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Hambo day will have all the same grand circuit race and I'm sure they will have a great under card, they're not stupid. Who knows they might put on a better show. I think everybody should get it, you have see the best of the Big M stake racing. Remember there was one bid!
Meadowlands out handles Hoosier by 3 to 1.
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That point has been made several times. I'm sure the decision makers were [are] aware.
Speaking of aware: Did you hear the Hambletonian has been moved to Hoosier? 11.wp
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Meadowlands out handles Hoosier by 3 to 1.
Do you believe the Hambo is a signature race like the N.A. Cup in Canada and belongs at Meadowlands permanently and shouldn't go to the highest bidder?
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Do you mean permanently or for as long as they exist? ;D
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Obviously alot of people do, and it probably should for however long it is.
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NJ now knows how harness racing fans in the Midwest felt when the Hambo was taken fron DuQuoin
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They have a signature race it's called the Meadowlands Pace.
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Which didn't draw enough entries to require elims. 11.wp
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Which didn't draw enough entries to require elims. 11.wp
Exactly BT tmbz1
You and I have discussed how it was a big deal back in the day when Scioto would simulcast and even put a program page in for a big race at the "mecca"
I distinctly remember watching Jenna's Beach Boy beating Riyadh there in probably 1995 or 1996 under the old grandstand.
It's truly sad how the mighty have fallen.
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Which didn't draw enough entries to require elims. 11.wp
And you're happy about that?
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Let's just say, I've been able to hold back the tears, you dumb bitch. 11.wp
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In South Florida right now but will be at Hambo in Indy next year. Former Chitown owner. Looking forward to meet Luckpark and Meadow Ford. Meadow I think we have met before. I would run SB bets in late 70s lol. Look forward to us having a drink next year
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Just another dagger 🗡 in the "sport" of harness racing! Who can stomach 5 hours of Gabe and the Otten Otter????!?!?
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Last night the new Hambo home for the next 3 years did around $680,000 in handle on 14 races while a weak card with no-name drivers at the Meadowlands did just under $1.9 million on 13. Campbell and his buddies sold out the sport but the Hambo is only 1 race on 1 day. The Meadowlands Pace should be increased now to $1 million.
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Forget about comparing the handle at the two tracks. Jason Settlemoir used to brag about all the 3 million dollar handles on Saturday nights even with the top drivers not there, now they couldn't even break 2 million last night, which has to be the lowest Saturday handle in a long time regardless of the card and drivers.
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its not surprising the big m was down on saturday on probably their worst night of racing...of course they are still handling over a million more than hoosier so im not seeing your point. Meadowlands along with Mohawk are still the only track gamblers care about. Moving the Hambo to Hoosier a selfish petty move and will quicken the end of the sport
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The winter months have far fewer tracks open than the heart of the summer does, so that is a key reason why the handles then are consistently higher than the summer months.
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Hoosier has held Breeders Crowns and done fine. I think they bet over 2 mil. The Breeders Crown is going to Scioto this year, not a lot bitching about that. Hoosier's only another 2 1/2 hrs away. Breeders Crown 2027 Lexington.
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It's an atrocity that this happened. I think both Gural and the Hambletonian Society are to blame.
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Joe zambito and Paul Clark working at Hoosier, 2 of the biggest crooks you would ever meet. Zambito was race secretary at Batavia, used to give his buddies inside posts, owned horses under other people names, bet with both hands , should be in jail . His buddy Paul Clark worked at the otb at Batavia, stole money , owes couple owners thousands of dollars for years, just a waste of skin he is ! Now Zambito and Clark working at Hoosier, no good, dont trust or let theses losers borrow any money ! Keep your hands on your wallet !
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They should run the Hambo at Red Mile every year.
They should also run the Breeders Crown at Red Mile every year.
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I've heard worse suggestions.