John was a great PR guy, and when his run was ended you knew all you needed to know about the future of the live racing experience at Monticello.
There was a guy in the 80s who wanted to create a track in PA, I think it was to be called Stars & Stripes Downs. which basically was going to be a no fans allowed operation, I think most people at the time thought that was a crazy idea but if you look at Monti now it is pretty much what they have.