Jeff Gural statement on future of the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands
September 15, 2025 from Meadowlands Media Relations
East Rutherford, NJ – On behalf of Jeff Gural:
While I was aware that the Hambletonian Society was not going to offer us an extension of our Hambletonian contract unless we agreed to allow owners and trainers on our exclusion list to enter in the Hambletonian, the Oaks and the Maturity, I made it clear that it was not our intention to allow trainers suspected of using illegal performance enhancing drugs to race against those trainers who to the best of our knowledge are racing under the rules.
That seemed to be a major problem, along with the fact that they wanted to be sure that we would be able to host the race if we were not able to secure a casino license in 2027.
I made it clear that I was highly confident that we would be able to receive a casino license, but it would be impossible for me to make a five-year commitment without having a license in hand. I also made it clear to Mr. Campbell that we had no intention of bidding for the Hambletonian after next year so the decision to put it out for bid essentially means that the Hambletonian will no longer be held at the Meadowlands after 2026.
For those people purchasing trotting yearlings this fall I want to make it perfectly clear that if they are lucky like I was this year to have a horse good enough to participate and actually win the race, in 2027 it most likely will be held in Anderson, IN or Campbellsville, ON. They seem to me to be the only logical racetracks that can host the event since I doubt if the Society is willing to race on a smaller track.
Our plan, if we do get a casino, would be to use the $1,050,000 that we currently allot for added money to the Hambletonian races from our purse account, for other trotting races, but obviously there is no guarantee that we will have a casino.
While we all love the sport, the sad part is that most people don’t know we exist. When I tell someone that I own The Meadowlands the typical response would be that they used to come there with their grandfather. When I tell them that I race and breed trotters I get a variety of responses:
Aren’t those races fixed?
Aren’t those horses drugged?
What are trotters?
In order for me to get a license the state has to pass a referendum that would allow a casino at the Meadowlands. Currently under state law the only place casinos are allowed is in Atlantic City. There will be a massive amount of money spent by casinos in NY, PA and Atlantic City opposing the referendum. It is critical that I show them that it was more important for me to make sure that drug trainers were not allowed to race in the Hambletonian and that is why it was moved out of the Meadowlands. I cannot afford the animal welfare people to attack me on the integrity issue, and I think this will put that issue to bed.
In my opinion, we have gone out of our way since I took over in 2011 to make sure the Hambletonian had a home here at the Meadowlands. Anyone who attended the race this year at the 100th Anniversary was hopefully impressed by all of the events that were conducted along with the large crowd in attendance, not to mention that I actually owned a piece of Nordic Catcher, the winner.
What hurts the most is the fact that had I not stepped up at the very last moment to keep the state from closing the Meadowlands and subsequently building a new $120 Million grandstand dedicated entirely to horseracing, the breeding industry would not be booming the way it has over the last few years.
I doubt if anyone other than those on our exclusion list would like to see the race moved so hopefully, they can make their feelings know.
While I recognize that the Society determines where the race is located, I hope they will change their mind. I made it clear that anyone on our exclusion list would be afforded a hearing and that Mr. Campbell can join as well.
To read the announcement from the Hambletonian Society on opening the bidding on future sites for the Hambletonian, click here.
