Freehold Raceway Closing?

[smokingjoe]

This would be truly sad if true, but all employees have been called to a meeting next Thursday by the GM.

Speculation is a closing since they had called all the sports betting folks to a meeting, and told them it would be shutting in a month and did so.

An industry terminally ill may be seeing another fatality soon.

[Cleanupindustry]

Hey smoking Joe.  Keep smoking totally untrue

[Harnessfan902]

Not a rumor. 

[smokingjoe]

It's 100% true that an all employees meeting has been called for next Thursday!!!

The assumption it is bad news, but to what degree?

Based on the fact they did the same thing before closing the sports book and all employees with it (gave 30 day notice), that's sadly the logical favorite outcome.

[Sunmoon 1219]

Guess it could be possible out East after hearing that the only Sportsbook in the United States closed was at that track . It sounds like it’s Been on the brink many times of closing but history buffs keep it alive . The purses there are absolutely atrocious. A complete embarrassment to race 10 races for 40k . That’s our one open out here . How many employees can there possibly be ? 15-20 ?

[Papillon]

they receive $2mil a year from the state of NJ for purses.

Freehold is owned by Pennwood--half Penn National and half Parx(Greenwood)-they paid $44 mil a long time ago

maybe they all came to an agreement to close the place-America's oldest pari mutuel track

maybe Gural gets that extra $2mil for purses if they close

[Rdp066]

I would be sad since once a month I stop in and let loose a huge pile of shit.  It is a work of art and I never flush.  That place should have been sold years ago when slots failed and now this year the sports book disappeared as well.

The 15-20 dirtbags who worship that place will just have to hit the mall across the street and hang out.  A group of those old shit bags are regulars and spend more money on coffee than they do at the windows.  There is one old Jew boy named John who is a prime example.  Another POS is named Al with a beer belly that has to be seen to be believed who would never venture to Monmouth Park to place a bet.

Fuck the crooked teller Bob from the dining room also.  I will laugh my ass off if this comes true.

[wiseowl]

Ant track that closes is bad for racing only stupid people want that.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Ant track that closes is bad for racing only stupid people want that.

I agree for the most part. I do think there are too many tracks and too many races today, but that's another issue. In and of itself, it is not good for NJ racing if Freehold closes. Too many horses at Freehold can't go at the Meadowlands. Those horses will make their way out of NJ. Those horses that can go at the Meadowlands will, but it will cheapen an already cheapened product. As a gambler, all I've wanted my entire career is full and competitive fields and large pools to bet into. Yes, low takeouts, LOL. If you don't have that, you can't make a living in this game. While a full and competitive field can be had from a 10 claimer race or an Open Pace, you lose both full fields and competitive fields over time as the overall quality of the horse population decreases.

A lot of people like to point out negativity, rant and rave, knock the sport and the industry, kick it when it's down, and so on. Critics and hecklers. To what end? If you think everyone is cheating, open windows, CAW's, all this and everything else that makes the sport and betting not fair, and so on----then don't bet, shut up, and go find something else to do. My response is take up bingo and tell your story walking. I am not happy with the Meadowlands product. I've told management so. Other gamblers have as well. Try that at YR, LOL. The Meadowlands will survive, and eventually will thrive as the new business model takes shape. Until then, I still support the sport and industry, as an owner and as a gambler, all while making a living.

[pocketrocketwinner]

The "shut up and leave" strategy for treating bettors has been successfully implemented since slot money arrived. How's that been working out so far?

[Cleanupindustry]

To all concerned I’ve heard that those owners you’ve been talking about pennwood/parx ?  Have just sold it to new buyer that’s what the meeting is about the track was sold. To whom and what the new owner does ? Hopefully to continue the oldest daytime track will continue with improvements …….

[kantseeback]

I would be sad since once a month I stop in and let loose a huge pile of shit.  It is a work of art and I never flush.  That place should have been sold years ago when slots failed and now this year the sports book disappeared as well.

The 15-20 dirtbags who worship that place will just have to hit the mall across the street and hang out.  A group of those old shit bags are regulars and spend more money on coffee than they do at the windows.  There is one old Jew boy named John who is a prime example.  Another POS is named Al with a beer belly that has to be seen to be believed who would never venture to Monmouth Park to place a bet.

Fuck the crooked teller Bob from the dining room also.  I will laugh my ass off if this comes true.

I remember years ago when they had drivers like Herve and Jackie Mo and they had decent racing there and drew a decent crowd. That ground floor grandstand bathroom was always leaking water, a constant stream of pisswater flowing out thru the door and into the raceway.

[dougie]

I get to Freehold a few times a year when I visit family in Jersey. It's old and tattered. Not many folks there. But to see it close would be a shame. I hope it survives. I still enjoy standing at the finish line.

[Sunmoon 1219]

If it is closing me and my fellas will fly east and take pictures of the place and post some here . I’m sure it’s just a shell of its former self . We have gone to woodbine twice this month why not Freehold next month if it’s closing up .

[Grandstand Handicapper]

The "shut up and leave" strategy for treating bettors has been successfully implemented since slot money arrived. How's that been working out so far?

Not bettors. Hecklers. Big difference.