Atlantic City eyes 20-day meet

Greenwood Racing Inc., the owner of Atlantic City Race Course, is considering a 20-day meet at the New Jersey racetrack in 2008, according to the chief executive of Greenwood, Hal Handel.

The 20-day meet would be a 16-day extension from the all-turf four-day meetings that Atlantic City has conducted in the past three years. Handel said that the 20-day meet would be contingent on Greenwood going forward with and completing the renovation of the track's existing grandstand.

"We're somewhat optimistic that we'll be moving forward with a redevelopment plan of the Atlantic City property by then," Handel said. "If we can do that - get a smaller, smarter-sized grandstand that would function as a year-round simulcast facility," he said, a 20-day meet "is something we'd like to try."

Dates requests in New Jersey for 2008 are not due until October of 2007. Handel said that Greenwood is working with various state and local government agencies to get approval for the renovation.

Atlantic City would maintain two 40-stall barns at the racetrack to accommodate shippers during the meet, Handel said. The track does not currently provide stabling or training facilities.