Harness: Growing up at The Meadowlands
Last week, I wrote a column about The Meadowlands and what could occur in the months and years to come if New Jersey were to pass the purse subsidy bill, as it appears they will. I received several positive messages about the story that led me to write this follow-up.
I thought it would be an interesting story to explain how I became a part of the racing industry, through the support of my friends, family, The Meadowlands and the great people that worked there. My goal here is if there is someone out there trying to get their foot in the door in the industry, maybe this column can help provide some assistance.
If you read my most recent column, then you know that I spent many nights during my childhood and teenage years attending the races at The Meadowlands with my dad. When you are able to bond with your father by repeatedly doing something together, that something becomes a big part of who you are. Many people thought it was crazy, a dad taking his 12-year-old son to the racetrack every Saturday night. But I looked forward to it every week and now I look back on it wishing that time never had to end.
By the time I was 16, I was so well known at The Meadowlands that on my 16th birthday, the tellers in the clubhouse tele-theater had a birthday cake for me. Every Saturday I would get Dunkin Donuts coffee for not only a handful of my father’s friends, but for the television hosts who at the time broadcasted just outside the tele-theater we frequented. I would answer Hollywood Heyden’s “Carvel Quiz” correctly so many times, that they had to put in a rule capping how often a person could win. I was even slated to battle Ken Warkentin in the “Pepsi Challenge” where we each pick a horse and if my horse finished in front of his, I would win a dinner for two in the Trackside Terrace restaurant. Unfortunately it was determined that The Meadowlands couldn’t have someone under 18 on their television broadcast selecting a horse in the contest, so my mom took my place and selected my horse, which thankfully won. When they opened the sports bar on the clubhouse level in the old grandstand, a sign went up saying “No persons under 21 allowed past this point.” But Meadowlands management let me know that rule didn’t apply to me.
Shortly after I turned 18, I was approached by Mike Curci, a former television host at The Meadowlands. He asked if I wanted to get some experience and do a couple of segments each week on his Racing Insider. It was a great experience for me. Every week I was tasked with handicapping the Saturday races, talking about them and even doing a weekly interview with a Meadowlands driver, all of which would be streamed over the internet.
My big break came on February 19, 2006 when Sam Mckee asked me to be the first guest on the “Grasshopper Also Sunday Ticket.” It was a dream come true. Here I was, sitting on the Meadowlands television set, talking about the races with Sam Mckee. I suppose that appearance planted a seed in Sam’s mind, because that fall he asked me to host the Breeders Cup simulcast show alongside the great Brad Thomas, something that I would do for almost a decade.
After those two “auditions” Sam began to utilize me as a fill-in host of The Meadowlands broadcast, which provided plenty of opportunity because at the time, they were still racing five days per week. There is a great picture that I still have of my grandfather, at age 96, sitting and watching me host The Meadowlands broadcast on my Uncle’s computer. Images like that you never forget. Sam would also rely heavily on me for the fall thoroughbred meet due to my thoroughbred knowledge and the rapport that Brad and I had developed. From there everything snowballed as Sam picked up the phone on my behalf and helped get my foot in the door calling races, something he knew I had a passion for. He kept reminding me to work as much as possible and never take my foot off the gas pedal. There were times in the late 2000’s that my schedule became tiresome to say the least. There were weeks where I would call the races at Tioga Downs on Friday and Saturday, then fill in at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) on Sunday through Tuesday, before heading to Ocean Downs on Wednesday and Thursday, then heading back to The Meadowlands the next Friday and Saturday. It was exhausting, but Sam, Ken, Dave and Holly kept pushing me along and kept me focused, and when you have that kind of team supporting you, you can’t let them down.
Obviously, over the years I was given many opportunities, culminating in eventually becoming the odds-maker and Director of Racing Operations at The Meadowlands, something that brought my father a great sense of pride. It’s something that I never thought would happen, but what an amazing feeling it was when it did.
It was tough learning that some people would take to the internet expressing their displeasure with the role I was given. It’s a strange feeling to read something about yourself that seems to be filled with so much hate, written by someone that you have never met. When I was younger, it would upset me when someone would call me a golden boy, or make reference to the fact that I was given opportunities that I didn’t deserve. I sacrificed a lot to get to where I was and where I am today. I gave up a potential legal career and walked away from law school. When all of my friends were out living the life during the summers of my mid 20’s, I was calling races up and down the east coast. I had to leave my wife behind for countless weekends as I traveled for work.
I always wanted to be known as someone who was a great colleague and who worked hard. I made many mistakes along the way. I certainly wish my maturity had developed a little faster than it did. I had a hard time taking my passion and channeling it in the proper way. It was so intimidating being 29 years old and filling such a big role at the biggest track in harness racing. I felt like I had something to prove, both to myself and to many people in the industry. I certainly didn’t always present my opinions in the most professional way, which should be a word of caution for anyone reading this who is trying to work in this industry.
If you are young, love this business and want to make a career out of it, my advice would be to take advantage of any opportunity given to you. Find a way to say yes whenever you are asked to do something and network as much as possible. Never burn any bridges and be courteous and respectful at every corner. Working in this industry is truly a wonderful thing for anyone that has a passion for racing.