Meadowlands: Gural remains optimistic about casino

For 50 years, the Meadowlands Pace has been the signature night of harness racing in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and over the years the supporting card around the marquee event for sophomore pacers has been built up into a tremendous event for racing.

The Hambletonian Maturity has joined the William Haughton Memorial as excellent supporting features, along with the Dorothy Haughton, Hambletonian and Oaks prep races in the Stanley Dancer and Del Miller Memorials and more.

This year, the Meadowlands Pace itself turned out to be a tremendous race, with four horses separated by a head at the finish. Granted, the 1-5 favorite Brandon Blvd pulled off the victory, but it was one of the most compelling stretch drives in recent Meadowlands Pace history, if not all-time.

As for the card itself, it was generally chalky, which can happen on a stakes-laden program. Ten of the 14 races were won by horses sent off at odds of 8-5 or less, seven of which were less than even-money.

The Meadowlands Pace card each year is always supremely dependent on the draw and how races split. Since the Dancer, Del Miller and Haughton races can all be split into two divisions based on the number of entries, there is a lot of luck involved in how the card comes together.

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Last year, the only unfavorable split occurred in the Stanley Dancer Memorial, which had 14 horses entered, resulting in two races of seven horses. Nearly every other race was stacked with a full field. The average field size last year on Meadowlands Pace night was 9.4 horses per race as 132 horses contested the 14-race program. This year, that number fell to 8.3 horses per race with 117 horses competing. Without the 13-horse field in the Hambletonian Maturity, that number was a flat eight horses per race across the other 13 races. Obviously that is far from ideal for a racetrack that was built on the idea of getting 10 noses on the gate.

The 2025 Pace card handle of $5.1 million reflected an average handle per betting interest of $38,636. This year, Pace night handle fell to $4.05 million, or $34,655 per betting interest. Overall handle declined 26% while handle per betting interest declined 11.5%.

The Meadowlands Pace itself sported a full field of 10 as opposed to nine horses last year when Louprint, the North America Cup winner, had to be withdrawn from the race before the field was drawn, resulting in a more balanced field from a betting standpoint.

For the first time that I can remember, the Win pool in the Meadowlands Pace this year did not reach $100,000. Perhaps that was the result of a 1-5 favorite in the race tied into the fact that the first seven races were all won by either the favorite or second choice, with none offering a win mutuel higher than $4.80.

While we already mentioned the luck of the draw, I did see one wagering issue that may have contributed to the decline. The Meadowlands Pace itself was not the anchor leg for any multi-race exotic wagers. In other words, there was not a Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 or Pick 6 that ended with the Meadowlands Pace. I cannot imagine that helped wagering and is something I would change for 2027. Your marquee race can be a pivot race that concludes one Pick 4 sequence and starts another as well. Perhaps this was a decision that was made due to how the field took shape and that there would be an overwhelming favorite, but if that is the case, they probably overthought things from a wagering perspective.

As for the Meadowlands Pace itself, it attracted 13 horses, despite being the richest race for 3-year-old pacers this season, offering a purse of $810,000 (last year the purse was $656,000). Given that neither Beau Jangles nor Odds On Mr Mamba entered, I was very surprised that others did not take a swing.

Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural was very pleased with the race itself but equally as baffled by the lack of entries.

"It was great to see Andrew Harris and relatively new owners win such a thrilling race. In addition, Dexter (Dunn) is the best driver in the world right now, and it was great to see him win our signature event. Beyond the race, we just offered the highest purse for a pacing race in North America and only 13 entered," said Gural.

That is just a microcosm of a much larger issue facing Gural and the Meadowlands and one that has been an issue since he took over operations of the racetrack.

"I think the shorter fields (on the Pace card) hurt, but this clearly shows the huge disadvantage we have being the only major Standardbred track in North America that is operating without slots as a funding source," said Gural, who cited Kentucky racing as being in the complete opposite position. "Kentucky has huge money for stakes races from historical horse racing machines, and they can afford to race on Monday and Tuesday (as wagering handle means little for purse revenue). That is great for them, but it dilutes the overall product of harness racing."

The 2027 New Jersey budget was recently passed, and it did include the $20 million purse subsidy that is shared by Thoroughbred and Standardbred horsemen. However, Gural noted that stakes races don't factor into that equation. "The $7 million share that is allocated for the Meadowlands can only be used for overnight purses, so all the money for stakes races at the Meadowlands come from nominating fees, sponsorships, the $400 yearling staking payment and revenue from racing and sports wagering."

To Gural's point, even if some of the $7 million could be used for stakes and Gural wanted to make the Meadowlands Pace a cool $1 million again, would it matter? Other than it sounds nice, why should he? Coming out of the April 15 sustaining payment there were 33 horses still eligible for the race; therefore 20 of those horses did not enter. If the race were $1 million, would there have been 15 horses to enter instead of 13, and if so, would that make any difference to Meadowlands business?

Gural cited racing revenue as a source for purse revenue. It is worth reminding readers that in 2010 Governor Christie wanted the State of New Jersey out of the racing business because of how much money the state was losing, and that was at a time where over $300 million was being wagered inside the Meadowlands facility on both live racing and imported simulcast racing. That number has been declining ever since as more people wager from home, another issue Gural has had to battle for 15 years. As for the sports wagering, Gural noted a uniqueness to the Meadowlands. "I believe I am the only track owner who shares revenue from sports betting with the horsemen," said Gural.

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Next, the Hambletonian is on the horizon, and right now it is possible it could be the last Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, something that I have written several times would be a body blow to the harness racing industry. I cannot emphasize enough that the Hambletonian program will simply not handle the same amount of money it handles at the Meadowlands, regardless of where it goes. The Breeders Crown handle has proven this time and time again. Fewer people watching and wagering on the Hambletonian would be detrimental to the sport, regardless of where almost all tracks get their purse money. Gural is justifiably upset with what has transpired given the extremely difficult situation the Meadowlands is in.

"The Hambletonian Society is threatening to relocate the Hambletonian to a racetrack that is subsidized by slot revenue. To be honest, that is very demoralizing. I have worked so hard, losing millions of dollars to keep the Meadowlands going all these years," said Gural, who remains hopeful that the race will stay put in New Jersey. "This is the best place for [the Hambletonian] and losing it would really hurt our chances of getting a casino."

The next comment Gural made is interesting, as it is the first time I have heard him acknowledge that a casino referendum will not be on the ballot in New Jersey in 2026.

"I am committed to do everything possible to get a referendum on the ballot next year, but first we need the state to once again give Dennis (Drazin from Monmouth Park) and I money to cover operating losses," said Gural. "Last year the purse subsidy bill included $3.5 million to aid operational costs for the track but so far this year the budget passed eliminated money for operating losses. I expect that to change as I am not wealthy enough to cover the $10 million we expect to lose. Fortunately, the Governor is a friend (to racing), but the opposition from Atlantic City was too powerful this year. No one wants to see Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing disappear as we generate millions of dollars in economic benefits, including open spaces. I learned from the unsuccessful effort this year and fully expect to get the casino referendum on the ballot next year.

"Our polling shows a casino at the Meadowlands will pass easily. I have budgeted five percent of slot machine revenue to purses and breeders' awards, and I estimate that would add about $50 million to purse money distributed. This will enable us to eliminate the post-time drag and pursue getting people to attend our live races. I would also significantly increase purses for older horses and force the drivers to help improve the racing product so that we can create new customers and new yearling buyers."

I am consistently amazed at the backlash and lack of support that Jeff Gural faces. Of course, I don't agree with everything he says and everything the Meadowlands does. When I worked for Jeff, we had disagreements like any employer/employee relationship, but that doesn't matter. I don't agree with anyone 100 percent of the time. For 15 years Gural has tried. He has introduced new wager types and has experimented with the video content the Meadowlands puts out. Despite being entirely dependent upon wagering handle, he experimented in a post-time drag reduction, an initiative he knew would cost him money but he wanted to try. He introduced his own out-of-competition testing that he has paid for. Despite no money from slot machine revenue, for 15 years the Meadowlands still carries the largest stakes program in the country. People forget, Gural also owns two other racetracks that would not exist if not for him. Yet, despite all of that, he is somehow met with resistance at every corner.

The industry can constructively criticize decisions the Meadowlands makes if they wish while still providing Gural and the Meadowlands with support. Those two things do not have to be binary. They are trying and should be applauded for their efforts and supported in any way possible.