Meadowlands: Hambletonian fate could have impact on New Jersey racing

Regardless of which New Jersey harness racing representative you speak to the answer is the same: we need the Hambletonian to stay at The Meadowlands. That was the clear message driven home by everyone from breeders to Meadowlands President and CEO Jeff Gural to the State’s Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn.

“I think [losing the Hambletonian] would be devastating because the Meadowlands is the premium racecourse that this industry has. To take its premium race away, it would be like the Masters leaving Augusta. It’s that connected,” said Wengryn, who was in attendance on Hambletonian Day. “The state has invested in horse racing and has invested in the remodeling of this facility here – the upgrades – looking for those public/private partnerships. Keeping a landmark race like that here, it's critical.”

The Meadowlands is currently in year seven of 10 in terms of its appropriation agreement with the state. Of the $20 million in funds, the standardbred industry is allocated $10 million, with about $7 million of that funneling to overnight purses and the remainer being distributed through the State’s Sire Stakes program and owner/breeders’ awards.

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The original State budget in 2026 lowered the $20 million to $5 million but it was later restored to the full figure by the legislators. Wengryn relayed that much of that had to do with new Governor Mikie Sherrill trying to put out the best fiscally responsible budget and then after listening to the stakeholders, correcting course in the best interests of the State.

As for what the loss of the Hambletonian could mean to the future of the appropriation and potentially the fate of racing in New Jersey, Wengryn was blunt.

“I think all of this goes together. And when pieces of the puzzle start to fall apart, there's less interest in the legislature, in government. If the industry is saying, we want to move away from here, why would government continue to support it?” said Wengryn.

In his yearly “state of the track” interview during the Hambletonian Day card, Gural reiterated the importance of the Hambletonian remaining in place. “I think it would really hurt our chances of getting a casino,” said Gural, in part.

According to sources, the Hambletonian Society Board of Directors, which consists of owners, breeders and other industry participants, will meet on August 13 to make a decision. According to Hambletonian Society President and CEO John Campbell, no decision has been made and the meeting could be lengthy.

The Hambletonian issue aside, Wengryn wasn’t shy about the importance of not just harness racing but horse racing in general for the Garden State.

“New Jersey's a big state with a lot of horses. We wouldn't have the veterinary services we have for our recreational riders – the show and eventing teams – without the racing industry being here. It brings those professional services. You start losing something as big as harness racing, you lose all of that,” concluded Wengryn, who admitted he’d be poolside on that Saturday afternoon rather than the racetrack if the Hambletonian wasn’t taking place.