New Jersey’s Monmouth Park racetrack in Oceanport opened its spring meet with some encouraging words from a former governor.
The track has been at the center of the state’s fight to allow sports betting, place new casinos outside of Atlantic City and reinstate a casino subsidy to the horseracing industry. The industry lost an about $17 million subsidy from Atlantic City under current Governor Chris Christie.
But former state Governor Richard Codey said things may change as Christie leaves office this year.
“I don’t know if all of you know this, but I’m also a funeral director,” Codey said at the opening event. “And this industry is not dead. OK? It may be hurting, but it’s not dead.
“Racing is not a partisan issue,” Codey said, according to the Asbury Park Press. “Democrats and Republicans agree down here, and everybody should. We need this place to stay alive. And I know you’ve taken quite a few hits over the past eight years. Everything is concentrated on Atlantic City. We’re all in on helping Atlantic City, but a billion dollars compared to nothing is not right. It’s not right at all.”
Cody backs Democratic candidate for governor Phil Murphy, ho he said supports the racing industry.
“I make no bones about it; I’m for Phil Murphy,” he said. “I think he’ll be our next governor. I don’t speak for him, but I can tell you he is supportive of racing. There’s no question about it. He wants Monmouth race track to survive, and we’re looking at a plan to do historical racing down here. In addition, you’re going to probably need a subsidy down here. The one that was taken away and was given to Atlantic City along with all those other billions of dollars. So, I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and there hasn’t been for a long time. So, if we can all just hold on because this means so much to this community.”
Dennis Drazin, adviser to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association—and a principle spokesman for the track—also predicted more support for horseracing in Trenton.
“I can’t tell you why we haven’t been looked on more favorably over the past eight years,” he said. “Other than to say it takes three people basically to get anything done in Trenton. You need the Senate president, you need the Senate speaker and a governor who is going to sign bills that they put on his desk. Unfortunately, for many years we’ve had two out of three, rather than all three, and I’m looking forward to next year when I do think we will have more support in the legislature and the front office.”
