The Meadowlands needs our support to land a casino

In my opinion harness racing has reached a crossroads. It’s possible that The Meadowlands will be hosting the Hambo in 2026 for the last time. This all depends on the state of New Jersey putting the issue concerning granting a casino license to The Meadowlands. If the issue goes to a vote this November and passes, and a casino license goes to The Meadowlands, I think the Hambo will have a permanent home.

I find it perplexing that so many people attending the Dan Patch awards have no idea how close The Meadowlands is to closing. That includes many that have a financial interest in its future. As of today, [track owner] Jeff Gural is leading the fight to get on the ballot and supporting the issue if it does with very little help. Two tracks – one in Indiana and one in Canada – seem to be hoping The Meadowlands does not get a casino so one of them can obtain the right to host the Hambo.

I think if that happens you can begin counting the days that harness racing will be going the way it’s gone in California, Illinois and Florida.

Currently, major casinos foot the bill for the purse structure for every harness track except The Meadowlands. How long do you think that will continue? Without that support, tracks could not come close to supporting their purse structures.

The one thing you can count on is that if The Meadowlands gets a full casino the sport will not only thrive but grow beyond your imagination.

It’s not too late to get behind Gural and The Meadowlands’ effort to get a casino license.

Please remember this: There is one word which is not in Gural’s vocabulary: decoupling.

Many of you know Jeff and I are longtime friends however; these thoughts are mine.

David Stolz / Columbus, OH