Historic N.J. race track closing

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[h=1]Historic N.J. race track closing[/h]


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[h=5]Richard Eng[/h] covers the horse racing industry. His column appears Friday in Sports.

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</aside>By RICHARD ENG
LAS VEGAS ***************


An under the radar piece of news this week was the permanent closing of Atlantic City Racecourse. This historic track in recent years had conducted a brief turf meet only to maintain its simulcasting license from the state of New Jersey.
Now even that is gone.
This follows closely on the heels of the closure of Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Mass., and Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
Some have written that the consolidation of horse racing may actually be good for the business in the long run. I can’t see how closing down three racing franchises in about a year could be anything but negative.
The business at Atlantic City spiraled downward with the advent of casino gambling on the Boardwalk. Fast forward to this decade and any sort of gambling in Atlantic City is now getting blasted by intense competition from neighboring states.
Suffolk Downs had been in a dogfight for years for a Massachusetts casino gaming license. When the local license was awarded to Wynn Las Vegas, a Nevada company, Suffolk announced its immediate closing. There is still a minute chance the horsemen there may be able to lease the facility. But Suffolk Downs, as with most racetracks, sits on valuable land that could be converted into a more profitable real estate venture.
That is what actually happened to Hollywood Park. The track was closed for a large commercial real estate complex. Now a big parcel is being earmarked for a football stadium to house an NFL franchise.
The thing with many older racetracks is they sit in urban areas where land is incredible valuable. If the horse racing business isn’t earning much return on investment, or losing money, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the land could be used for something else. Something a lot more profitable.
Every part of the food chain in horse racing is important and linked together. But if the industry keeps losing racetracks, I’m not sure how that can sugarcoated.
ECLIPSE AWARDS ON HRTV — The 44th annual Eclipse Awards will be televised live on HRTV from Gulfstream Park at 5 p.m. Saturday. Jeannine Edwards of ESPN will do hosting duties once again. There will be an air of intrigue this year. Many categories are too close to call including the Horse of the Year race amongst Bayern, California Chrome and Main Sequence.
QUALIFIER AT THE ORLEANS — There will be a one-day qualifier at the Orleans on Monday for the 2015 Horseplayer World Series. The entry fee is $200. It’s a mythical win and place format. Free entries awarded to the top two finishers and prize money will be paid down to the top five finishers. The Horseplayer World Series is March 26-28 at the Orleans.
TREASURE ISLAND LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER — There will be a one-day, last chance qualifier on Thursday at the Treasure Island for the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship. The entry fee is $500. The top five finishers will earn a berth into the NHC that will begin the following day.
RAINBOW 6 WIN — Last week I wrote about the Gulfstream Park Rainbow 6 wager and how I thought it was a good play in the right scenario. Almost as if on cue, the bet was won again on Wednesday. A Lewiston, Maine bettor cashed for $179,140 on a $130 ticket.
 
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That's where it all started for me....Atlantic City Race Track was my second home during my formidable years.....I will miss it more than most.....
 

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betting on sand was a whole different game,.....truely a different and exciting place,....did not even know this was coming
 

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Live about 20 mins from this place sad to see it go still went to the meet every year
 
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I have walked that entire track during the glory days....spent time in the barns and on the track......had many photos taken in the winner's circle with friends......
 

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Was only there once for some simulcasting. Wow that place looked old.
 

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Old for sure....just as old as the patrons you must have seen there.....lol

Lots of stories to tell....



And all very late , almost post time...
Remember when I went to window and said give me $100 w, 100 p, on 2 horse,
and he gave me 100 w, 100 p on 6 horse, he said, fuck the 2, take the 6
And if it don't win, I'll give you the money back...
He was a classic, worked the double shifts, AC, Garden State, Liberty Bell...
Jimmy worked the $100 window ONLY because of seniority, he was a union guy,
they couldn't fire him,...
But, he bet more than was in his drawer....
And when he won, everybody was on plane to Gulfstream, when he lost, oops,
borrow from Humps...
I can't believe VD doesn't know these guys...

Would be too funny stories...
We've crossed many a path, but have never met...
 
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And all very late , almost post time...
Remember when I went to window and said give me $100 w, 100 p, on 2 horse,
and he gave me 100 w, 100 p on 6 horse, he said, fuck the 2, take the 6
And if it don't win, I'll give you the money back...
He was a classic, worked the double shifts, AC, Garden State, Liberty Bell...
Jimmy worked the $100 window ONLY because of seniority, he was a union guy,
they couldn't fire him,...
But, he bet more than was in his drawer....
And when he won, everybody was on plane to Gulfstream, when he lost, oops,
borrow from Humps...
I can't believe VD doesn't know these guys...

Would be too funny stories...
We've crossed many a path, but have never met...

Started going to the windows in 1960.....didn't get to the hundred dollar windows until 1990......
 

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Started going to the windows in 1960.....didn't get to the hundred dollar windows until 1990......


You need to write a book,.. If u want, I'll fill in blanks where possible, ..
we've never met, but share many friends and timelines..

jimmy Lombardi was the jimmy Conway from goodfellas, only worked the 100 window
to tack on late bets from owners...

back then, used to work double shifts, AC or Garden State daytime, Liberty Bell at night...

that was before AC had casinos, he got me my first job, running valet at AC...
 

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I can't believe I never made it down there.I also can't believe it stayed "open"for this long.
 
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During the early days 30,000 in attendance was the rule.....and half that for harness racing.....
 

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d, dd

During the early days 30,000 in attendance was the rule.....and half that for harness racing.....


Scary, all my friends have died, U r the last guy walking/talking...

After Archie, taco Vato , ...


i would luv to visit Thailand...
 

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How many South Jersey/Philly tracks have closed since the 80's? Garden State, Brandywine, Liberty Bell, Atlantic City. Sad.
 

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I think they were actually having some success with there little boutique meet in late summer. That business model can actually work. KY downs only does a week maybe 2 weeks and there handle and attendance has spiked.
 

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I think they were actually having some success with there little boutique meet in late summer. That business model can actually work. KY downs only does a week maybe 2 weeks and there handle and attendance has spiked.



VD,

write the book,

i will ill fill in the Margarita days of

Hillbilly Delmar
Patrick -- sports books.com
roger -- heritage...
benny -- looselines

and a few laughers from Stevie K ...
 
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VD,

write the book,

i will ill fill in the Margarita days of

Hillbilly Delmar
Patrick -- sports books.com
roger -- heritage...
benny -- looselines

and a few laughers from Stevie K ...

If I ever get off my lazy ass.....I have a few ideas.......
 

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