Slots Would Boost Tourism and Save Horse Racing, Open Space

The news that Perretti Farms, New Jersey’s largest horse breeder located in the 609 area of Monmouth County, is winding down its operations and closing in two years is an indication that future of New Jersey’s horse racing industry is bleak.  

Perretti is not alone.  HorseClicks.com has over 100 New Jersey horse properties for sale at bargain prices. What kind of developments will end up on those farms?  Will the only open space left in New Jersey be government owned or subsidized open space?

Governor Chris Christie was right to end state subsidies of the horse racing industry and to privatize the operations of the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park .  However, to hamstring those operations by continuing the ban of slot machines at tracks is short sighted and will likely lead to the failure of the industry.  The failure of the industry will literally change the landscape of New Jersey.

Christie wants to protect Atlantic City and its monopoly on gambling.  But Christie’s authority does not extend to Pennsylvania, New York , Delaware and Connecticut.   Slots in New Jersey’s track’s won’t take business away from Atlantic City.   Slots at our tracks will keep gambling dollars in New Jersey and attract out of state dollars to our state.

Advocates of the horse racing industry have long called for slots at the Meadowlands.  I say open up the competition even more and allow slots at all New Jersey tracks, what’s left of them.

Posted: August 18th, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Economy | Tags: Gambling Industry, Horse Racing Industry | 1 Comment »

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