Dowd pleads for NJ to stay #1

Dennis Dowd, Senior Vice President of Racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, used his opportunity to welcome people to the Meadowlands Pace press conference to make an impassioned plea about the plight of New Jersey's racetracks, which are competing with tracks whose purses have been infused by slots revenues.

In his opening remarks, which were broadcast by the TVG network, Dowd noted that there were no drivers in attendance at the Meadowlands Pace press conference, and blamed their absence on the fact that they were driving in qualifiers at Harrah’s Chester, where purses are boosted by slots revenues. Although only drivers David Miller, Andy Miller and Tim Tetrick were down to drive at Harrah’s Chester, Dowd used the absence of all of the drivers slated to compete in the Meadowlands Pace--except Brian Sears, who was in attendance--to plead for New Jersey’s political leadership to take action to keep the state’s racetracks—and to “regenerate enthusiasm for a race like the Meadowlands Pace.”

Dowd also announced that New Jersey will soon take a tougher stance on blood doping by instituting a $50,000 fine for a first-time positive for EPO and banishment from racing for the second offense.

« Back