Harness Track's of America has reported that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's Advisory Commission on gaming and horse racing kept no minutes of its six months of discussions. The commission is commonly referred to as the Hanson Committee because it was chaired by Jon Hanson, a former CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Stan Bergstein of HTA said Hanson kept no minutes of the meetings and the discussions that took place.
Bergstein's revelation was contained in its Excutive Newsletter, which also referred to a story in The Newark Star-Ledger, the state’s largest newspaper, which reported on Thursday night that the state’s top Democrat, Senate President Steve Sweeney, said he was committed to keep horse racing at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park.
The story, by the paper’s Statehouse Bureau reporter Matt Friedman, said Sweeney had accused the governor of “abandoning” the state’s horse racing industry. Sweeney was quoted as saying, “We have to find a way to keep the tracks open. The governor basically said if they die, they die. I think that’s too flippant a statement.” The Sweeney pronouncement, while encouraging, does not mean he will support slots at the tracks or the Atlantic City casino subsidies. He made that clear, saying, “I think it’s extremely important that we find a way to make sure there are no losers in this.” Sweeney’s co-chairman of Friday's gaming summit, State Senator Jim Whelan, a former longtime mayor of Atlantic City, was less conciliatory. He dismissed the possible end of horse racing in the state as “what happens in a capitalist society,” but added, “I don’t want to be hostile to the racing industry.” The all-Democrat gaming summit in Atlantic City Friday drew criticism from Republicans, including the governor, who was not pleased with Sweeney’s criticism. (Harness Tracks of America)
|
Home :: News Archive :: Racing Reports :: Sale Reports :: Calendars :: Guide Directory :: Contact The Staff
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair World Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2012 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair World Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2012 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved