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Jersey harness horsemen wants sports betting

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January 25, 2008

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A New Jersey State Assembly Committee was told on Thursday by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) that if a federal ban on sports betting is ever overturned, it should not just be at Atlantic City casinos, but at the state�s racetracks as well.

�Racetracks, like casinos, are highly regulated, stand alone locations currently providing secure wagering operations,� Leon Zimmerman, lobbyist for the SBOANJ, told the Assembly Committee on Tourism and Wagering. �There is no need to differentiate between casinos and racetracks in the ability to offer this form of wagering.�

Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli (D-District 3), chairman of the committee, responded by saying he thought it was a good idea, and that a racetrack bettor is more likely to wager on sports than a casino slot player.

While the legislation, which seeks a voter referendum on allowing wagering at Atlantic City casinos on only professional sports if the federal ban is overturned, he told observers after the hearing that he would pursue ways of bringing the horse racing industry into the picture.

The bill was released from committee and sent to the full Assembly, but chances of passage remain doubtful. Senate Prersident Richard J. Codey was quoted as saying, �I think Appalachian State would have to beat the Giants before the federal government would allow us to change the law. That�s about where our odds stand right now.�

Supporters of the proposal envision a legal fight to overturn the ban, which applies to 46 states. Only Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana are permitted to have sports wagering because of a grandfather clause in the ban.

Zimmerman was testifying on behalf of the statewide association which represents thousands of people involved in all aspects of the standardbred breeding and racing industry in New Jersey--breeders, horse and farm owners, trainers, drivers and caretakers of harness horses that race at the Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway. He noted that the horse industry in New Jersey has been in decline since the competition of casinos in Atlantic City, and that surrounding states have put slot machines or video lottery terminals at their racetracks to boost purses that will eventually outpace New Jersey�s track purses.

�Considering the already disastrous impact that casinos have had on horse racing in New Jersey, this could be another painful blow to the livelihood of thousands of people in our state who are in the horse racing and breeding business, an industry that, according to a recent Rutgers equine study, is worth $1.7 billion to the state�s economy,� he said.

�The racing industry will be better equipped to survive if it has another form of wagering available under its roof. With many different games, casinos already enjoy this benefit,� he noted, adding that revenues produced through sports betting at racetracks would benefit the state, racetracks and purses for horsemen competing at these racing facilities. (SBOANJ press release)

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