Meadowlands box full; meeting set for Thursday

Tom Luchento, president of the Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ), said his May 10 letter pleading with horsemen to support the Meadowlands by entering horses was well received. But more importantly, he noted, the Meadowlands had an overflowing entry box for Saturday's card, which will give him a bit of relief when he attends a meeting at the office of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday morning. The meeting is expected to cover the remaining obstacles to Jeff Gural securing a lease of the Meadowlands for harness racing. 

 

"Ninety percent of the feedback I've received has been positive," said Luchento of his letter. "But more important is the physical response. I think they had 137 horses in the box when they got started Wednesday morning, which I appreciate. As I said in the letter, we all have to bleed a little here."

 

Luchento said he was advised by Peter Koch, race secretary at the Meadowlands, that the draw schedule was being changed so the Meadowlands would draw before other area tracks. "So now there is no excuse for people not dropping in the box and supporting the Meadowlands," added Luchento.--harnessracing.com