tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post7083155874238568074..comments2024-02-27T17:43:37.207-05:00Comments on View From the Racetrack Grandstand: Jeff Gural Open Letter to HorsemenThat Blog Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-31692852434926821162013-03-15T20:03:48.509-04:002013-03-15T20:03:48.509-04:00Your doom and gloom scenario regarding the breedin...Your doom and gloom scenario regarding the breeding industry is a total stretch. There's still PLENTY of money available at places other than The Meadowlands, and if it closed tomorrow, I doubt you'd see any significant change in the amount of mares bred - you just might see a different group of breeders (like in Ohio?) begin to pick up the slack. And as more tracks figure to be closing, the industry would need less foals anyway! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-67128679328218889942013-03-15T19:25:26.714-04:002013-03-15T19:25:26.714-04:00I am not sure about offering the horsemen 5% of an...I am not sure about offering the horsemen 5% of any slot revenue but remember, he has already offered to pay the state one of the highest tax levels and some of the slot money has to go to Monmouth Park (and possibly Freehold Raceway), it is not all going to the standardbred horsemen.<br /><br />As for the important to stakes racing, it should be important to the "regular" folk, that is unless trainers want to change careers. That stakes racing is what keeps the breeding industry going. With the number of foals being born every year declining to critical levels, what are trainers going to be training (and for that fact owners owning)? Racing pigs? In that case, be prepared for purses to be paid in Oreos.<br /><br />Of course horsemen should race there because they have a horse that can be competitive there, if they aren't that makes for bad racing. The problem is those who are competitive are deserting house as well.<br /><br />While you don't earn the biggest purses at the Meadowlands, you don't do too shabby there either. If horsemen don't want to race there in the HOPE that slots MAY be there, they shouldn't complain if they find the welcome mat pulled in when they come knocking, wanting to race.<br />That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-62154893724213501472013-03-15T16:14:43.620-04:002013-03-15T16:14:43.620-04:00Horsemen should race there because they have horse...Horsemen should race there because they have horses that are suited to The Meadowlands and fit a particular class; they would be foolish to race there in the HOPE that someday The Meadowlands MIGHT have slots and that those slots will generate so much income that purses will be still be high, despite Gural only offering about 5% to the horsemen (much less than other jurisdictions). As far as the "importance" of stake racing, well, that may matter to some of the (already) wealthy players in the industry, but why should the "regular" folk make "sacrifices" so that a bunch of very rich guys can have MORE money for stakes come summertime? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-53517961002902830182013-03-14T13:07:16.790-04:002013-03-14T13:07:16.790-04:00I don't think he is running the risk of being ...I don't think he is running the risk of being tuned out. He's not really begging. He is gently reminding horsemen of the importance of supporting the Meadowlands, with a thinly vieled threat that next winter, those who totally abandon the Meadowlands may need to find somewhere else to race November-February next year or sit on the sidelines; something I see nothing wrong with. If you aren't willing to sacrifice, why should you get the benefits?That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-24765605170333885372013-03-14T12:54:20.814-04:002013-03-14T12:54:20.814-04:00While I fully support Jeff and his efforts at impr...While I fully support Jeff and his efforts at improving the harness industry, he seems to try these letters and meetings with the drivers and trainers a little too much for my liking. I think he is running the risk of being tuned out. "Begging" for business isn't the best approach in my book. If those who enter horses at Pocono/Philly/Yonkers don't have the foresight on their own to see why supporting the Big M is in their own best long-term interest then they will be the ones who suffer in the end. Jeff Gural can survive just fine without owning the Meadowlands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com