*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !*

7/07/06 - COMPROMISE REACHED - TRACKS, CASINOS SET TO REOPEN

Everyone in racing and gaming in NJ is breathing a sigh of relief. Gov Corzine and the NJ Senate have reached a compromise after a 3 day shutdown.

The Casino's in Atlantic City and the racetracks are set to reopen as of Midnight Friday 7/07. In what seemed like the craziest scenario, where a state closes down its main sources of revenue in a budget crisis, we are all very happy that business will return to normal this weekend. On a personal note, Im very relieved for all the working people in south jersey and at the tracks that they can go back to work during the height of their season. G-d bless, MC.

7/03/06 - NEW JERSEY RACING CLOSED FOR UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME, The Stick Studio, Florida

In what must be having all the Monmouth and Meadowlands horsemen and commentators scratching their heads about whats going on, American Horse Racing takes another "Bad Beat" and must suffer. The crazy thing is, that the closure of the tracks has absolutely NOTHING to do with Horse Racing or the industry.

*WHAT HAS HAPPENED ?*

* The Govenor of New Jersey, John Corzine, has closed the Gov't of NJ because they do not have a state budget in place.

* All non-essential agencies must close, this includes the Sports and Exposition authority of NJ, which is a "non-essential" gov't agency. With no oversight, the racetracks must closes.

* No Monmouth or Meadowlands racing until the Gov't of NJ gets its budget in place. At issue is Corzines rate hike of the sales tax rate from 6% to 7% and the NJ Senates desire to cut spending.

* In related news that also hurts simulcasting dollars, all of the Casino's in Atlantic City will close on Wed, July 5th at 8am due to this crisis.

*HOW WE FEEL*

In a time when Horse Racing is suffering a loss of spirit and heart from fans migrating to other forms of gaming, and a general malaise towards the sport in general, this is the worst possible thing to happen.

Monmouth Park will be the host of this years Breeders Cup ! Fans getting aquainted with the track will not be able to watch, wager or enjoy their product until this "Budget" fck-up(debate) is resolved.

July 15th is less then 2 weeks away and the One Million dollar Haskell Stakes, and Meadowlands Pace are supposed to be run. Imagine if this problem lasts beyond the next 2 weeks ? The premiere races in NJ would have to be cancelled. Shocking and disgusting.

Whats more, this is the HEART of the Summer, the time when NJ tourism makes all its money. Closing the racetracks and casino's will cause great harm to everyone on the Jersey Shore. Small business's that make their entire years income during June, July and August will be unable to make money during the height of their season.

Supposedly, even the beaches and state parks will close.

*DON'T BLAME THE TRACKS OR THE HORSEMEN*

Its not the fault of anyone involved in racing. This is purely a Gov't that has no budget, closing down all its non essential services.

The Horsemen and the Tracks have done NOTHING wrong. They are being punished because the politicians cant figure out a way to balance the state budget.

On behalf of The Stick Horse Racing dot Com staff and myself, MC, I send out my heartfelt and sincerest feelings to the working people of Racing in the state of New Jersey. You guys are taking it on the chin and you don't deserve it. We all hope and pray that this problem will be resolved ASAP. Hopefully, the Casino's, which have much more clout then the tracks will flex their mussel's and get this train back on the tracks.

Best Regards and Racing,
MC_Excelsior

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