OCEANPORT - Everyone gathered in the Monmouth Park clubhouse, as they have for some time in the days before the meet opens each spring, looking for words of hope before lunch. A sign that a brighter future for the beleaguered New Jersey racing industry is around the corner, right before joining the buffet line.
This particular incarnation of the tradition dates to 2012, when the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsem*n's Association leased the track from the state rather than allowing it to close its doors after Gov. Chris Christie abandoned horse racing and stripped Monmouth Park of a $17 million subsidy from casino gaming.
"I want to hear what they have today," 13-time leading rider Joe Bravo said Tuesday in the Turf Club.
And there, striding from his table near the back of the room, was former Gov. Richard Codey, now a state senator for the 27th Legislative District, to give the crowd what they wanted to hear.
"I don't know if all of you know this, but I'm also a funeral director," he said from the podium. "And this industry is not dead. OK? It may be hurting, but it's not dead."
The reality check he delivered was that everything else that was mentioned Tuesday -- from the new food options to exchange wagering to the long, expensive fight to secure legalized sports wagering in the state -- are positive steps towardturning the track around, but they won't be enough.
Because Monmouth Park -- with the 13,000 equine industry-related jobs and thousands of acres of open space that depend on its existence -- deserves a helping hand.
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It deserves a piece of the action from casino gaming, just like every track it is competing with in neighboring states has, to supplement purses, operations and breeding programs.
Without a change in the political winds in Trenton once Christie leaves office after November's election, Monmouth Park, already on life support, will cease to exist as we know it: A world class center of thoroughbred racing at the Jersey Shore.
"Racing is not a partisan issue," Codey said. "Democratsand Republicans agree down here, and everybody should. We need this place to stay alive. And I know you've taken quite a few hits over the past eight years. Everything is concentrated on Atlantic City. We're all in on helping Atlantic City, but a billion dollars compared to nothing is not right. It's not right at all."
Codey appeared confident that things will be different at this luncheon a year from now.
"I make no bones about it; I'm for Phil Murphy," he said. "I think he'll be our next governor. I don't speak for him, but I can tell you he is supportive of racing. There's no question about it.He wants Monmouth race track to survive, and we're looking at a plan to do historical racing down here. In addition, you're going to probably need a subsidy down here. The one that was taken away and was given to Atlantic City along with all those other billions of dollars.
Why is Kentucky Derby result good for Monmouth Park?
"So I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel and there hasn't been for a long time. So if we can all just hold on because this means so much to this community."
Then it was Dennis Drazin, the adviser to the NJTHA who has managed to keep the track above water while waiting for an alternative revenue stream to materialize, who took a crack at the whole brighter future theme.
"I can't tell you why we haven't been looked on more favorably over the past eight years," he said, "other than to say it takes three people basically to get anything done in Trenton. You need the Senate president, you need the Senate speaker and a governor who is going to sign bills that they put on his desk. Unfortunately, for many years we've had two out of three, rather than all three, and I’m looking forward to next year when I do think we will have more support in the legislature and the front office."
Privately, before making his remarks, Codey made it clear what he hopes will take place.
"If everything goes as scripted, there's going to be a seismic change. But there's going to be a fight," he cautioned.
It's a fight Monmouth Park can't seem to win these days. And the reality is that the track's fate, along with all the horsem*n, who are simply small business owners trying to get by, along with everyone the industry employs, rests in the hands of politicians.
Which is why, as the crowd stepped to the buffet line, there was still an uneasy feeling about what lies ahead.
Staff Writer Stephen Edelson is an Asbury Park Press columnist: sedelson@gannettnj.com
