Question(s) for those who play NJ OTW's......

[Robert Goren]

NJ is an interesting experiment with the horsemen taking the running of the tracks. They did that here about 4 years ago. Once the horsemen figure it out, the place improved by leaps and bounds and the handle has made small increases the couple of years. It nows is in the place where it could continue for a few years except the land owner, UNL, want to use the land for something else. There is a plan for a new track but money to build it is a problem. It is not making the kind of money that would change UNL's mind yet. That would take another ten years and some more major changes, but the track doesn't have those ten years. It is amazing to see the change in attitude of the horsemen when they were put in charge and knew what they said and did effected their bottom line. I am cautious optimistic that since the horsemen in NJ have put in charge of their own fate that they will make the needed to changes to turn that state's racing program around. A year ago, somebody like onefast99 would not have been asking about what horse players thought about anything. They were too busy pushing for casino money as their savior. The change is refreshing. I hope NJ doesn't pull the plug on them before they have a chance to make it work. I have every confidence that a state like NJ can run a self sustaining race track system. Good Luck, to onefast99 and anybody else connected to NJ racing.

[onefast99]

Well said Robert, the handout by the AC casinos was a mistake there are smarter people running the show now and eventually NJ racing will be back to par with their counterparts!

[RunForTheRoses]

Has anyone ever been to the standalone OTW (that is no affiliation with NJBETS) in Vineland?

Regarding the N Jersey area/Ramsey, that would be a great area to put an OTW in. Many in that area probably just go to Suffern.

[Pine Tree Lane]

Originally Posted by RunForTheRoses

Has anyone ever been to the standalone OTW (that is no affiliation with NJBETS) in Vineland?

Regarding the N Jersey area/Ramsey, that would be a great area to put an OTW in. Many in that area probably just go to Suffern.

Wa at the Vineland shop Preakness day last year. Pretty crowded but lines moved quickly, food was pedestrian but not bad. The issue there is the neighborhood is sketchy.

It's a ten minute drive to Freehold so I deposit, head home and play. Food there is ok as well.

[ALL CIRCUITS GO]

yes, NJBETS is the only game in town, and we can't go anywhere!

Originally Posted by RunForTheRoses

NJbets does suck in that they will not rate you based on internet bets which are 90% of my action. And as far as I know we still cannot go out of state.

[NJ Stinks]

Originally Posted by johnhannibalsmith

Geeeeez, after years of reading in off-topic about the great pride you take in paying as much as possible to various government entities, I figgered you'd be calling for more and higher fees.

Please note that politically-based comments are not welcome in this neck of the woods, Sir John. che!

[NJ Stinks]

Originally Posted by affirmedny

You can deposit money directly from your checking account via ACH. The problem is it's not instant. Look in the "fund account" tab.

Thanks, Affirmedny.

The not instant part is a big problem for sure.

[johnhannibalsmith]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

Please note that politically-based comments are not welcome in this neck of the woods, Sir John. che!

True, but then we'd have to delete the longest running thread on the top page here in this section...

[Vinman]

I spoke to one of the managers at Favorites whom I'm friendly with on Monday night and I asked him how they did on Derby Day. He said it was their best day EVER in terms of betting handle. This includes all Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups since they opened in Woodbridge in October of '07.

In fact, he said they came very close to having to stop letting people into the place at around 5:30....an hour before the Derby. They've never had to do that, but it almost happened. Anyone who's been to Favorites on Derby or BC day has seen the Fire Marshall there to eyeball the head count & keep things safe. I'm sure he wouldn't have been very "safe" himself had he put up the "no mas" sign....lol.

He & I got into talking about future NJ OTW sites. His top two picks are Flemington and Northeast Bergen county. I think a site near the Sheraton Mahwah off 287 would be perfect. That massive parking lot was supposed to hold a shopping mall that was never built. Plenty of room....but of course it makes far too much common sense to tap into all the Rt. 287 & Rt. 17 potential customers passing right by.

We talked about the aborted plan to build an OTW at the old Saturn dealership on Rt 22 in Green Brook that was shot down by the town. He said the law has actually been changed so that NJ towns can no longer invoke the "Not in my backyard" home rule thing. So theoretically it could pass if proposed again. Meadowlands is opening their Bayonne OTW in July.

Anyway, it was nice to hear from at least one source that betting on horses is indeed alive and well when the occasion is right.

Vinman

[onefast99]

Originally Posted by Vinman

I spoke to one of the managers at Favorites whom I'm friendly with on Monday night and I asked him how they did on Derby Day. He said it was their best day EVER in terms of betting handle. This includes all Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups since they opened in Woodbridge in October of '07.

In fact, he said they came very close to having to stop letting people into the place at around 5:30....an hour before the Derby. They've never had to do that, but it almost happened. Anyone who's been to Favorites on Derby or BC day has seen the Fire Marshall there to eyeball the head count & keep things safe. I'm sure he wouldn't have been very "safe" himself had he put up the "no mas" sign....lol.

He & I got into talking about future NJ OTW sites. His top two picks are Flemington and Northeast Bergen county. I think a site near the Sheraton Mahwah off 287 would be perfect. That massive parking lot was supposed to hold a shopping mall that was never built. Plenty of room....but of course it makes far too much common sense to tap into all the Rt. 287 & Rt. 17 potential customers passing right by.

We talked about the aborted plan to build an OTW at the old Saturn dealership on Rt 22 in Green Brook that was shot down by the town. He said the law has actually been changed so that NJ towns can no longer invoke the "Not in my backyard" home rule thing. So theoretically it could pass if proposed again. Meadowlands is opening their Bayonne OTW in July.

Anyway, it was nice to hear from at least one source that betting on horses is indeed alive and well when the occasion is right.

Vinman

Your friend is right about the "not in my backyard" law but unfortuneately it is a little late for that site on rt 22 west in Greenbrook as it is now a Harbor
Freight Tools store. Eventually another Favorites will get built as future sites are being discussed now.

[cobraz41]

I think they need an OTW site in Mercer County. I bet NJ loses a ton of money from people going to Parx. I for one can't stand going to Parx, but when it comes down to the shortest distance from the Mercer County area Parx is the answer. Build an OTW in Mercer County and I will not cross that state line.

[onefast99]

Originally Posted by cobraz41

I think they need an OTW site in Mercer County. I bet NJ loses a ton of money from people going to Parx. I for one can't stand going to Parx, but when it comes down to the shortest distance from the Mercer County area Parx is the answer. Build an OTW in Mercer County and I will not cross that state line.

Cherry Hill has been looked at. Hopefully something gets done there as many go to Parx and the Turf Club OTW's of Pa.

[Vinman]

Originally Posted by onefast99

Cherry Hill has been looked at. Hopefully something gets done there as many go to Parx and the Turf Club OTW's of Pa.

Yes....and the fact that many Jerseyites cross over into PA to wager at Parx and the Turf Clubs is precisely why the owners of those facilities have done everything possible to drag their feet in any and all efforts to build an OTW in Cherry Hill. I believe they are part of the ownership of the Vineland OTW and Freehold Raceway as well.....and Aycee Racecourse. I thought there was going to be a lawsuit over this, but I haven't heard anything about it recently.

I've also long wondered why NJBets Accounts don't earn the same wagering "points" as BigM Club Members until I read a recent post here that the Philly based partners don't want that. Why? They don't want to see any business diverted from their Philly Phonebet operation. Of course Jersey folks are not allowed by law to have Philly Phonebet accounts....but there probably some that still do. In any case, there is zero incentive for the Philly based partners to do anything that will help NJ racing if it will take away business from them that they keep 100% of.....as opposed to having to share it with NJ.

Does anyone know the status of that supposed lawsuit over the Cherry Hill OTW or has the whole thing rolled over and died?

Vinman

[NJ Stinks]

Last time I googled it, Vinman, was a about a year ago. I think an article came up from the Courier-Post dated at least 5 years ago that was the latest I could find.

How NJ lets all that money go to PA year after year is beyond me.

[jldonah]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

I don't care where they put the OTB, just get one up and running in my neck of the woods. That means anywhere near where Garden State Park was.

Who knows how many millions in handle go to the other side of the Delaware between DelPark, Parx, the Philly Turf Clubs, Chester etc? Wouldn't take much--you can't throw a rock without hitting a bartender in Gloucester City, but be ready for the rock back. A little OTB wouldn't cause a ripple.