Ay Cee - By Richard Witt

re: Ay Cee - By Richard Witt

Jennie — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:22:40 GMT

Could not agree more with Kevin's comment. As long as Greenwood is holding Atlantic City's reins, there is little hope that the meet will be expanded or the facility refurbished. Greenwood has zero interest in horse racing - it is all about gaming revenues. The backstretch of AyCee is a disgrace and they would be better served to knock all the dilapidated barns and structures down rather than have them sit there and be homes for vermin. But to do that would cost money, and God forbid Greenwood sink one extra nickel into the operation. Philadelphia Park would look like Atlantic City now does if the slots law in Pennsylvania didn't require Greenwood to make improvements and maintain the facility. And just remember this - Greenwood could care less that there were big crowds in attendance at AyCee's most recent meet.

re: Ay Cee - By Richard Witt

Reed Galinac — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:06:48 GMT

A spring business trip to AC missed the live meet by a few weeks, but I couldn't resist the urge to visit what for me was one of my first "big time" tracks of my youth. Walking through the hollow grandstand, I tried to imagine the energy and the noise of what it might have been like on a steamy summer Saturday evening in the 1950s, and the jammed in crowds. I parked in a small lot adjacent to the admission booths -- now crammed full of garbage -- so envisioning having to park 50 rows back in that immense gravel lot and waiting in line to be admitted takes a child's imagination. Walking out to the rail, the notion came over me to cross the untended dirt oval and take a stroll around the lush green turf course over which so many seemingly forgotten heroes battled. No worries about being asked to leave -- there wasn't enough paid personnel on hand to notice or make such a request. Found the combination betting room/snack bar to be surprisingly accommodating -- the gal that sells the Form, and the beer, told me about the well-attended weekend during the recently concluded "meet." As I make my way through the grandstand, the thought of those "ghosts" you mentioned comes to mind often, and I think about how cool an evening at ACRC must have been back then, before the thrill of the race was replaced by grocery store lottery tix. I miss this track. I miss an era that was gone before I even placed my first bet. There's something about defunct or near defunct racetracks that occupy the horseplayers soul.

re: Ay Cee - By Richard Witt

Kevin A Burke — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:59:39 GMT

Well intentioned, and well meaning Atlantic City President Maureen Gallagher-Bugdon may be, (of this I have no doubts), but Atlantic City Race Course has no viable future while Greenwood Racing is in place as owner, (of this their management track record leaves no doubts).

I truly believe there is a place for Atlantic City Race Course. It can and would be successful. The fact that it is not is a loss for New Jersey Racing, and for all of Thoroughbred Racing.

The problem is that a successful Atlantic City Racecourse does not fit the business model Greenwood Racing has projected for their monetary success as a corp. This includes having any other entity in control of a successful business at A.C.

Unfortunately, the future appears to be more of the same; continued decline of the physical plant, as little of racing as possible, and for Greenwood Racing (their hope) the eventual call for closing do to health/hazard conditions.

The sad fact is, abetted by the A.C. Casino Operators, donations to New Jersey Politicians, etc., Greenwood Racing is saying be damned to New Jersey Racing. As a corp. they are concerned only in protecting their Philadelphia Park Casino, and their low cost on site A.C. OTB. They are not Greenwood Racing, they are Greenwood "Racino".

(Thoroughbred World, be wary of all racino corps. Soon there may be many more once a year six day meets nearer to you then you think. Of course, that is what racing needs, or so we are told so?).