Thoroughbred racing in the state is undergoing a revival led by a proactive constituency

The tide is turning in New Jersey racing, and for the first time in decades, it is Thoroughbred horsemen who are riding the largest waves. Consider the following:

Over the weekend of August 4-5, the two largest racing events were staged in New Jersey-the $1-million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands and the $1.5-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park. The Hambletonian drew 26,569 fans who wagered $3.9-million on-track, with handle from all sources of $7.6-million. Monmouth drew a record 47,127 for the Haskell. On-track wagering was $3.7-million, with all sources handle of $11.2-million, the second largest on a Monmouth card since simulcasting began.

An anomaly, you say? Let's scrutinize other figures.

A total of 151 Standardbred dates have been held this year at the Meadowlands. Average handle on Standardbred racing declined 3.3% from 2000, with attendance down 6.9%.

At Monmouth, through 51 of 72 racing dates, on-track handle has increased 4.7%, with all-sources handle rising 19.5%. On-track attendance is up 10.7%. The total all-sources handle of $6.2-million on August 4 was the largest ever for a non-Haskell racing card.

Both Monmouth and the Meadowlands are owned and operated by the quasi-governmental New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, and both benefited from purse supplements enacted by the state Legislature. Yet, the Monmouth Thoroughbred meeting is thriving while the Meadowlands Standardbred meeting is stagnant.

The late Stanley Panco, head of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey for decades, often said, "We've allowed the Standardbred industry to eat our lunch." That scenario is changing.

When New Farm owner Everett "Eb" Novak founded the political action group ThoroPAC, we voiced skepticism in this very space about its chances for success. It appeared a Herculean task to bring together horsemen in the state.

That has not been the case. In fact, the influence of both ThoroPAC, courting pro-Thoroughbred legislators on both sides of the political aisle, and the board of directors of the state's Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association was instrumental in getting an off-track wagering bill passed.

Horsemen and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority were so far apart on fundamental issues during the last four years that New Jersey racing was in danger of falling into the same dire situation now facing the Maryland Jockey Club and the horsemen who race at its tracks.

During the recently concluded Colonial Downs meeting in Virginia, claiming and allowance races at Monmouth were full of shippers from Delaware and Laurel Parks.

"The extra money has prompted horsemen to enter more horses and horses of more quality, which appeal to bettors," said Robert Kulina, vice president and general manager of Thoroughbred racing for the exposition authority.

However, this does not mean the Standardbred industry is going to go down without a fight.

The financial schism between Thoroughbred and Standardbred horsemen for telephone account wagering and the 15 state-operated off-track betting parlors, when they are finally built, will be 65%-35%, as per the terms of the legislation.

Pennwood Racing Inc., a joint venture of Greenwood Racing Inc. and Penn National Gaming Inc., has compensated for the demise of Garden State Park by building a Turf Club on the third floor of the grandstand at Freehold Raceway, located about 15 miles west of Monmouth.

As Pennwood Chief Executive Officer Richard Orbann admits, the Turf Club was built to attract fans to Freehold, where the majority of each wager's takeout is earmarked for Standardbred purses. Meanwhile, about 85% of Freehold's total handle is generated on simulcast racing-the majority on Thoroughbred racing.

In addition, the Meadowlands received 17 more racing dates from mid-November through mid-December to race lucrative two-year-old stakes originally scheduled for Garden State. Thoroughbred horsemen vow that this is only a one-year deal, made with their consent.

But behind the scenes, ThoroPAC is working hard. The organization recently held a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser for Democratic gubernatorial candidate James McGreevey and the entire Democratic ticket.

All of the state's Assembly and Senate seats, as well as the governor's position, are up for election in November. ThoroPAC, led by legislative counsel Dennis Drazin and lobbyist Barbara DeMarco-Reiche, will continue to court lawmakers who pledge their support to the New Jersey Thoroughbred industry.

This is the same type of political clout the state's Standardbred horsemen have employed and enjoyed for decades. But the times, they are a-changin'.

Somewhere, Stanley Panco is looking down on all of this and smiling.