New Jersey horsemen are buoyed by recently introduced legislation aimed at competing with the proliferation of slot machines and video lottery terminals in nearby states, most notably New York and Pennsylvania.

"If New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland all end up with slot machines, [New Jersey racing] must absolutely have additional revenue sources, whether they are video lottery terminals, slots, or dedicated slots at Atlantic City casinos, or any practical variation of those three," said Dennis Drazin, legal counsel for the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Assocation. "Otherwise, New Jersey racing will be obsolete."

The latest threat to live racing in the Garden State came from Greenwood Racing Association, owner and operator of Philadelphia Park and its off-track wagering facilities. Greenwood recently applied for a license to build a new racetrack, dubbed Seaport Park, in Chester, Pennsylvania, about 34 miles from Philadelphia Park.

That development, combined with the impending installation of video lottery terminals at New York Racing Association tracks in 2003, spurred action in the New Jersey Legislature. On October 3, Assembly bill A-133 proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow slot machines at the Meadowlands. An identical bill was introduced in the state Senate.

Legislation for video lottery terminals also is being crafted.

"From the horsemen's perspective, the VLT system could be up and running sooner than the slot machine system," Drazin said. Slot machines would require voters to approve a ballot question to change the state's constitution, while the installation of VLTs would be under the auspices of the state's lottery system.

There is still no launch date set for telephone and off-track wagering, which became legal in New Jersey in 2001.—Tom De Martini