by Tom De Martini

Debate over live racing at Atlantic City Race Course next year began to simmer on Wednesday as the New Jersey Racing Commission laid groundwork for its 2009 date awards meeting in November.

The commission, during a meeting at the Meadowlands, declined a request from Atlantic City Racing Association for an extension of time to request its 2009 race dates. The application deadline is October 15.

The venerable McKee City, New Jersey, racetrack has conducted truncated live racing meets of between four and six racing dates since 2001 in order to comply with state laws and retain its simulcasting license.

Last November, commissioners informed Atlantic City officials that a 20-date live meet request was the minimum it would consider. Commissioner James Aaron reiterated his position during discussion on the matter on Wednesday and stated the possibly of garnering a portion of the Thoroughbred casino purse supplement is not part of the equation.

“Atlantic City said it can’t give us racing dates because it isn’t sure about how much money it might have coming. I’m putting Atlantic City on notice that they should request a 20-day meet or they won’t be looked upon favorably on by me. If they’re looking for a purse supplement, assume there will be zero,” Aaron said.

New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association General Counsel Michael Schottland told commissioners that Atlantic City has had seven years to get its act together.

“They’ve run sham meets for years. They don’t want to run a real meet, because they only pay between 3% and 5% in breakage instead of 6.013%,” Schottland said. “They increase their own profits at the expense of Thoroughbred horsemen.”

Executive Director Frank Zanzuccki said commission staff will investigate the financial ramifications of closing Atlantic City Race Course, including an estimated $350,000 loss to Standardbred horsemen.

Under current state statutes, funding for horsemen from the Vineland off-track wagering facility would shift 100% to Thoroughbreds from the current 65%-35% split if Atlantic City closes for live racing.

In other business, the commission declined to penalize the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority for canceling the multi-state Sixty Minute Six wager without authorization on August 30 due to extenuating circumstances.

Commission members also voted to suspend trainer Dimitrios Synnefias for 90 days and impose a $2,500 fine following a positive post-race amphetamine test on one of his horses on October 11, 2005, at Meadowlands Racetrack.

The commission voted to advertise a rule change that would allow New Jersey breeders to bring broodmares in foal back to the state by November 1 and those purchased in foal at auction by early October.

Tom De Martini is a New Jersey-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent