Bill Text: NJ A2507 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Reduces 2010 minimum racing dates; makes various changes to breeders' awards during 2010; authorizes certain loans. *
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-2)
Status: (Passed) 2010-05-22 - Approved P.L.2010, c.18. [A2507 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2507-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman CAROLINE CASAGRANDE
District 12 (Mercer and Monmouth)
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Polistina and O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Permits reduction in calendar year 2010 minimum number of racing dates to 71 for Thoroughbred permit holder at Monmouth Park, and to zero for Thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the annual number of Thoroughbred horse race dates required to be scheduled by Monmouth Park Racetrack and Meadowlands Racetrack and amending P.L.2001, c.199 and P.L.1992, c.19.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 30 of P.L.2001, c.199 (C.5:5-156) is amended to read as follows:
30. a. The permit holder at Monmouth Park and the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack together shall schedule (1) no fewer than 120 thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate in each of calendar years 2004 through 2007; (2) no fewer than 141 thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate in each of calendar years 2008 through 2016, except that in calendar year 2010 the permit holder at Monmouth Park and the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack may schedule no fewer than 71 race dates in the aggregate and all to take place at Monmouth Park; and (3) beginning in calendar year 2017 and in each calendar year thereafter, no fewer than 141 thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate, provided that in calendar year 2017 and in each calendar year thereafter the permit holders may schedule fewer than 141 thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate if the commission determines, upon application by the permit holders, that scheduling fewer dates in that calendar year is in the best interest of the racing industry and the State. In making its determination, the commission shall consider all factors, including, but not limited to, handle, number of starters, interstate competition, and export marketability. Notwithstanding the foregoing in (3), in no calendar year shall the permit holders schedule, in the aggregate, fewer than 120 thoroughbred race dates.
b. The standardbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack shall schedule annually no fewer than 151 standardbred race dates, except that the standardbred permit holder may decrease the annual number of scheduled standardbred race dates to no fewer than 141 standardbred race dates upon mutual written agreement with the representative horsemen's organization.
c. The permit holders at Freehold Raceway shall schedule annually no fewer than 192 standardbred race dates, except that the permit holders may decrease the annual number of scheduled race dates to no fewer than 168 standardbred race dates upon mutual written agreement with the representative horsemen's organization.
d. Notwithstanding subsection a. of this section, the permit holder at Monmouth Park and the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack may schedule 120 thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate in each calendar year from 2004 through 2007 only if the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack or the permit holder at Monmouth Park guarantee in each calendar year from 2004 through 2007 at least $4,200,000 in thoroughbred stakes at Meadowlands Racetrack and Monmouth Park, and guarantee the average daily overnight purses for thoroughbred race meetings at the following levels: (1) at least $300,000 at Meadowlands Racetrack in each calendar year from 2004 through 2007; (2) for the traditional meet at Monmouth Park, at least $320,000 in calendar year 2004, at least $325,000 in calendar year 2005, at least $330,000 in calendar year 2006 and at least $335,000 in calendar year 2007; and (3) for the 18-day supplemental meet at Monmouth Park, at least $300,000 in each calendar year from 2004 through 2006. In any calendar year from 2004 through 2007 in which the permit holder at the Meadowlands Racetrack or the permit holder at Monmouth Park, as appropriate, fails to guarantee the required minimum for thoroughbred stakes or the required minimum in average in daily overnight purses pursuant to this subsection, the permit holder at Monmouth Park and the thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack together shall schedule no fewer than 141 thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate in that calendar year.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.92, s.1)
2. Section 5 of P.L.1992, c.19 (C.5:12-195) is amended to read as follows:
5. A permit holder which wishes to conduct casino simulcasting shall request the approval of the New Jersey Racing Commission in its annual application for horse race meeting dates filed with that commission pursuant to section 23 of P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-43), or, if applying between the submittal of annual applications, through such supplemental application as that commission shall deem appropriate. The New Jersey Racing Commission shall not approve the request of any permit holder to conduct casino simulcasting unless the permit holder will conduct a number of live racing programs during the period for which the permit is issued which is equal to the following:
a. in the case of harness races, each permit holder shall conduct at least the number of live racing programs required under subsections b. and c. of section 30 of P.L.2001, c.199 (C.5:5-156); and
b. in the case of running races, Monmouth Racetrack shall conduct at least the same number of live racing programs conducted in 1991 and each of the other permit holders conducting running races shall conduct at least five live racing programs, except that in calendar year 2010 Monmouth Racetrack may conduct at least 71 live racing programs and Meadowlands Racetrack may conduct zero live racing programs.
For the purpose of satisfying the requirements of this section for the conduct of live racing programs, any live racing program or part thereof which is cancelled because of weather or another act of God shall be deemed to have been conducted, subject to the approval of the New Jersey Racing Commission.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.92, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes a reduction, only for calendar year 2010, in the minimum number of Thoroughbred racing dates required by law to be scheduled by Monmouth Park Racetrack and Meadowlands Racetrack. Under the bill, in 2010 Monmouth Park would be permitted to schedule a minimum of 71 live racing days, and Meadowlands Racetrack would be permitted to schedule zero Thoroughbred races.
Under the "Off-Track and Account Wagering Act," N.J.S.A.5:5-127 et seq., the permit holder at Monmouth Park Racetrack and the Thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack together are required to schedule no fewer than 141 Thoroughbred race dates in the aggregate in each of calendar years 2008 through 2016. This bill allows, in calendar year 2010 only, the permit holder at Monmouth Park Racetrack and the Thoroughbred permit holder at Meadowlands Racetrack to schedule no fewer than 71 race dates in the aggregate and all to take place at Monmouth Park.
In addition, under the "Casino Simulcasting Act," N.J.S.A.5:12-191 et seq., Monmouth Park Racetrack is required to conduct at least the same number of live racing programs conducted in 1991 (72 live racing programs), and Meadowlands Racetrack is required to conduct at least five live Thoroughbred racing programs. This bill allows, in calendar year 2010 only, Monmouth Park Racetrack to conduct at least 71 live racing programs and Meadowlands Racetrack to conduct zero live racing programs.
This bill does not change the statutorily established live racing days requirement for the Atlantic City Race Course, or for any of the Standardbred permit holders or racetracks in this State.
