It is officially closing. Well us older guys remember they closed sometime in the 90's, but they held a handful of turf racing days to keep their simulcast license. The even older guys probably remember better memories of it.
I've never been to live racing there, although I did walk on the main dirt track in 1997.
I remember this track and Garden State from when I first got into racing about 1994. I always wondered why most of the races had small fields. The reality of it was both tracks were taking their last breaths.
I held out hope that AC Racecourse would extend their spring turf meet.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Keith Jones - kjones@acracecourse.com
ATLANTIC CITY RACE COURSE CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW JERSEY – Friday, January 9, 2015 - Greenwood ACRA, owners and operators of Atlantic City Race Course, have announced the racetrack is ceasing operations and closing permanently. The last open day of business for simulcasting will be Friday, January 16, 2015.
Joe Wilson, President of Greenwood ACRA, stated, "We regret to announce that we must close Atlantic City Race Course immediately due to continuous business decline in the industry, the current regional economic climate and the absence of alternative revenue opportunities. Most importantly, we would like to thank our dedicated employees and the supporters of Atlantic City Race Course who have contributed to its proud legacy in the racing industry over the years."
SUZETTE PARMLEY, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
LAST UPDATED: Saturday, January 10, 2015, 1:08 AM
POSTED: Friday, January 9, 2015, 8:58 PM
ATLANTIC CITY - In another blow to the state's struggling horse racing industry, the owner of Atlantic City Race Course announced it will cease operations and close after heavy losses the last eight years.
The racetrack's last day of business for simulcasting will be Friday. The closure leaves New Jersey with three operating horse tracks - Meadowlands, Freehold, and Monmouth.
"We regret to announce that we must close Atlantic City Race Course immediately due to continuous business decline in the industry, the current regional economic climate, and the absence of alternative revenue opportunities," Joe Wilson, president of Greenwood ACRA Inc., owner and operator of the track, said in a statement Friday.
Wilson said the racetrack had lost at least 60 percent of its business over the last eight years, reflecting the industry as a whole.
Horse racing in the state lost significant attendance with the opening of Atlantic City casinos in the late 1970s. But the decline accelerated in 2007. That was the year New Jersey started losing breeders and jockeys to other states, including Pennsylvania and New York, which could offer higher purses using revenue from slot machines at their tracks.
In March 2008, the state Senate approved legislation to give horse tracks a $90 million subsidy from Atlantic City casinos over three years for not installing video lottery terminals that resemble slot machines.
But in 2011, Gov. Christie eliminated the subsidy and redirected it toward Atlantic City's marketing efforts as part of a five-year revitalization plan.
The announcement said customers may cash winning tickets at Atlantic City Race Course until Friday. After that, winning tickets may be cashed during normal business hours at Favorites at Vineland, 1332 S. Delsea Dr.
wow for real.....its closing..........i grew up there living in atlantic city....sad.............sad of the part you meet good people in the simulcast room.....the only game in town is borgata or your living room ..............my friend put his dad's ashes on the starting line ..and the finish line......
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Atlantic City Race Course Closing
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