It's well known among racetrack managers because it has been able to crack the nut of attracting a young, enthusiastic racing audience.
On the other hand, two tracks have closed in the state in the last three years, and New Jersey racetrack managers say they operate on a shoestring, the tracks financed by their owners for love, not money.
With most of horse racing focusing its attention on the Breeders' Cup on Saturday at Belmont Park, where more than $14 million in purse money will be given away, racetrack managers and horsemen started the celebration early yesterday.
The next year, he lobbied everyone from sponsors, breeders, owners and racetrack managers to make it happen.
On Wednesday's premiere George, a racetrack marketing manager, was solemnly asked by the host, Mark L. Walberg, if he wears a hairpiece (yes), whether he had ever had a sexual fantasy while attending Mass (yes) and whether he has a gambling problem (yes) — as his boss, his girlfriend and his girlfriend's uncle looked on.
Mr. Galterio, the racetrack's general manager, said Mr. McLaughlin's concerns were premature.
The first general manager of the Meadowlands Racetrack, the trainer-driver Dick Stillings and five horses are to be inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., on Sunday.
Fitch, an Indiana native, a World War II fighter pilot and a former prisoner of war, went on to other racing successes during a long career; he eventually became general manager of the Lime Rock Park racetrack in Connecticut.
"From the betting standpoint, even though it's early in the morning, it does comparatively well with races during normal business hours," said Chris McErlean, vice president and general manager of the Meadowlands Racetrack, who had seen other tracks in California, Vancouver and Toronto attract early-morning crowds with simulcast races from Hong Kong.
Vincent Francia, general manager at Turf Paradise, a racetrack in Phoenix, said that the Times analysis of safety issues prompted him to contact the director of the Arizona Department of Racing about increasing penalties for drug violators.
