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On behalf of Jeff Gural; While I was aware that the Hambletonian Society was not going to offer us an extension of our Hambletonian contract unless we agreed to allow owners and trainers on our exclusion list to enter in the Hambletonian, the Oaks and the Maturity, I made it clear that it was not […]
Harness racing trainer Jeff Gillis has received a 10-year suspension and a $40,000 fine from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) after wiretap evidence confirmed he purchased performance-enhancing drugs from convicted veterinarian Seth Fishman. Although Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural banned Gillis 18 months earlier based on this same evidence, no other regulators acted […]
Howard Taylor, one of North America’s most prolific harness racing owners, is embroiled in a legal and industry standoff after being excluded from racing at Gural-owned tracks and Hambletonian Society events (with limited exceptions), prompting a lawsuit alleging defamation and antitrust violations. To read some of the background to this harness racing lawsuit, click here. […]
“Fire Sale” Those were the immediate thoughts of North American harness racing owner, Howard Taylor, following the aftermath of a Hambletonian Society meeting eight days ago which upheld its decision to exclude him from most Hambletonian Society-administered stakes held at The Meadowlands. Harnesslink understands that the group led by President, John Campbell, met recently to […]
“It’s not an enjoyable thing anymore to train horses, it’s going to be what gets me out of the harness racing business.” That was the sentiment from Harness Racing’s first $300 million dollar man in a Harnesslink exclusive interview detailing the latest twist in the saga with industry regulators and their somewhat unhinged crusade to […]
American Racing & Entertainment, LLC announced on Tuesday (Feb. 6) that it sold the real estate assets of harness racing racino Tioga Downs Casino Resort to Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (GLPI) for $175 million. American Racing & Entertainment, headed by CEO Jeff Gural, will continue to operate Tioga Downs via an accompanying 30-year lease […]
Howard Taylor, a Philadelphia-based lawyer and harness racing horse owner, has filed a lawsuit alleging defamation and related claims against Jeff Gural, a competitor and owner of the Meadowlands Racetrack. The suit focuses on the Meadowlands press release (November 3, 2023) announcing the suspension of Taylor and others from racing at the Meadowlands effective December […]
NICHOLS, NY – The Tioga Downs Regional Community Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 100 local non-profit organizations throughout the Southern Tier on this year’s Giving Tuesday. Grant recipients were announced during an evening awards ceremony at Tioga Downs Casino Resort, where non-profit organizations from Chemung, Tioga, Broome, and Bradford counties were highlighted for […]
The Justice Department is winding down one of the biggest horse doping investigations in U.S. history. Tonight, you’ll hear the incriminating wiretaps that helped crack the case, convicting 29 veterinarians, horse trainers and drug distributors. Horse racing, known as the sport of kings, found its crown badly tarnished last spring when a dozen horses died during […]
Nichols, NY – With the arrest of and charges levied against the arsonist who intentionally set fire to Barn F at Tioga Downs resulting in the death of the 30 harness racing horses stabled within, the process of grieving for them and the recovery of those who cared for them begins. Those stables who lost horses, […]
Update: John Berry initially reported that the Bongiornos had been banned pending investigation by The Meadowlands earlier today. At 9:59 p.m. EDT, the track sent out the release below stating that the investigation has been completed with no findings of wrongdoing. The original article is included. East Rutherford, NJ – The Meadowlands, in response to […]
Rochester, NY – Workers United Upstate New York, the labor union representing Vernon Downs Casino Hotel employees, announces the racino will be forced to close in stages by the end of this year. Harness racing at the track would then shut down by early September. Vernon Downs filed a WARN notice with the New York […]
East Rutherford, NJ – The Meadowlands and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF) are pleased to announce that the SRF Series, new races for harness racing 3-year-olds throughout the month of April, has strong support; one hundred seventy-five entries were received. Each entry brought a $200 donation to SRF, and with the generous match by the Meadowlands, […]
East Rutherford, NJ– The Meadowlands will adopt the “purse by field size” format for all open class races beginning next weekend. Director of Racing Scott Warren has set the number at $4,500 per starter for the top harness racing class and $3,500 for one class below. It will apply to all open class races including […]
Below is a statement from Meadowlands owner and operator Jeff Gural on this weekend’s harness racing and the rest of the Big M meet. As you know, this weekend due to the lack of support at the entry box we had to go with seven amateur races, which is an embarrassment, even though our customers […]
East Rutherford, NJ – The Meadowlands will require those harness racing drivers wishing to compete during the 2022 “Championship Meet” to apply for approval to drive in Meadowlands stakes by including a clause regarding such in the stake’s conditions. The conditions for all 2022 Meadowlands stakes and early closers will be posted in the “Horseman” section […]
East Rutherford, NJ – Perfect Sting has been retired to stand stud at Deo Volente Farms of New Jersey. His ownership of Brittany Farms and Val D’Or Farm, represented by trainer Joe Holloway, have applied for a waiver from the Stallion Restriction Condition (SRC), better known as the “Gural Rule” which would have prohibited his […]
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The day after Thanksgiving, live harness racing resumes at The Big M. Racing will take place Friday and Saturday. Post time for the first race is 6:20 p.m. “On behalf of Mr. Gural, and everyone at The Meadowlands,” said Settlemoir, “we would like to wish everyone a joyous, happy and healthy Thanksgiving […]
East Rutherford, NJ – Drivers participating at The Meadowlands for the upcoming Fall/Winter meet are reminded that the track policy regarding “courtesy” tucks will be enforced beginning this weekend. “The drivers asked that I waive enforcing this for the two weeks of Breeders Crown races. I agreed with the understanding that when the Breeders Crown […]
Cream Ridge, NJ – 10/29/21 – What a way to give back! When the Standardbred Retirement Foundation,(SRF) asked for kindness from harness racing owners, trainers, and drivers of many of the competitors in the Breeders Crown this weekend, the answers were yes. A percent of winnings or a generous gift was pledged by Jeff Gural, […]
The following opinion was written by attorney Joseph Faraldo. Speaking solely as a private attorney and a horsemen , not in any other capacity and not for any entity, I found the recently filed complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, in the matter captioned Kapildeo Singh, et […]
East Rutherford, NJ– The Meadowlands is announcing a mandatory meeting for all harness racing drivers competing at the track on the weekend of July 16 & 17. It will be held in the Paddock Driver’s Lounge at 5:30pm sharp on Friday, July 16. “We want to discuss the unfavorable comments we have received from our […]
