NJ Budget Crisis Could Scrap United Nations Stakes on Saturday

2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park

The 2008 Breeders' Cup, thoroughbred racing's most prestigious event, consisting of 14 Breeders' Cup races and $25.5 million in purses, will be held on October 24-25, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

With filly Zenyatta remaining undefeated as the 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Day concludes, see the October 24 Breeders' Cup results & Payouts. Breeders' Cup Day Saturday will be highlighted by the Breeders' Cup Classic where Horse of the Year Curlin will defend his title against Casino Drive of Japan, Raven's Pass of Europe and other horse racing stars.

Posted on Thursday, July 6th, 2006

monmouth_park_new_jersey All live, simulcast, and account wagering in New Jersey stopped operation on Wednesday, as a result of the state’s continuing budget crisis, and jeopardized Monmouth Park’s premier turf race, the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes slated for Saturday.

The shutdown is taking a heavy toll on the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns and operates Monmouth and the Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands canceled its Wednesday night harness card, the second straight program lost due to the shutdown of state government.

Whether Monmouth would hold its next scheduled card Thursday afternoon will be decided early Thursday morning.

The state’s Legislative body failed to pass a budget on July 1. Starting Wednesday, Gov. Jon S. Corzine ordered the shutdown of nonessential government services including the closure of all 12 Atlantic City casinos. It was the first mass closure in the resort city’s 28-year history of legal casino gambling.

With the tracks, casinos, and state lottery shut, there is no legal gambling anywhere in New Jersey.

The 1 3/8-mile U.N. was shaping up an excellent field. Defending U.N. winner Better Talk Now is favorite to win.

Three of the top four finishers from Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap are pointing toward the U.N.: Cacique, the winner; Relaxed Gesture, the hard-luck loser by a head; and English Channel, who was fourth.

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"NJ Budget Crisis Could Scrap United Nations Stakes on Saturday" was posted on Thursday, July 6th, 2006 at 9:48 am and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Monmouth Park, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.