Oceanport officials voice concerns over Monmouth Park changes

The Oceanport mayor and Borough Council urged the state to be cautious about making changes at Monmouth Park that have been recommended by a state commission.

The racetrack is by far the borough's biggest ratable, contributing $1.9 million, one-quarter of the tax revenue, annually, said Council President Joseph A. Irace at the council meeting Dec. 1.

Mayor Michael J. Mahon and the council are leery of some of the recommendations made by the state Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission, such as adding night harness racing at the track or having the current operator, the state Sports and Exposition Authority, sell it to private parties.

"Our objections are obvious and have been conveyed in the strongest terms to our representatives in Trenton," Mahon said, reading from his mayor's message to residents that was released this week. "We will continue to advocate for live racing at the racetrack and support improvements and changes that lead to a profitable enterprise."

There's no telling what private owners might decide to do with the property, Mahon said. It could become a commercial and residential development that would not be as beneficial to the borough, he said.

Night racing would add traffic, noise, bright lights and more traffic direction and crime prevention responsibilities for borough police, the mayor said.

The state Sports and Exposition Authority is currently losing about $30 million a year operating Monmouth Park, the Meadowlands racetrack, Izod Arena and Atlantic City Convention Center, according to the commission's report.

The commission, chaired by Jon F. Hanson, a close ally of Gov. Christie's, issued recommendations that would mean virtually disbanding the authority and getting it out of the horse racing business. Harness, or standardbred racing, would be shifted from the Meadowlands to Monmouth Park, which now only runs thoroughbreds in the daytime, in addition to simulcasts from other venues.

The report also advocates the sale of Monmouth Park, the Meadowlands and Izod Arena. 

The council passed a resolution urging the state to add slot machines at the Meadowlands, so the racetrack could compete better with other facilities, such as nearby Yonkers Raceway.

Mahon said the governing body would continue to watch closely the ramifications of the closing of Fort Monmouth. The fort is scheduled to close in September 2011. The mayor is a member of the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority, which recently changed its name from the Fort Monmouth Revitalization and Planning Authority. The next meeting of the authority is Dec. 15 in Eatontown Borough Hall.

"The council is very engaged, very involved," Mahon said. "We'll have our opinions well-known."