In New Jersey, a bill to allow telephone account wagering and a limited number of off-track betting sites passed out of a Senate committee yesterday and will likely be taken up by the full Senate on Thursday, the last scheduled day of the legislative session.
Language that could have the effect of excluding Television Games Network (TVG) from the New Jersey market remained in the version of the bill that was passed out of committee despite the objections of TVG and its marketing partner, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The bill that emerged from the committee calls for a 60-40 simulcast split, with 60 percent of dedicated purse revenue from out-of-state simulcasts going to thoroughbred purses and 40 percent going to harness racing purses.
Thoroughbred horsemen are reportedly unhappy with the bill and have vowed to do whatever they can to stop it or see the legislation changed when and if it gets to the Assembly, which has yet to consider a bill.
Officials in New Jersey have cast doubt on whether the legislation can be completed with so little time left in the legislative session.