Atlantic City Race Course - a Glorious Past
Atlantic City has always been a resort town, and for much of its history, horse racing has been a popular American diversion. It is only natural that the two should come together, and that racing early on became part of the Atlantic City experience. Still, horse racing has had a checkered history in Atlantic City.In the United States, horse racing enjoyed several periods of popularity. It was initially a favored sport of the Virginia and Maryland gentry in the colonial period, and remained widespread after the nation achieved its independence. Future president Andrew Jackson was an ardent horsemanò€”in 1805 he bet $5,000, then a tremendous sum, on his own horse. In a widely attended Tennessee race, Jackson"s horse won.
Racing declined toward the end of the 19th century, just as Atlantic City"s star was rising. The first try at bringing an enclosed racetrack in Atlantic County started in 1885, with the founding of the Atlantic City Turf Organization. It wasn"t the best time to build a new track. Throughout the country, tracks were closing in droves in the 1880s and 1890s, as Americans were disgusted with the increasing influence of professional bookmakers, who often fixed races
On November 16, 2006 Hal Handel, CEO of Greenwood Racing, announced that the Atlantic City Race Course would increase live racing dates from 4 days per year, to up to 20 days per year. Many people in the local community believe that between the renewed interest in ACRC and the website founded by Eric Kalet in 2005, www.saveacrc.com has been largely responsible for Handel"s decision to ramp up horse racing at ACRC. [www.saveacrc.com] has been actively involved in expanding racing at the Atlantic City Race Course and created the movement to bring full time racing back to ACRC in 2005.
In 2008, racing took place on the following 6 dates: April 23-25 and April 30-May 2. The New Jersey Racing Commission has ordered the track to offer 20 days of racing in 2009, but whether the track will hold the races in 2009 depends on whether it can obtain revenue from a casino revenue pot shared by other New Jersey horse-racing tracks.
The signs of the eventual fate of the Atlantic City Race Course literally surround the facility. In every direction, development looms and the days of the historic oval seem numbered. Atlantic City race meets where the live racing is the primary focus. Pure racing venues are becoming less typical in the era of racinos. It is highly unlikely that a horse racing only facility will be constructed in the foreseeable future. ACRC is as pure a race venue as they come. To see it torn down would be a real loss to the local fans who really seemed to enjoy the races and to those who respect the history of thoroughbred racing.
The success of the current 6 day meet with very little publicity is evidence that live racing can draw a crowd at ACRC. The venue is the key. When it goes, so goes a great opportunity for a boutique meet in the region. Let"s hope that it chugs along for another season. As long as it"s standing a chance remains that something constructive might be done to keep the wrecking ball away.