by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association
Columbus, OH — The Meadowlands mutuel clerks will weigh in today on Jeff Gural’s plans to take over the Meadowlands, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told reporters he’s skeptical about Gural being able to meet an April 15 deadline to complete his plan to take over the track.
Gural has been working with the clerks’ union on possible wage concessions, thought to be the final hurdle standing between him and a plan to rebuild and revitalize the racetrack.
Speaking at a press conference in Trenton, N.J., on Wednesday, Christie was asked by reporters about whether he thought the deal would be consummated. “We might. I’m not anticipating that we will. We are still working,” Christie said.
The April 15 deadline — an extension of an original April 1 deadline — was agreed to by both Christie and Gural earlier this month. “I don’t want to drag this out, and the racing people need to know where they’re going to race,” Gural told NorthJersey.com, and added, “Deadlines are good.”