Published on: September 26, 2025, 01:26h.
Updated on: September 26, 2025, 01:36h.
- Jeff Gural is pursuing a casino license at Meadowlands Racetrack
- Gural has had management of Meadowlands since 2011
- Gural claims the Hambletonian Society has ignored requests to ban certain trainers accused of using performance-enhancing drugs
Owner Jeff Gural of Meadowlands states that his ambition to open a casino at his Bergen County racetrack, coupled with ongoing drug-related controversies in horse racing, has compelled him to withdraw from hosting the Hambletonian Stakes.
In a letter dated September 16, Gural, a prominent real estate figure in New York and New Jersey who has guided “The Big M” since 2011, revealed that his continuous quest for a casino license has jeopardized his ability to host the prestigious Hambletonian Stakes.
The Hambletonian, recognized as the opening event of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters, has been a Meadowlands staple since 1981. The Hambletonian Society has confirmed it will start accepting bids for the stakes from 2027 as its long-standing agreement with Meadowlands concludes after next year’s early August event.
Gural asserts he has been transparent with the Society, stating he will not bid competitively for the hosting rights. He disclosed in his letter that tensions arose with the race organizers when he insisted that trainers on the Meadowlands’ exclusion list should not participate.
Integrity Issues Threaten Casino Licensing
Critics suggest Gural is attempting to diminish competition against his trotters; however, he defends his need to stay clear of unscrupulous participants while pursuing a casino license. Notably, Gural’s trotter, Nordic Catcher S, clinched victory in the 2025 Hambletonian.
“I have emphasized that we do not intend to permit trainers suspected of using illegal performance enhancers to compete against those who are adhering to the rules,” Gural stated.
To achieve a [gaming] license, state approval for a referendum is necessary to allow a casino at Meadowlands. Competitors from New York, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City will invest significant resources to oppose this referendum. It’s essential for me to demonstrate that my priority is to ensure drug trainers are excluded from the Hambletonian, which is why it will be relocated. Compromising my reputation with animal welfare advocates regarding integrity is not an option; I need to put that concern to rest,” Gural elaborated.
For over ten years, Gural has been striving to eliminate Atlantic City’s casino gambling monopoly in New Jersey, aiming to bring slot machines and live-dealer games to his Meadowlands Racetrack. As new casinos are contemplated in downstate New York, with licenses likely for Queens and Yonkers, New Jersey lawmakers are revisiting the idea of casino expansion in North Jersey.
Proposed Referendum Legislation
In May, Casino.org reported on new legislation presented in Trenton aimed at launching a statewide ballot referendum to extend casino operations in New Jersey beyond Atlantic City.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 130 would pose the question to citizens about permitting casinos at Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks. Should the New Jersey Legislature pass this measure with a three-fifths majority, and voters endorse it with a simple majority next November, the New Jersey Constitution would undergo amendments.
Currently, the bill awaits deliberation in the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.