Could we see Atlantic City horse racing on the beach? The centuries-old Il Palio event held in Siena, Italy may get a variation in that theme in New Jersey, as was first reported here on this blog last month. On Monday, legislation to permit the horse races on the Atlantic City beach cleared an Assembly committee.
The bill (A-4149) would authorize the New Jersey Racing Commission to grant “a special permit to a running race permit holder that leases a state-owned racetrack, to hold or conduct a special running race meeting on the beach.”
Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, said the American Palio will be a series of horse races conducted on Friday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct 13. In Siena, the horses race one half mile around the Town Square, while the American version will have horses competing in the American classic distance of three-quarters of a mile on the Atlantic City beach.
American Palio will have a total of 50 horses competing in a series of elimination races that will narrow the field to the 10 runners who will race for the American Palio Championship.
“This has all the making of a fun and great event, the type of which we’ve been trying to lure to Atlantic City to highlight it as a top-flight entertainment destination,” said Burzichelli in a press release. “This will attract horse fans, sports fans, families and those simply looking to see a unique event on the beach in the autumn. Changing state law to allow for this great promotion is the least we can do as we continue striving to make Atlantic City a great place to visit and spend time.”
The commission would be allowed to grant only one special permit to an eligible race permit holder. Whomever runs the event – the state thorougbred horsemen being the logical group – would deduct two days from their annual meet; in this case could be two of the handful of fall dates at the Meadowlands rather than key weekend dates in the summer at Monmouth Park.
