On the eve of the North Jersey casino vote, leaders of state thoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing industries has dangled a US$15 million purse subsidy to each breed.

NorthJersey.com reported that Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural – and potential casino operator – also announced that Monmouth Park, which is New Jersey’s exclusive thoroughbred track, will receive a US$5 million annual subsidy to fund its operating costs.

Dennis Drazin of Monmouth Park, who converted to supporting ballot question 1 just a day before residents of New Jersey vote on the fate of North Jersey casinos, made the announcement as he “urges everyone who works in horse racing, who is a fan of racing, who works on a farm or is anyway directly or indirectly related to this great industry to vote yes on Tuesday.”

North Jersey Gaming Advocates spokesman Ron Simoncini hailed the last-minute support of Drazin.