MANALAPAN, NJ — August 1, 2017 — The SBOA, on behalf of the harness racing horsemen of New Jersey, believes it must address the Meadowlands Racetrack's decision to ban Lady Shadow from the Lady Liberty Stakes this Saturday, August 5, 2017.
While the SBOA applauds and supports the efforts to protect the integrity of the sport, it cannot agree with this decision.
Lady Shadow had a Class 3 overage for a therapeutic medication.
The ruling is under appeal, with a stay granted by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission.
The SBOA believes Lady Shadow's owners are entitled to due process and no action should be taken pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Courtney Stafford
Here is the original Jeff Gural letter to Howard Taylor
I see Lady Shadow will be racing this weekend at the Meadowlands and I would appreciate it if you and Ed Gold did not make an appearance. The last thing I want to see is the two of you in the winner’s circle after the way you have treated me and my partners. Apparently you do not understand the financial burden that rebuilding the Meadowlands and keeping it open the last few years has put on myself and my partners. When I got involved it was less than 48 hours before the Government was planning to announce its closing. In the last few years just to keep the doors open it has cost me personally over $14 Million. Your decision to sue us and the SBOA of NJ when everyone else in the industry has joined hands to help us survive going forward now that we know that a casino is not imminent is a disgrace. While obviously it is your right to sue us, I really don’t need to see you or Ed in the winner’s circle or on the premises. Adding insult to injury, over the last 60 days you have raced 23 different horses either in overnight qualifiers or baby races. The last two stakes that I added when we were considering reducing our stakes schedule were the Golden Girls and Lady Liberty even though I knew Lady Shadow would be the presumptive favorite. To continue to force me to spend more to defend your frivolous lawsuit is quite annoying so please watch the races we have over the next few weeks at home or over the internet.
Jeff Gural