Brennan banished from the Meadowlands

[careless hal]

What the hel is the matter with Brennan?  You shoot your mouth off and give your opinion,well, this is 2012 in America.  New rules are in force,  Change has come to America like it or not. He ought to be sent to a "re-education" camp. (called gulags in the old Soviet Union)


 Brennan banished from the Meadowlands
Harnesslink Admin 02:22 PM 04-Jun-2012 NZTCOMMENTS(0)TRACKBACKS(0)
George Brennan - Earlier this year, Jeffrey R. Gural, the new operator and supposed "savior" of The Meadowlands Racetrack cautioned harness racing drivers at "his" facility regarding their on-track conduct.

Specifically, Mr. Gural was concerned with purported "courtesy tucks" and drivers' "half-in, half-out" tactics. While such matters are within the purview of state judges, not track operators, Mr. Gural nonetheless saw fit to lay down the law to both the drivers and the judges.

While it's one thing to seek to penalize a driver for his positions on the racetrack, it's quite another to penalize a driver for his positions expressed in The New York Times.

In an exclusive interview, 2011 Driver of the Year George Brennan informed Harnesslink that The Meadowlands management has advised him he is no longer welcome to drive at the facility.

As related by Brennan, he received a phone call last week from The Meadowland's Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Peter Koch. In this call, Koch informed Brennan that, "Jeff Gural doesn't want you to race at The Meadowlands." When Brennan inquired as to why, Koch replied, "Because of your quotes last week in The New York Times." Stunned, Brennan further inquired, "What did I say?" to which Koch avoidingly replied "I'm just the messenger."

In an article published on May 31 in The New York Times captioned; "At Yonkers, Anger and Shrugs Over Trainer's Suspension" the Times' reporter sought out views from horsemen and patrons regarding the recent suspension of top trainer Lou Pena. Previously, and well before the suspension which Pena is challenging both administratively and in the courts, Gural had excluded Pena from the Meadowlands as well, without cause or stated reason. The piece quoted Brennan, a regular driver of Pena's horses at Yonkers, as saying:

"I just know his horses look really good, and they race for a long time," Brennan said. "They're throwing this guy to the wolves when the primary objective in this game is to win races. Obviously, someone is out to get him."

The Times article went on to explain that on Tuesday night (May 29), without Pena, Brennan won 5 of the 11 races on the Yonkers card, driving for nine different trainers.

It is unknown at this time whether Brennan, who won both the 2011 Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks at The Meadowlands, intends to pursue any type of action to restore his access to The Meadowlands oval.

Brennan has a valid state license to race in New Jersey as well as in a multitude of other jurisdictions. He has been banned from the Meadowlands for doing nothing more than exercising the most fundamental right afforded an American... the right to free speech. Saying something to a reporter that was not in conformity with the views of "The Savior" has cost Brennan his vested property right in his license to enjoy the fruits of his labors, and has also cost New Jersey owners and breeders their ability to engage one of the most talented members of the North American drivers' colony.

The chilling effect such an action places upon the rights of other highly talented horsemen who ply their trade at The Big M is plainly apparent.

Constitution of the United States: First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Quote from the New York Times article:

George Brennan, the leading driver at Yonkers, who had been the driver on almost all of Pena's horses this year, agreed.

"I just know his horses look really good, and they race for a long time," Brennan said. "They're throwing this guy to the wolves when the primary objective in this game is to win races. Obviously, someone is out to get him."

[AmyHollar]

 

[Bettor]

They are ruining our sport 

[Elgin]

When Brennan jumped ship

[careless hal]

Well said Elgin.  In my view Gural's white hat has some doo-doo stains on it.  I have bet less at the Big M this year than any year in recent memory.  I know many view him as a savior, but franlky I keep seeing him do things that remind me more of the devil.

[LVGaryD]

I can understand the fact that Gural owns the place and will do exactly as he sees fit-hell I do that on this little forum. People can agree or disagree with the way I run it, they can stay or they can go, but I do it my own way because I am the majority owner here.

That being said, generally speaking I tend to agree with Mr. Gural on nearly everything he has done, but to me the Meadowlands needs George Brennan a lot worse than George Brennan needs the Meadowlands. Their product is simply much better when he is there than it is when he is not there. This is something I would strongly consider if I were Mr. Gural.

I have never banned a member who spoke out against me or my policies. I may have told them to go f**k themselves, but the only people who have been banned were bad for business. George Brennan is not bad for business and he is welcome here at In The Sulky.

[Elgin]

I think Gural viewed George hightailing it off to Yonkers when M1

[bettor2belucky]

The deal Gural made with Walter Case where Jeff agreed to let him drive at M1 if Case would promise not to drive at Yonkers says it all...............

Where was the above statement taken from?  never read anything along those lines.

I think the "bottom line is winning" (Brennan), might insinuate "at  all costs" mentality..not the message Gural wants his drivers sending to the public....bottom line ,his track he does what he wants (within the law) and the betting public will be the judge on whether it was a good move, imo.

[Elgin]

The deal Gural made with Walter Case where Jeff agreed to let him drive at M1 if Case would promise not to drive at Yonkers says it all...............

Where was the above statement taken from?  never read anything along those lines.

Gural Gives Case The Green Light to Drive at
the Meadowlands
By Bill Finley

After a face-to-face meeting with Walter Case Jr., Meadowlands
operator Jeff Gural has told the driver he can
compete at the East Rutherford track if he can obtain a
license from the New Jersey Racing Commission.
Other than a brief stint at Plainridge in 2008, Case, 50,
has been inactive since 2003. His career was derailed by
a prison term after he stabbed his ex-wife. Case only
recently completed the parole portion of his sentence, the
reason why he and attorney Jeff Pocaro have taken the
first steps toward possible reinstatement.
Case could not continue driving at Plainridge because
his parole officer ruled that he could not leave the state of
New York, which is no longer an issue.
Gural's backing
is a big plus
for Case, but
he is far from a
sure thing to
get a license
from the New
Jersey Racing
Commission.
"This will not
be a walk in the
park," Pocaro
said. "However, I will point out to the New Jersey Racing
Commission that Walter was licensed by the Massachusetts
Racing Commission in 2008 and he did drive at
Plainridge. So, he is 'licensable.

[bettor2belucky]

thanx...must have missed that during the holiday season...unfortunately Case still isn't driving..

[Just Saying]

I have serious doubts about Case staying straight, but it isn't my call.

I don't like to see what he was doing in the bike categorized as "kicking"... brushing a toe against a passing hock is a long way from kicking.

[Elgin]

Prominent harness racing driver George Brennan banned from Meadowlands track
MONDAY JUNE 4, 2012, 1:29 PM
BY JOHN BRENNAN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

Prominent harness racing driver George Brennan, who won the prestigious Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks races at the Meadowlands Racetrack last summer, confirmed Monday that he

[Wilderness]

Every human being at one time or another has literally put their foot-in-their-mouth with an absurd statement.

 The following from the March 1949 Hoof Beats and concerns one of the greatest contributors the sport has ever known:

Cane Denies News Report
William H. Cane, the Hambletonian impressorio, has denied to United States Trotting Association and New York Harness Racing Commission officials that be ever referred to the harness racing sport as a "racket".

Cane was called before a joint meeting of U.S.T.A. Presi

[pezz97]

When I read the news this Monday morning that driver George Brennan would no longer be allowed to race at the Meadowlands, I was beside myself. Did he commit a crime? No! He simply spoke his mind.

The ban was said to be the result of comments Brennan made in a NY Times story about the suspension of trainer Lou Pena on 1,719 illegal incidents of administering legal medications too close to race time.

Brennan, one of the top drivers in the country, had this to say in the story:

"I just know his horses look really good, and they race for a long time," Brennan said. "They're throwing this guy to the wolves when the primary objective in this game is to win races. Obviously, someone is out to get him."

Meadowlands operator Jeff Gural admitted to making the decision.

[careless hal]

Pezz, with friends like gural, brennan doesn't need any enemies.