The east view of the proposed off-track betting parlor. This would be the view from the main driveway of the complex off Route 70.
(This long-standing project was again approved by the Planning Board, on February 18, 2020.)
A 78-year-old horse racing tradition would live on — at least virtually — at the old Garden State Park racetrack site in Cherry Hill if the Planning Board approves a developer's renewed plan to build a 30,000-square-foot off-track wagering facility with 750 seats and 378 parking spaces.
GS Park Racing LP applied to the board for site plan approval at 2200 Route 70 West, where Favorites at Garden State Park would include a restaurant and bar. The company's application notes the restaurant will not be formal, but would provide "bar-type food."
A legal notice about the application says the facility would be used for "off-track wagering and all other legal gaming activities," without elaborating on any other activities planned for the site.
Members of the planning board will hear from the applicant on February 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 820 Mercer St.
The betting parlor would be on 10 acres of vacant land to the left when driving into the complex's main entrance off Route 70. A gatehouse from the original racetrack, which opened in July 1942, would be preserved just yards from the entrance, according to the developer's application.
The 10 acres of vacant land on the left at the Garden State Park shopping development would be turned into a 30,000-square-foot off-track wagering facility. The original gatehouse for the park, which first opened in 1942, would be preserved (bottom center). Route 70 is at the bottom of the photo and the main entrance road is in the middle. The Home Depot store is at the upper right.
Although 30,000 square feet isn't small, it is a fraction of the footprint of a big-box store. The Costco store being built north of the off-track betting site will be 154,000 square feet.
GS Park Racing LP's sole general partner is Pennwood Racing Inc., which is equally owned by Greenwood Racing Inc. of Bensalem, Pennsylvania and Penn National Holdings LLC of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, according to 2,005 pages of documents on the application released by the township to 70and73.com under the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
Greenwood Racing's operations include the Parx Racing racetrack in Bensalem and the Parx Casino. The majority owner of Greenwood Racing is International Turf Investment Co. Inc., which owns a 78.98% share, according to the application. All shares of International Turf are owned by Kooringal Holdings B.V. of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Penn National's parent is Penn National Gaming Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation whose shares trade on the NASDAQ exchange. It owns and manages 41 gaming and racing facilities — many use the Hollywood Casino brand — in several states, according to 2019 information on the company. One property is the Freehold Raceway, which it owns jointly with Greenwood Racing, in Monmouth County.
When fully operational, Favorites at Garden State Park would employ 10 full-time and 45 part-time, according to the application. Normal hours of operation would be 10 a.m. to midnight with additional hours added for special race days such as the Kentucky Derby.
The floor plan of the proposed off-track wagering facility.
“It is critical that the image of this project add to the community’s sense of place and that it contributes to the Township in a positive way. The final design must take into consideration the highest level of architectural variety, compatible scale, vehicular, pedestrian access and mitigation of any negative impacts.” the township Department of Community Development stated in a memo in July 2019 about the application.
The developer originally obtained site plan approval in 2007 for construction of the facility but could not begin construction before a June 2018 expiration date, according to the application. The delays, according to the application, were from a then-pending lawsuit and sports betting legislation.
HISTORY
The original Garden State Park opens
A 1990 aerial view of the second iteration of the Garden State Park racetrack, which opened in 1985 and closed in 2001. The white dot in the lower left is the approximate location of the proposed off-track wagering facility. The oval of the racetrack and horse barns are in the middle of the photo. The site is bounded by Haddonfield Road to the right and Route 70 at the bottom.
“Neither unfavorable weather in the morning nor the lack of transportation facilities kept the turf enthusiasts away from the new racing plant in Delaware Township. From endless lines of motors, infrequent buses, occasional taxicabs and shank’s mare, the thousands poured into the horse yard as racing came back to New Jersey after an absence of nearly 50 years.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 19, 1942
The original burns
“The actual destruction of Garden State Park, a citadel of racing since 1942, began at exactly 4:24 p.m. yesterday. The symbolic destruction of the track took place 10 minutes later when the famed wood-and-metal sculpture of horse and rider that sits atop the clubhouse spire was consumed by the raging flames. Only then did the thought occur – ‘No more Garden State.’” The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 15, 1977
The new Garden State Park opens
“As helicopters hovered overhead and bands played, Garden State Park officially opened last night to thousands of racing fans who battled bumper-to-bumper traffic to attend the return of major-league racing to the Philadelphia area.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 2, 1985
The end of the new track
“The only speech came from Larry Lederman, the track announcer, just before the ninth and final race. ‘We are about to witness the end of an era,’ he said. ‘This is not like saying goodbye to an old friend. It is saying goodbye to an old friend.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 4, 2001
