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Betting Parlor Opens Its Doors To Early Raves
By Bill McLaughlin
 | | --Photo By Bill McLaughlin Patrons at the new off-track betting facility root for their horses as they watch the races. |
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At least the first week proved to be accurate as the Favorites of Toms River was the favorite place of thousands of county horse racing aficionados.
The double-ringed bar was crowded on a Wednesday afternoon as patrons hugged their beers while hunched over the daily racing form. There is waitress service from a snack bar that serves finger foods like French fries, burgers and hot dogs, but also makes a tasty salad and chicken dishes.
A previously-announced more formal dining area is not going to be built at this time, said manager Rhonda Schneider, who added there is ample space behind the operating kitchen to handle the 400-seat restaurant announced two years ago by then-project mastermind Hal Handel, now with the New York Racing Association.
"That's the most common question I'm asked," Schneider said. "When will it be open and all I can say is 'maybe later' depending on our success."
Schneider said she had seen the restaurant at the OTB in Woodbridge serviced by the McLoone family enterprise, which included the old Rumrunner restaurant in Monmouth County for many years.
"It's drawing well-deserved raves," she said. "It's a nice place to dine, watch the races and be comfortable. They hit a home run."
The second most pressing need for true Thoroughbred horseplayers was when will the betting connection with Belmont Park be made? And Schneider can't answer that question either.
In a typically muddled racing disagreement, Handel, the head of operations at NYRA, pulled the plug on Belmont simulcasts nationwide on Wednesday after the existing agreement expired. Handel wanted to raise NYRA's takeout from four to fivepercent of the handle on each dollar bet at a New York track.
"They better get (Belmont) back - and soon," said one woman to Schneider. "Without it, this place will be like a ghost town."
As she spoke, many of the 300 racing fans were trying to root home the winner of a harness race from a far-off track. Clearly, there are many standardbred racing fans who migrated here from their previous home at Freehold Raceway, but the majority dotes on Thoroughbreds and they handicap races differently. They need more space to spread out their racing forms, programs and mathematical equations to complete their handicapping alchemy.
"They got it right. Two thumbs up," said Tom Sherwen, Toms River. "This is the kind of place even my brother-in-law can't findfault with. And he's pretty finicky."
Sherwen said the best thing about the OTB is the size of the cubicles each bettor can use to study the races. The work space is about the width of a first class airplane seat, with a vivid TV monitor and plush chair.
"That's been my one pet peeve," said Sherwen, who said Las Vegas horse parlors were the previous ideal model. "When I saw what they did here, I knew somebody was finally listening to the players. All we want is a roomy place to plop down and watch the races on a clear TV."
Two elderly gentlemen said the best thing they saw was what they didn't see: underage kids trying to get a bet down.
"It looks like they're carding anyone who doesn't look 21," said one man as the other cheered a winning bet home. "That's the only thing that can ruin this place, having kids come in and break the law, get them in trouble."
Schneider said one member of her staff, who's well over 21, was stopped by security at the VIP introductory event last Monday night.
"He didn't take it too well, having to show his ID," Schneider smiled, "but it's for everyone's benefit. We don't want anyone underage trying to break the law."
The Freehold Raceway Inc. group that bought the liquor license more than two years ago said they would never let patrons younger than 21 go near the bar.
"We had a long, extensive seminar on handling that issue," Schneider said. "We don't want anyone at the bar who doesn't belong there."
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