Monmouth Park to continue legal fight against US sports leagues
New Jersey horsemen to appeal recent ruling that said they were not eligible for $150m damages from the leagues
Attorneys acting for the Monmouth Park racetrack in New Jersey have confirmed plans to appeal against a US District Court ruling rejecting demands for damages from US sports leagues over PASPA.
Earlier this year, Monmouth Park, acting via the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horseman’s association (NJTHA), sought $150m in damages from the five biggest sports leagues in the US over lost sports betting revenues between 2014 and the repeal of PASPA in May.
At the launch of the lawsuit, Monmouth Park operators Darby Development LLC chairman and CEO, Dennis Drazin, accused the leagues of acting in bad faith in by trying to stop New Jersey from taking advantage of sports betting while at the same time pursuing fantasy sports.
Last week, US District Court Judge Michael Shipp ruled in favour of the leagues and their right to block New Jerseys attempts to pass sports betting laws.
Shipp added: “it would be unreasonable for the court to allow NJTHA to recover [compensation]….in light of the leagues’ correct interpretation that the 2014 repealer law authorised sports betting in violation of the governing law at the time.”
The dispute centres on the actions of the leagues in blocking Monmouth Park from operating a sportsbook in 2014, despite then-New Jersey governor Chris Christie securing the required backing to implement sports betting from a state-wide referendum.
The appeal by Monmouth Park will be heard in the Third US Circuit Court of Appeals next year.