Good evening fellow Turf writers,

Hopefully everyone is either settled in at Monmouth Park or in the midst of their final preparations before heading to New Jersey for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday.

I just wanted to discuss a few items of importance in advance of the 48th annual National Turf Writers Association Awards Dinner on Wednesday and semi-annual meeting on Thursday.

We’ve received a strong response for the dinner from our members and an extremely strong amount of interest from other players in the Thoroughbred industry. To those who have already purchased tickets for the dinner, please remember to arrive on time at 5:30 p.m. as the boat will set sail at 6 p.m. SHARP. Unfortunately we will not be able to give refunds for late arrivals that miss the sailing time.

The NTWA has reserved a shuttle bus to take guests to the dinner. Due to the high volume of traffic in the area during that time of day, the bus will depart from the Sheraton Eatontown (the Breeders’ Cup media hotel) at 4:30 p.m. The bus will take everyone back to the media hotel shortly after the event at 10:20 p.m.

To those who will drive, please be mindful that there will not be valet parking but plenty of self parking available. Directions were included in the invitations and are also listed below.

Another reminder that our semi-annual meeting will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning in the auxiliary press center at Monmouth Park. There are several items to discuss at the meeting so please plan to attend. Board members are asked to arrive at 10:30 a.m. to handle a few items of business prior to the meeting.

Due to the resignation of board member Sherry Ross of the New York Daily News, we will need to conduct an official election to fill that vacant position on the board. Please feel free to nominate any member in good standing you feel would be a good candidate for the board and to serve the organization in a positive way.

Thanks for your attention and here’s wishing you an enjoyable week in New Jersey for the Breeders’ Cup. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or complaints, 859-396-9407, or tlaw@thoroughbredtimes.com.

Tom Law
NTWA President
October 22, 2007

 

Directions from Monmouth Park to Atlantic Highlands:

Leave Monmouth Park, Exit the track and make a left onto Oceanport Avenue.
Make a left at the first stoplight onto Joline Avenue, which is Route 36.
Go approximately 1 mile. When you hit Ocean Avenue, turn left (north) in order to continue on Route 36.
Take Route 36 (now Ocean Avenue) heading north 9.5 miles into the Town of Atlantic Highlands. (You will pass through the towns of Monmouth Beach, Sea Bright, and the Highlands. At mile 5.8, you’ll see the entrance to Sandy Hook National Park on your right. Make sure to stay on Route 36 and cross over the Highlands Bridge)
At the 9.5-mile mark, make a right onto First Avenue.
Take First Avenue to the end. Boarding is at the Seastreak Terminal, at the pier directly behind the Ocean Club Restaurant.