OCEANPORT - In an effort to preserve the horse racing industry in New Jersey, Oceanport officials met with the governor last week to discuss options that would make the "sport of kings" more competitive in the state.

Oceanport Mayor Lucille Chaump and Councilman Jay Briscione met with Gov. Jon S. Corzine in Trenton on Friday to talk about how purses will be funded in the future at Monmouth Park racetrack.

The meeting was scheduled after borough officials learned that Corzine requested a study be conducted on horse racing in New Jersey, according to Chaump.

"There was a study that said horse racing was not sustainable in the state of New Jersey without VLTs [video lottery terminals]," said Chaump this week. "As far as the governor is concerned, he doesn't think that is the answer.

"He is currently working on finding an alternate solution to funding purses to keep horse racing viable," Chaump added.

A representative from Corzine's office said Monday the office does not comment on private meetings.

According to Briscione, purses at Monmouth Park are subsidized by casinos with the understanding that the track will not seek approval from the state to install slot machines at its venue.

There is a four-year agreement in place between state racetracks and the casino industry that calls for the casinos to fund the purses to keep the industry competitive without bringing in slot machines, Briscione explained.

The agreement expires at the end of this year, he said.

"It is the casino purse supplement," Briscione said. "The subsidy is up for expiration and now we need to come up with a way to replace the subsidy or renew the agreement with the casinos.

"In the absence of VLTs, there would have to be a supplement. My understanding is that the governor is negotiating with the casinos now.

"I don't think the governor is looking at VLTs as a solution," he said.

He added that if the agreement is not renewed, specific solutions to fund the purses were not discussed at the meeting.

Chaump said that at the meeting, she and Briscione explained to Corzine the importance of being a host town to the racetrack.

"We explained the impact of the jobs and taxes we are losing with the closure of Fort Monmouth," Chaump said. "And we are very concerned that if it happened to Monmouth Park, it would be a devastation to the residents of Oceanport.

"Over the past several years and most recently, we have been battling to keep Fort Monmouth a viable entity within our community. Now we have another fight on our hands that we are addressing," Chaump said.

She added that Corzine recognized at the meeting the importance of the open space and the jobs that the racing industry offers New Jersey.

"Right now we are not competitive with other states," Chaump said. "Other states have installed VLTs at their tracks.

"If racing is not sustainable here, you are not going to breed a horse in New Jersey and go out of state to race if the purses are more there.

"We are talking about 11,000 jobs and the open space with the horse farms that would be gone if we don't find a way to stay competitive. We and the governor are very concerned," she said.

Neighboring states that have VLTs include Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York, according to Chaump.

Corzine is expected to release a plan to help preserve horse racing in the state, according to Chaump, who added that Corzine did not discuss specifics of the plan at the meeting.

She added that her understanding was that Corzine does not want to include VLTs in the plan.

"The solution comes down to funding the purses," Chaump said. "He is looking for solutions to sustain horse racing in the state.

"The only way to do that is to find alternative solutions to fund the purses, which is why other states have turned to VLTs," she said.

Installing VLTs, or slot machines, is only legal in New Jersey at casinos, according to Chaump.

To incorporate VLTs at racetracks in New Jersey, the state would have to amend its Constitution, Chaump said.

"If in fact VLTs were put into Oceanport, or any racetrack for that matter," Chaump said, "I would propose the 3 percent host fee, which means that the host town would get 3 percent of the proceeds."

Monmouth Park accounts for 9 percent of Oceanport's tax revenues and pays approximately $1.6 million in taxes a year.

"If the track keeps losing money, they are going to come in for a tax appeal," Chaump said. "Oceanport can't afford that.

"Monmouth Park must remain successful and within our community. As leaders, we will do everything we have to in order to preserve Monmouth Park," she said.

Briscione added in a press release, "There is no other option but to continue to fight to maintain the economic viability of Monmouth Park."