Racing officials reacted to mounting pressure on Saturday and canceled six non-stakes horse races and delayed the $1 million Haskell Invitational by two hours.
"We'd like to stop it before it actually gets into the venue," said Oceanport Police Chief Michael Kelly. "They're showing up to Monmouth Park intoxicated and impaired."
Attendance and wagering increases at Monmouth Park, combined with strong July numbers at Meadowlands Racetrack, have raised the perception that sports betting would be a positive for New Jersey.
Gov. Phil Murphy said he wants to carefully review a bill creating sports betting regulations, but borough president Joe Irace took to Twitter to express his frustration at the delay.