New Jersey’s racetracks could close Wednesday if the state legislature is unable to adopt a spending plan by that date. Harness racing track The Meadowlands already was forced to cancel its July 1 card – which featured the $200,000 Titan Cup and elimination races for the $625,000 William R. Haughton Memorial – because of the budget impasse, which led Governor Jon Corzine to begin shutting down government agencies over the weekend. Casinos, state parks and beaches also would be ordered closed Wednesday.

If racing is suspended for an extended period, it could cause headaches for trainers as they try to prepare horses for upcoming stakes events. On Friday, the Meadowlands is scheduled to hold the eliminations for the Stanley Dancer – a key prep race for the Hambletonian – and the Delvin Miller Memorial. On Saturday, the elims for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace are slated