Amazon Revises Atlantic City Race Course Plans

After years of speculation, South Jersey is one step closer to seeing new life breathed into the shuttered Atlantic City Race Course, though the vision has changed considerably from what was originally proposed.

Amazon presented revised plans this week to the Hamilton Township Committee, announcing a major shift in their approach to developing the historic Mays Landing site. Instead of the previously planned multi-level building, the e-commerce giant now intends to construct a single-story fulfillment center that will spread across significantly more acreage.

"Instead of going vertical, it's now lower and now talking up more land area," attorney Joe Paparo explained during the presentation to township officials.

Cutting-Edge Robotics Technology

The redesigned facility will be far more than a traditional warehouse. Amazon representatives described it as a robotics-sortable facility utilizing automated storage and retrieval systems to fulfill customer orders—technology they're calling the "latest and greatest design."

Danielle Aristy, an Amazon senior manager of economic development policy, detailed how products will be stored and moved on racks by machines that company representatives colorfully described as a "Roomba on steroids." This automated system represents a significant technological advancement in warehouse operations, potentially offering our community a glimpse into the future of logistics.

The facility is expected to employ approximately 750 workers, bringing substantial job opportunities to Hamilton Township and the surrounding area.

Site Development Details

Earlier this year, the Hamilton Township Planning Board approved dividing the 250-acre site into two lots. Amazon's portion will encompass approximately 145 acres of the former race course property, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

The shift to a single-story design means the facility will have a larger footprint across the landscape, but will maintain a lower profile than the originally proposed multi-level structure.

From Glory Days to New Beginnings

The Atlantic City Race Course holds a special place in our region's history. When it opened on July 22, 1946, an astounding 28,000 fans packed the facility—the largest inaugural day racetrack crowd in history at the time. Among the luminaries in attendance were Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Princess Grace of Monaco, daughter of track president John B. Kelly, one of the four businessmen who founded the venue.

For decades, the race course thrived as a cornerstone of local entertainment and community gathering. However, the arrival of casino gaming in Atlantic City in the late 1970s began drawing away the track's fan base, initiating a slow but steady decline.

By 1998, the Atlantic City Race Track ended its regular schedule of live horse racing, citing increasing costs and diminishing attendance. The venue continued hosting its annual Turf Festival—a six-day return to live racing required by state regulation to maintain the track's simulcast license—until operations ceased entirely in 2015.

The past 11 years have taken their toll on the old grandstand and grounds, leaving the once-vibrant facility in a state of disrepair. For many in our community who remember attending races there, the transformation into a modern fulfillment center represents both the end of an era and hope for economic revitalization.

As Amazon moves forward with its revised plans, Hamilton Township stands at the threshold of significant economic development that could bring hundreds of jobs and renewed purpose to a site that has sat dormant for over a decade. The project represents our community's ability to honor the past while embracing the future of commerce and technology.