EAST RUTHERFORD — Saying a key union has thrown up a "potentially fatal obstacle" to live harness racing in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie said today that he will shutter the Meadowlands Racetrack in three weeks if the group does not vote on a proposal to keep the financially troubled facility open.

Layoff notices went out last month to more than 600 workers who could begin losing their jobs on May 12, when simulcasting also would cease at the track, Christie said in a statement.

Local 137 of the AFL-CIO, which represents 125 tellers, voted Thursday night not to consider the offer, viewed by Christie and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority as a last-ditch effort to keep the 34-year-old track open.

"Apparently, one group has decided on its own to put at risk the livelihoods of many others," Christie said. "We were patient and accommodating, but these deadlines for achieving self-sustaining horse racing are very real. This is an unfortunate outcome to say the least."

Last year, Christie said he would close the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks, both owned and operated by the state, because they lose nearly $30 million a year. The tracks have been propped up by subsidies from Atlantic City casinos, but plummeting gambling revenue prompted state officials to put an end to the financial assistance for the racing industry.

In December, Christie and the sports authority gave Jeffrey Gural, a New York developer and chairman of American Racing and Entertainment LLC, until April 1 to work out an arrangement to lease the track from the state. Gural subsequently sought a two-week extension, which ended today.

Pat Bartolotta, president of Local 137, said the union chose not to vote on the proposal because "it wasn’t a contract where we sat down and negotiated. It was like a drop-dead contract."

Bartolotta said Gural’s plan would require the tellers — who work the windows taking bets and cash and earn on average about $30,000 a year — to take a 20 percent pay cut and give up half their sick, personal and vacation days.

"It was quite a big hit," he said. "Our local is based on seniority."

The union was "willing to sit down and have collective bargaining" but not have a proposal dictated, he said.

"We threw the ball in their court when we decided not to vote,’’ Bartolotta said.

He said he resented Christie’s contention that the union was risking the livelihoods of others.

"I don’t think it’s fair that he puts it on our backs," Bartolotta said. "The governor has to understand the horse-racing industry. We don’t want to have an argument or fight with the governor. We just want something that’s fair."

In a statement, Gural said he was "very disappointed" that the tellers refused to vote.

"At this point, I think we have to assume that the Meadowlands will not reopen for racing day on May 7 unless the tellers reconsider," he said.

Gural said he was looking at moving two memorial races, now scheduled for May 7 and May 14 at the Meadowlands, to the two tracks he owns in upstate New York — Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.

"Hopefully, the tellers will have a change of heart," he said, "but in the meantime I think it would be prudent to assume that the facility will not reopen for racing on May 7."

Previous Coverage:

• Meadowlands Racetrack will not resume racing on schedule

• Union refuses to vote on job concession package meant to keep Meadowlands Racetrack open

• Meadowlands Racetrack avoids closure for 2 more weeks

• Legalized gambling should be restricted to Atlantic City, head of Gov. Christie's commission says

• N.Y. real estate developer Gural meets with N.J. officials about Meadowlands Racetrack lease

• Christie says he wants to save N.J. horse racing industry, but not with state subsidies

• Meadowlands Racetrack developer unveils plan for new grandstand