It was not a good day at the races Sunday for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).
The Republican presidential candidate was on hand for the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, where he presented a trophy to first-place finisher American Pharoah’s handlers. While the crowd of more than 60,000 cheered for the Triple Crown winner, the governor elicited “long,” “loud,” “sustained” booing, according to NJ.com.
The record-setting crowd booed yet again when Christie’s name was brought up in the American Pharoah team’s victory speech, according to the news site.
Twitter was alight with schadenfreude:
Governor Chris Christie just watched American Pharoah win the Haskell at Monmouth Park. Then he got booed. Loudly. pic.twitter.com/qodRJyrHQP
— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) August 2, 2015
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie was just loudly booed when he was introduced in the winner’s circle ceremony.
— Melissa Hoppert (@MHoppertNYT) August 2, 2015
Chris Christie getting booed at Monmouth Park.
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) August 2, 2015
Gov. Christie achieved a rarity today: A longshot booed at the track. #APPHaskell
— Jerry Carino (@NJHoopsHaven) August 2, 2015
The booing reflected a spate of bad polls for the New Jersey governor in recent months. An April Quinnipiac poll showed that 65 percent of New Jersey residents thought their governor wouldn’t make a good President. In response, Christie told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly that “a lot of those people in that 65 percent want me to stay” on as governor.
