HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA 

Executive Newsletter 

A daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyond 

Stanley F. Bergstein, Editor 

January 2, 2008 

JOE BRUNO SPEAKS 

We know not who speaks with forked tongue, 

but we do know a discrepancy when we see one, 

and statements issued by Senate boss Joe Bruno 

and the office of the governor of New York 

cannot both be accurate. Racing in New York 

continues, as expected, with no new operator 

and no legislation permitting it, but the major 

adversaries continue their head-butting. Bruno, 

in a statement to the press, said, “Negotiations 

have been very constructive over the last several 

weeks. However, we have been unable to get the 

Governor’s staff to meet with us since Friday in 

an effort to resolve remaining differences. For 

months I have called for open public leaders 

meetings to reach an agreement by the end of the 

year. The Governor and Speaker have rejected 

these calls. Today, I am renewing that call and 

asking Governor Spitzer and Speaker Silver to 

conduct a public meeting on January 2 to finalize 

an agreement. I am confident that our differences 

can be resolved.” Bruno went on to say 

his hopes for a settlement today “were hindered 

by NYRA’s intransigence on remaining issues 

that would assure accountability and oversight.” 

Summarized, it is everybody’s fault except good 

old Joe’s. According to Bruno, Spitzer and Silver 

are the bad guys. Gov. Spitzer’s office says 

an agreement already is in place, and will stay in 

place until Jan. 23, and adds, “The Governor’s 

Office has been in daily contact with representatives 

of the State Senate, the Assembly and 

NYRA.” Reconcile all the oratory as you wish. 

The horses, unaware of the oratory, are running 

today, and so are the politicians, in all directions. 

This will be resolved and forgotten, perhaps not 

for the 30 years the governor wants but for longer 

than Bruno wants, and Hal Handel can begin 

running the New York Racing Association 

on a day-to-day managerial basis. What 

a pleasant prospect that is for the start of 

a brand new year. 

LET’S SEE..2+2 = WHAT’S THAT 

You’ve heard of the gang that couldn’t shoot 

straight. Now try the gang that couldn’t count. 

Jockeys in Ireland this time, 14 of them who 

pulled up one track circuit early in a jump race 

of 2 miles 5 furlongs. They began heading for 

the unsaddling enclosure when five of them realized 

their mistake, turned around, and raced 

the final lap. The English racing press noted, 

“While jockeys individually occasionally ride a 

finish too early, it is rare for an entire field to do 

so.” Their mistake even fooled the commentator, 

who described the first “finish” in animated 

terms before also realizing the error. Having 

been one of those, we can understand race callers 

who have trouble counting.....but jockeys? 

Those who finished second, third and fourth in 

the race -- and five-others as well -- were suspended 

for five days. That’s 5, boys...1..2..3..4..5. 

It’s easy until you get past 10. 

THINGS SLOW? TRY BINGO 

Milton McGregor, who has tried dogs in Birmingham, 

now thinks Bingo may be the better 

bet. He is hoping to add electronic bingo machines 

to his track, where he was forced to remove 

casino-like machines a year ago, according 

to the Birmingham News. The paper reports that 

previous objections from Greenetrack, a Eutaw 

dog track that has hundreds of Vegas-style bingo 

machines and was able to block Birmingham, 

now is talking joint venture with McGregor. The 

Birmingham Racing Commission is next stop. 

STEEL YOURSELF FOR THIS 

Anyone who ever saw it remembers the old 

Bethlehem Steel Works in Bethlehem, PA, as one 

of the biggest and most foreboding structures 

imaginable. Now, almost 400,000 square feet of 

building have been demolished, and the Vegas 

Sands Corporation, whose stock is falling, 

expects to open the giant casino in 2009.


$11 MILLION, & UNRESOLVED 

This is not a post-dated, after-the-fact “I told 

you so” item. When the California Horse Racing 

Board first mandated synthetic tracks, we 

wrote we felt it was a knee-jerk reaction to criticism 

of on-track injuries. We are not opposed to 

synthetics, but when you are talking $10 million 

or so without testing under battle conditions you 

are risking big money. A Bloodhorse.com article 

this week carries a headline, “Santa Anita 

Track Dilemma Not Over,” a story in which Paul 

Harper, the technical director of Cushion Track 

Footings, the builder of Santa Anita’s synthetic, 

acknowledges that trying to create a track to 

withstand 110 degrees “was in hindsight a mistake 

as this has almost certainly compromised the 

drainage characteristics of the surface.” With 

heavy rain predicted for the next three days, 

Santa Anita plans to seal its track to avoid further 

drainage problems. Cushion Track noted 

other installations, including one at Hollywood 

Park, have been well received, and Paul Harper 

said that if Cushion is unable to find a remedy 

to stabilize the track it will install a new one at 

the end of the current meeting, at an estimated 

cost of $6 million. We sympathize with the present 

problems, but memories of 40 years ago returned 

when California plunged ahead with its 

mandate. Back then, in the 1960s, the industrial 

giant 3-M Company, urged by its then chairman 

William McKnight, a racing man, turned its 

huge research capabilities and financial resources 

to creating what it called a Tartan track. It 

worked initially, but was unable to withstand the 

constant pounding it received under battle conditions 

at The Meadows in western Pennsylvania, 

and ultimately was removed. We were there 

the first day Tartan was tested, at Max Hampt’s 

farm in Mechanicsburg, PA, and the ensuing trials 

and ultimate tribulations remain fresh 

in mind. It will be five years before the 

final verdict on year-round synthetics. 





Ron Charles, Santa Anita’s president, says 

Magna has spent $11 million so far for its Cushion 

Track, and it would cost another $6 million if 

the track must be replaced with drainage problems 

corrected. He has vowed to do whatever is 

necessary to restore ideal racing conditions. 

SPLIT ELLIS PARK IN TWO? 

Ron Geary, owner of Ellis Park in Henderson, 

KY, is thinking of cutting the baby in half. He 

says if slots are approved in Kentucky, he would 

build a casino in Owensboro -- not a racino in 

Henderson -- to move it away from riverboat 

competition in Indiana. Geary told the Indianapolis 

Star, “Whether at Ellis Park or in Owensboro, 

under an Ellis Park license, some percentage 

of the money bet would go into the purse 

funds at Ellis Park.” Kentucky’s new governor 

Steve Beshear wants slots, and a state senator 

from Owensboro already has filed pre-legislation 

to amend the state constitution to permit them. 

Owensboro is Kentucky’s third largest city, behind 

Louisville and Lexington. 

SCHEDULE CHANGES AT WEG 

Woodbine Entertainment has changed its post 

times for 2008. Starting tonight, and for the 

balance of the season, Woodbine’s first post on 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights will be 

7:30, rather than the 7:20 that will remain on 

Monday cards. Sunday racing is gone for the 

winter and will not return until racing returns to 

Mohawk on May 1. 

DON’T GET SHUT OUT 

We are in our final week for reservations at the 

Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg, site of the 

HTA/TRA meeting Feb. 17-20. If you would like 

a stall, call Jen Foley at HTA, 520-529-2525, e- 

mail jen@harnesstracks.com, and she will be 

happy to accommodate you. Be sure to 

make your own Tampa air reservations.


LEERHSEN WINS DAN PATCH 

Charlie Leerhsen, executive editor at Sports Illustrated 

and author of the soon-to-be published 

Simon and Schuster production Crazy Good: 

The Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse 

in America, is the winner of Harness Tracks of 

America’s 2008 award for contributions to publicity, 

publishing and promotion of harness racing. 

Leerhsen, one of the finest writers plying the 

trade in America today, is author of three previous 

non-racing books, on Donald Trump, former 

NBC president Brandon Tartifkoff and test 

pilot Chuck Yeager. His book on Dan Patch 

arrives after more than two years of intensive 

research criss-crossing the country in what he 

called “solving a mystery,” filling in thousands 

of blanks on the story of the wonder horse that 

captivated America at the start of the 20th century, 

when trains, cigars, washing machines, 

and children - a host of them - were named for 

him. Leerhsen interviewed countless dozens of 

people, and injected his book with much of the 

drama and conflict of a story he calls “better 

than Seabiscuit.” He notes that Seabiscuit was 

not born cripple, unable to stand and nurse, as 

Dan Patch was; never pulled the local grocery’s 

delivery wagon; never drew 110,000 people to 

see him race against the clock. 

Leerhsen was first hired to work for the United 

States Trotting Association by Stan Bergstein, 

then vice president of publicity and public relations. 

He worked at USTA from 1976 until 1981, 

when he left to become a senior writer for Newsweek. 

He left that magazine in 1992 to become 

entertainment editor, and then assistant manager 

editor, of People for six years, after which he 

was named editor of the weekly US, joining 

Sports Illustrated as executive editor 

six years ago. 





Leerhsen will receive his aptly named Dan Patch 

award at the joint meeting of Harness Tracks of 

America and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations 

at the Renaissance Vinoy hotel in St. Petersburg, 

Florida, Tuesday night, February 19. 

FARINELLA LEAVES TIOGA 

Bob Farinella, president of Tioga Downs and 

Vernon Downs for American Racing and Entertainment, 

is leaving that post January 18 and 

will be succeeded by Pete Savage. Farinella, in 

a typical class move, issued a farewell statement 

in which he wrote, “Over the past 14 months we 

have crossed many bridges together and I am 

pleased with the changes we have undertaken 

to offset the tremendous negative burden of a 

broken lottery economic model and all the negative 

press that has been associated with it....I am 

confident that the pieces that we have worked so 

hard to assemble will all gel in 2008 and to that 

extent as I elect to turn over the reins to Pete Savage 

I want to extend my personal thanks for the 

friendship and professionalism extended me.” 

BROOKS SPRUNG FOR $4 MIL 

Former Perfect World Enterprises stable owner 

David Brooks, incarcerated since October on 

charges including securities and tax fraud, has 

been released under house arrest by a federal 

judge. He reportedly will be confined to a Manhattan 

apartment under constant surveillance 

with an armed guard, and as part of the release 

agreement he posted a $400 million personal recognizance 

bond, co-signed by his brother Jeffrey 

and secured by $48 million in assets. Brooks 

also supposedly sent $4 million to tribal holy men 

in Senegal, West Africa for religious ceremonies 

to help in his acquittal. One wag asked, “How 

many prayers do you get for $4 million.” 

While pondering that, send your hotel reservations 

for Florida to Jen Foley at HTA, 

520-529-2525. Time is short.






SANTA ANITA TO HOLLYWOOD? 

Torrential, unrelenting rain -- 5 1/2 inches of it 

over the weekend -- washed out racing at Santa 

Anita Saturday and Sunday, including the 

$100,000 Santa Ysabel and the $150,000 San 

Pasqual Handicap. The problem, beside the 

punishing rain, was the inability of Santa Anita’s 

new Cushion Track to absorb water. With 

the cancellation, California Horse Racing Board 

chairman Richard Shapiro announced a poll of 

his members tomorrow on the issue of allowing 

Santa Anita to transfer its meeting to Hollywood 

Park in Inglewood. That track also has 

a Cushion Track, but unlike the one in Arcadia it 

was not built to withstand 110-degree heat. That 

decision -- called “an after-the-fact mistake” by 

Cushion Track Footings technical director Paul 

Harper -- led to serious drainage problems from 

the start of the meeting, and Harper and his crew, 

and Santa Anita track superintendent Richard 

Tedesco and his ground corps, have been unable 

to solve the problem. The entire surface was removed 

and replaced in December, but without 

adequate drainage the track is not safe for racing. 

Cushion Track says it will replace it, a task 

costing $6 million, and Santa Anita already has 

spent $11 million on the installation and subsequent 

maintenance attempts, according to president 

Ron Charles. Charles was summoned to 

Florida over the weekend to meet with Santa 

Anita’s owner, Frank Stronach, concerning the 

problem. 

INTERIOR TO MONTICELLO: NO 

The United States Secretary of the Interior, Dirk 

Kempthorne, has for the moment ended hopes 

of a San Regis Mohawk casino at Monticello 

Raceway in the New York Catskills, and another 

Indian casino planned for Sullivan county. 

Kempthorne refused to grant Indian reservation 

land in trust. The Mohawks say 

they will sue Kempthorne. 

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES 

Ohio and Oregon have released handle figures 

for last year, and they are revealing. In Ohio, 

betting at HTA’s Lebanon Raceway, Northfield 

Park, and Scioto Downs, and at Raceway 

Park, all were down, a total of 14.3%. Scioto 

was down 21.25% with two less days of racing 

than in 2006; Lebanon was down 15%, with 

two more days; Northfield was down 13.6%, 

with the same 364 days of racing; and Raceway 

was down 6.7%, with 362 days of racing in both 

years. All thoroughbred tracks in the state also 

were down, ranging from Thistledown’s loss of 

14.55 % through Beulah Park’s decline of 9.5% 

to River Downs’ 8.2%, with only a day’s difference 

in number of racing days. Statewide totals 

dropped 12.71%. 

Oregon’s racing commission issued handle figures 

for the last seven years. Hub betting was 

negligible in 2000, but in its first full year, 2001, 

Greyhound Channel, doing business then as US 

Off-Track, had a high second quarter, handling 

$3.168 million. In 2007, now known as Pay Dog, 

it handled over $7 million in each of the first three 

quarters of the year. TVG went from a high quarter 

of $13.8 million in 2001 to $151.4 million in the 

third quarter of 2007; AmericaTAB went from 

$11.2 in the last quarter of 2001 to $62.3 million 

before being acquired by Churchill Downs in the 

second quarter of 2007. Youbet, which arrived 

in Oregon in 2002, had a high quarter that year 

of $42.5 million, and its high quarter in 2007 was 

$133.3 million. The Racing Channel, doing business 

as Oneclickbetting.com, handled $42.9 million 

in its highest quarter in 2002, and only $10 

million in its best quarter last year. XpressBet 

entered the fray in 2005, with a high quarter of 

$26.2 million, and posted $56.1 million in its best 

trimester last year. IRG, in the same time frame, 

went from $2.1 million to $87.3 million in its best 

quarter. Churchill’s Twin Spires hit $39.4 

million in its second quarter last year.






WITH FLOODS, BUILD AN ARK 

That was the philosophy of the late and deeply 

missed Tom Joy, who owned Windsor Raceway 

in its better years. Now Ron Charles, just 

named Chief Operating Officer of Magna Entertainment 

Corporation, gets a chance to show 

similar optimism. Magna’s Santa Anita was 

washed out for the third straight day yesterday, 

as more rain fell in southern California, bringing 

the weekend total to a reported 7 1/2 inches. 

Charles, in his new job, will be responsible for 

all operational aspects of MEC’s business interests, 

and will answer directly to chairman and 

interim CEO Frank Stronach. As for considering 

his limited options with his drowned Cushion 

Track, Charles has a few. He expects permission 

today from the California Horse Racing Board 

to move the remaining days of the 85-day spring 

meeting to Hollywood Park. Joe Harper has tentatively 

offered Del Mar for training purposes, 

contingent on approval of his fair board. And 

the Los Angeles Daily News reported that Santa 

Anita might scrap the Cushion and revert to dirt 

for the remainder of its spring meeting, something 

the racing board obviously would have to 

approve, since it was the group that mandated 

synthetic tracks in the first place. Santa Anita’s 

forced cancellation yesterday marked the first 

time in the 71-year history of the track that races 

were cancelled on three consecutive days, and 

new COO Charles called the situation “unacceptable.” 

The track hopes to reopen with live 

racing on Thursday. 

SEND SURVEYS TO BRODY 

All HTA member tracks should have received 

their wagering survey forms from Brody Johnson 

by now. Will the responsible parties please 

fill them out and return them, as soon as possible 

by fastest means, to Brody. His welfare 

hangs in the balance, and he’s a guy we 

really cannot afford to lose. 

LOOKING FOR WORK? TRY US 

An HTA member with a long racing season is 

looking for a racing secretary and for a track superintendent. 

If you are interested, send your 

resume to the aforementioned Mr. Johnson at 

the home office in Tucson. Keep Brody busy! 

UP THE HILL WITH VERNON 

New York Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow of 

Mount Vernon, chairman of the Assembly’s Racing 

Committee, announced today that a “conceptual 

agreement” has been reached between 

harness horsemen and those who run the tracks 

at which they race. Pretlow would not give details 

until the Assembly bill was printed, possibly 

today. Jeff Gural was not waiting, meeting with 

the State Racing and Wagering Board today, 

and the Assembly now is drafting a bill in accordance 

with the agreement. The state Senate 

passed a favorable bill earlier that could mean 

$5 million to Vernon. 

DOWN THE SLOPES AT EMPIRE 

Monticello Raceway is in what New Yorkers call 

The Mountains, and the slopes were steep yesterday 

as the stock of the track owner, Empire Resorts, 

fell to a record low yesterday on news that 

the U.S. Department of the Interior had denied 

a land-trust application that would have given 

the St. Regis Mohawk Indians a major casino 

in the Catskills. Empire’s stock dropped $54, 

from $3.08 to $1.42 a share. Empire’s stock was 

called “always volatile” by one financial adviser, 

while Monticello president David Hanlon called 

Interior’s decision “regrettable.” The decision 

came after federal environmental approval and 

favorable rulings from both previous New York 

governor George Pataki and present governor 

Eliot Spitzer. 

You are now almost out of time for room 

reservations for the HTA/TRA meeting.






DIRT-Y DOINGS IN CALIFORNIA 

The California Horse Racing Board yesterday 

voted unanimously to allow Santa Anita to run 

some or all of its remaining races at Hollywood 

Park if it cannot solve the drainage problem 

with its Cushion Track quickly. Board chairman 

Richard Shapiro said of the decision, “We are 

removing any regulatory impediment” for Santa 

Anita, including the option to return to dirt until 

a new synthetic track could be installed. Shapiro 

said the board was not deciding that racing 

should be transferred to Hollywood Park, but 

rather removing any restrictions “for the benefit 

of all parties.” According to the California 

Thoroughbred Breeders Association boardwatch, 

50% fewer horses have died since the synthetic 

track mandate became effective. The newsletter 

says before the new surfaces were installed, 

there was 1 horse death per 443 starts, and since 

installation the incidence of fatal accidents had 

dropped to 1 in 913. 

FAIRMOUNT SLASHES DATES 

Fairmount Park in southern Illinois has announced 

it will shorten its season by 33 1/3% 

this year, cutting back from 90 racing dates to 

60. Track president Brian Zander said financial 

strains on the track from competing riverboat 

competition was making the move necessary. His 

action came as the Illinois legislature continued 

its contentious debate about new gambling laws 

that could include slots at Illinois tracks. The 

casino industry has been bitterly opposing the 

idea, claiming oversaturation of the market, as it 

has in New Jersey, but one key Illinois legislator 

backing the move -- Rep. Lou Lang of Chicago’s 

northwestern suburb of Skokie -- said the real 

and only reason for the opposition is that the riverboats 

do not want the tracks to have slots. The 

Illinois House, Michael Madigan, said the 

riverboats will have to learn they may 

not get exactly what they want. 

SCOT WATERMAN THE MAN 

Dr. Scot Waterman, executive director of the 

Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, is 

the 2008 winner of Harness Tracks of America’s 

Distinguished Service Award. Waterman will 

receive HTA’s equine bronze at the association’s 

Nova Awards dinner Tuesday night, February 

19, during the joint HTA/TRA annual meeting 

at the Renaissance Vinoy hotel in St. Petersburg, 

Florida. A graduate of the University of 

Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and an 

honors graduate of the University of Arizona 

Race Track Industry Program, Dr. Waterman 

played a leading role in the creation of the Medication 

and Testing Consortium and has been its 

leader and driving force in the five years since 

its inception. He has campaigned tirelessly, 

coast-to-coast, urging racing commissions to 

adopt RMTC guidelines, and more than 25 have 

agreed. Brock Milstein, president of HTA, called 

Waterman’s work “inspirational, and of huge 

benefit to the entire horseracing industry.” 

CLASSIC SERIES: PAY 1 FEE 

The Classic Series for older pacers and trotters 

will kick off this year on April 7 at Dover Downs. 

The series offers a solid deal to owners who nominate, 

requiring only a single nomination payment 

on February 15 for the three $85,000 preliminary 

legs and the chance to qualify for the $250,000 final 

at each gait. Mohawk Racetrack will host the 

second leg May 31, the Meadowlands will offer 

the third leg on July19, and the finals will be held 

with the Hambletonian eliminations a week later. 

THE RUMOR MILL REPORTS 

Rumors from Pennsylvania predict big changes in 

the composition of the state’s racing boards can be 

expected in the next six months. The harness racing 

commission, reports say, will be merged with 

the thoroughbred board, and casualties could include 

Ben Nolt on the thoroughbred board 

and Anton Leppler on the harness side.






BRIAN CASHMAN AT HTA/TRA 

Brian Cashman, general manager of the New 

York Yankees, and his Hall of Fame father John, 

one of harness racing’s best known executive 

personalities, will enliven the Nova Awards dinner 

presentations during next month’s joint annual 

meeting of Harness Tracks of America and 

the Thoroughbred Racing Associations. 

The Cashmans will chat with master of ceremonies 

and racing commentator Dave Johnson in 

a conversation titled, “No One Ever Grew Old 

With a Promising 2-year-old in the barn or a 

Pennant Contender in Winter Training.” The 

conversation will be a prelude to presentation 

of the Nova bronzes to owners of the champion 

harness horses of 2007, and awards to other dignitaries 

being honored at the dinner. 

The full agenda of the HTA/TRA meeting will be 

released tomorrow. 

THE ELOQUENCE OF SILENCE 

If you were waiting to hear what Gov. Eliot 

Spitzer had to say about racing and gaming in 

his State of the State message in Albany yesterday, 

don’t bother to hang around. He said 

nothing. No mention of racing, harness or thoroughbred; 

no mention of casino or tribal gaming; 

no mention of VLTs. His only mention of 

anything related to gambling was a pitch to find 

more money in the state lottery system, “either 

by taking in private investment or looking at 

other financing alternatives. As we do this, we 

will assure that the State continues to regulate 

all lottery games, and that we continue to receive 

the more than $2 billion annually that the lottery 

now provides. Today’s endowment dollars 

will be a down payment on tomorrow’s dreams.” 

To read his speech in full, if interested, try 

http://www.ny.gov/governor/keydocs/ 

state_of_the_state_address2008.pdf. 

AND THE THUNDER OF DELAY 

If you enjoy watching glaciers move, New York 

is the place to be. Ask Harness Racing TV. The 

company is awaiting a decision from the New York 

Racing and Wagering Board, but all it can get 

is board spokesman Dan Toomey’s pronouncement 

that, “We are reviewing the application.” 

This, by the way, is the second application of 

HRTV, which provided an earlier version to the 

board in December. HRTV, owned by Churchill 

Downs and Magna Entertainment, would like 

to resume showing Aqueduct races, which it 

stopped showing January 4, informing viewers 

board approval was pending. The racing board 

approved Xpressbet.com and Twinspires.com -- 

two HRTV wagering sites -- offering wagering 

on Aqueduct, but is in deep meditation on HRTV 

itself showing Big A races. TVG formerly held 

exclusive rights to New York signals. Spokesman 

Toomey, asked to elaborate on the decision 

delay, told reporters he could not put a timetable 

on how long the review process might take. 

ERIC LEDFORD RETURNS IN NJ 

harnessracing.com reports today that driver Eric 

Ledford, banned last winter for possession of 

prohibited substances in New Jersey, will be relicensed 

this week and probably return to driving 

immediately at the Meadowlands. Although 

Ledford’s year suspension from the racing 

board was up some time ago, a spokesman said 

the board had not issued a license until criminal 

probation expired. 

BURNED TWICE, SAME FLAME 

The painful scorch of changed facts and misunderstanding 

burned Executive News twice yesterday. 

Happily, executive director Anton Leppler 

will not be a casualty of reorganization of 

racing board staffs in Pennsylvania, and the vituperative 

CTBAboardwatch newsletter in California 

has no affiliation with the California 

Thoroughbred Breeders Association.






“IT WILL BE MY BILL” 

If there were any doubts or concerns about the 

intentions of the new governor of Kentucky, 

Steve Beshear, on the subject of casinos or racinos 

in the Bluegrass, they should be resolved 

now. The governor told newsmen this week, “In 

the end, I’m going to make the decisions and 

fashion the legislation. It will be my bill.” The 

issue was clouded a bit earlier in the week when 

Nick Nicholson, president and CEO of Keeneland, 

mentioned that Keeneland and the Red 

Mile might partner on a casino license and locate 

it somewhere other than either track in Fayette 

county. Legislators are asking where the facilities 

would be located before they vote on the issue, 

and the governor made it clear he will let 

them know where he wants them. Rep. Larry 

Clark, a Louisville Democrat and the House 

Speaker Pro Tem, said the tracks must choose 

their financial strategies, including locations, but 

would not have to make that decision until the 

constitutional amendment comes up for legislative 

approval. Asked what the next step would 

be, Clark said, “I’m waiting on the governor. 

When he has his legislation, I’ll be glad to look 

at it.” 

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER 

For the first time in their 20-year history, Atlantic 

City casinos handled less money last year 

than they did the year before, and racetracks 

and new no-smoking regulations were blamed. 

Philly.com quoted Carlos Tolosa, president of the 

eastern division of Harrah’s Entertainment, as 

saying, “It is a shock...a slap on the side of the 

head for anyone who owns a casino in town.” 

Harrah’s owns the Harrah’s Marina, Showboat, 

Caesars and Bally’s in Atlantic City, and Tolosa 

said, “This is a wakeup call for everybody that 

we have to continue to build nongaming 

attractions and convert this resort town 

into a destination, and that we have a 

long way to go.” Tell you what, Carlos. 

Give us the slots, we’ll give you the rest. 

LIKE A REALLY BIG MARKET? 

Think China. The official Xinhua news agency 

says the huge country may legalize horse racing 

for the first time since the Communist Party assumed 

power 59 years ago, in 1949. The Beijing 

government has approved regular horse racing 

in the central city of Wuhan, where it existed a 

century ago, and is considering the introduction 

of betting on those races next year. Xinhua says 

the experiment is a prelude to the return of nationwide 

betting on horses throughout China. 

If they bet on the mainland the way they do in 

Hong Kong and elsewhere, the Chinese represent 

a gargantuan market for the sport. One Chinese 

researcher estimated the introduction of betting 

could create 3 million jobs a year, and 83% of 

Wuhan residents polled thought it would have a 

positive social impact. With Bill Nader, formerly 

of NYRA, running Hong Kong racing, and the 

door already open to an American racing executive 

in China, it might be time to try Berlitz and 

get a head start. 

CONTROLLER JOB OPEN 

An HTA member is looking for a controller. If 

you are interested, please send your resume to 

Brody Johnson at brody@harnesstracks.com. 

DOWD ON WORLD IN HARNESS 

Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for 

the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authorities’s 

Meadowlands and Monmouth Park operations, 

became the current interviewee on HTA’s 

World in Harness. His 35-minute, wide-ranging 

interview provides a fascinating view of his varied 

career as an amateur trainer-driver, attorney, 

racing commissioner and commission chairman, 

developer of New Jersey’s account wagering system, 

and former president of Freehold Raceway, 

Ocean Downs, Rosecroft Raceway and Vernon 

Downs. Access the show through www. 

harnesstracks.com/worldinharness.




Paul J. Estok, Editor 


BRIAN CASHMAN & HIS HALL OF • Maury Wolff, racing economist & long-time major bettor 

• Nick Eaves, President & COO, Woodbine Entertainment 

FAME SIRE IN A BASEBALL-RACING 

CHAT ON THE HTA/TRA AGENDA 

Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees, 

and his Hall of Fame father John, one of harness racing’s 

best known executive personalities, will enliven the 

Nova Awards presentations during next month’s joint annual 

meeting of Harness Tracks of America and the Thoroughbred 

Racing Associations. 

The Cashmans will chat with master of ceremonies and 

racing commentator Dave Johnson in a conversation titled 

“No one ever grew old with a promising 2-year-old or a 

pennant contender in winter training.” The conversation 

will be a prelude to presentation of Nova bronzes to owners 

of the champion harness horses of 2007, and awards to 

other dignitaries being honored by HTA. 

Here is the agenda of the February 17-20 meeting of racing’s 

two major racetrack trade associations: 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 

All day Arrivals and Registration 

4:30-6:30p.m. HTA Fin. and Exec. Committee 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 


8:00-9:00 a.m. HTA Scholarship Committee 

8:00-9:00 a.m. HTA Mission, Awards, Convention 

Committee 

9:15-10:45 a.m. HTA Committee of the Whole 

11:00-12:30 HTA Board of Directors 

1:00-6:00 Golf or AFTERNOON FREE 

1:00-3:00 TRA 2020 Committee 

7:15-9:15 Welcome Buffet Supper Reception 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 


8:00-11:15 a.m. GENERAL SESSIONS (Open to All) 

(Speakers subject to change in final agenda) 

8:00-8:10 a.m. Welcome 

• Brock Milstein, President, HTA 

• Robert Bork, President, TRA 

8:10-9:00 a.m. Trust in the Pari-Mutuel System: 

Looking at Late Odds Changes 

• Craig Fravel, Executive Vice President, Del Mar 

• Curtis Linnell, Director of Wagering Analysis, TRPB 

9:00-9:45 a.m. Swimming with Whales: Will They 

Beach Offshore or can They be 

Returned to the Racetrack? 

• Mike Maloney, one of America’s biggest bettors 

9:45-11:00 a.m. Keeping the “Race” in Racinos: Are They 

Simply Purse Builders, or Can They Offer 

Racing Meaningful Opportunities to Broaden its 

Patronage? 

• Chuck Atwood, Vice Chairman, Harrah’s Entertainment 

• Charles Hayward, President & CEO, NYRA 

• Jeff Gural, Principal, Tioga Downs & Vernon Downs 

• Bill Oberle, Speaker Pro Tempore, Delaware House of 

Representatives 

• Gary Palmer, President & CEO, Prairie Meadows 

• Chris McErlean, Vice President of Racing, Penn National 

Gaming 

• Bill Fasy, COO, Delaware Park & Ocean Downs 

11:00-11:30 a.m. Ghost Stories: Experiences of Charlie 

Leerhsen, Executive Sports Editor, Sports Illustrated, in 

writing his new racing book Crazy Good, on Dan Patch 

11:30-12:30 HTA/TRA Joint Board Meeting 

7:30-8:30 Nova Awards Reception 

8:30-10:30 Nova Awards Dinner 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 


8:00-12:15 a.m. GENERAL SESSIONS 

8:00-9:00 a.m. Miami Project Presentation to TRA 

9:00-9:30 a.m. The Mitchell Report & Racing 

• Bennett Liebman, Acting Director, Government Law Center 

& Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Albany Law School 

9:30-10:30 a.m. Medication & Regulation: Can Research 

Succeed Without Stronger, Meaningful 

Support from Regulators; including Prosecuting 

the Guilty while Protecting the Innocent 

• Alan Foreman, Chairman, Thoroughbred Horsemen’s 

Association, Inc. 

• Dr. Scot Waterman, Executive Director, RMTC 

• Ed Martin, President, RCI 

• Ben Wallace, Past Trainer of the Year, Canada 

10:30-11:00 a.m. Racing and New Technologies: Having 

Missed the Television Boat a Half Century Ago, 

Will We be Left to Sink Again Without Adapting 

to New Forms of Communication? 

• Eric Wing, Senior Director of Media Relations, NTRA 

• Seth Merrow, Publisher, Equidaily 

• Dave Johnson, Host, Sirius Satellite Radio 

10:00-12:00 TRPB Board Meeting 

1:30-3:30 TRA Board Meeting






POCONO SLOTS TOP THE EAST 

Slot machines at HTA member Mohegan Sun 

at Pocono are the most productive in the east, 

according to a gambling research firm, and two 

other HTA member track’s racinos -- The Meadows 

and Chester Downs -- occupy the top five. 

Spectrum Gaming Group of Linwood, NJ, reports 

that the slots at Mohegan at Pocono generated 

an average $403 a day in the Sept. 20 thru 

Nov. 30 quarter. Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, 

the parent of the Pocono operation, was second 

during that span with $390 a machine, followed 

by Philadelphia Park’s $369, The Meadows 

Racetrack and Casino’s $347, and Harrah’s 

Chester Casino and Racetrack’s $322. Bobby 

Soper, president and CEO of Mohegan Sun at 

Pocono, said he was pleased but not surprised at 

the results. “Pennsylvania is a robust market,” 

he said, and it follows it will be for harness horses 

racing there as well. The Spectrum Group’s 

managing director, Michael Pollock, said, 

“You’ve got some very sharp operators there. 

They know how to reach players and give them 

what they want.” Gross revenue at Pennsylvania’s 

six operating slots parlors was $1.04 billion 

last year. The state takes 55% of gross gaming 

revenue, giving it $572 million in 2007. Racing 

is not the only beneficiary. The state’s taxpayers 

will receive property tax cuts, and budget secretary 

Michael Masch says a relief fund for that 

purpose now contains $576 million. At year’s 

end there were 12,686 slot machines operating in 

the state, according to Philly.com. 

OLDIES ARE GOODIES 

Florida gets more than its share of senior citizens, 

and its US Harness Writers chapter intends to 

see that they are recognized. This year it is sending 

old timers Alan Prince and Murray Janoff 

into the Communicators Hall of Fame in 

Goshen, and nominating Erwin Grossman 

and John Berry for next year. 

AXELROD IN, STARTS HAPPILY 

Ivan Axelrod, chairman of the board of the 

United States Trotting Association, has a new 

job as well. The California financial manager 

has been named president of Sacramento Harness 

Association, racing at Cal Expo, succeeding 

Ralph Scurfield, the former longtime chairman 

of the California Horse Racing Board, who 

has resigned his SHA presidency but remains a 

member of the board of directors. Axelrod was 

greeted with good news, as its Cal Expo landlord, 

which had granted rent relief last May, reduced 

its rent another $30,000 a month. SHA, a 

not-for-profit association, now will pay $180,000 

a month rather than $210,000. The reduction 

came at the urging of the California Horse Racing 

Board, and opens the way for negotiation for 

a new lease for its 10-month meetings. General 

manager Dick Feinberg says SHA now hopes to 

exercise the first of its three one-year options, 

covering next September thru July of 2009. 

AS WE WERE SAYING..... 

When we were so rudely interrupted recently, 

the Pennsylvania thoroughbred and harness 

racing boards will be reorganized and placed 

under the oversight of one person, to be chosen 

after a nationwide search according to Gov. Ed 

Rendell’s chief of staff, Greg Fajt. Fajt said the 

majority of both staffs are expected to remain 

in place. There currently are three harness and 

three thoroughbred tracks in Pennsylvania, with 

a fourth harness track and racino to be built in 

Lawrence county in western Pennsylvania. 

JOHNNY PODRES DEAD AT 75 

Johnny Podres, famed as the winning pitcher for 

the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 World Series, 

and a harness racing fan and horse owner, has 

died at 75.


THE MAN FROM AUSTRALIA 

Thank goodness for our allies and friends. Santa 

Anita, about ready to give up and ship out to 

Hollywood Park if a solution was not found to 

its Cushion Track drainage problems, reached 

out to Australia for help. It arrived, in the form 

of Ian Pearse, founder of a synthetic surface 

company called Pro-Ride. Pearse met with Dr. 

Jean-Pierre Bardet, professor and chairman of 

the civil engineering department at the University 

of Southern California. The two performed 

tests and experiments, and it turns out the polymers 

and fibers in Pearse’s Pro-Ride, mixed with 

Cushion Track, prevented bonding of water and 

track material and allowed adequate drainage to 

solve -- at least temporarily -- Santa Anita’s track 

problems. Track president Ron Charles decided 

against a move to Hollywood Park or petitioning 

the California Horse Racing Board to return 

to dirt for the remainder of the winter meeting 

that runs through April 20. Charles told Daily 

Racing Form’s Jay Privman that a timeline was 

being developed to mix Pro-Ride with Cushion 

Track, and that the process would take 10 to 12 

days to install the binder. He said, “The tests 

show that we’ve found a way to reformulate the 

existing Cushion Track surface. With the addition 

of polymers and fiber, the surface becomes 

kinder, more consistent, and it cushions the 

impact of the track on the horses. It functions 

properly in diverse weather conditions and reduces 

the amount of kickback,” which had been 

a complaint of some horsemen. Charles called 

the tests “dramatic and extremely encouraging. 

We have only a short window of opportunity 

to get this done and we believe we have finally 

solved the Cushion Track drainage problem. After 

exhaustive research, we feel strongly that this 

is the way to go. We’ve made this choice based 

upon the results of scientific testing and 

the reaction of the horsemen to whom 

we’ve shown the final product.” 





With Charles’ announcement, the racing board 

cancelled the teleconference meeting scheduled 

for tomorrow, since its sole purpose was to consider 

Santa Anita’s request to return to a temporary 

dirt surface. 

ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT 

There was another track announcement yesterday, 

a continent apart from Santa Anita. New 

Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority senior 

vice president of racing Dennis Dowd repeated 

what he said earlier on HTA’s World in Harness 

concerning the return to action of driver Eric 

Ledford. “As a state-owned facility,” Dowd announced, 

“the Meadowlands cannot simply ban 

Eric Ledford from driving if he is licensed by the 

New Jersey Racing Commission. However, we 

will be vigilant in monitoring Mr. Ledford’s conduct. 

Currently, he is licensed by the commission 

only to drive, and we have informed his attorney 

that if he intends to participate as a trainer or 

owner, our position will be reevaluated.” 

DOWN DOES NOT STOP UP 

Two of America’s biggest casinos -- Mohegan 

Sun and Foxwoods in Connecticut -- reported 

sharp drops in business in December. Mohegan 

Sun slot revenue was down 18.8%, and Foxwoods 

suffered the largest one month decline in 

its 15-year history, down $11.4 million from December 

of 2006. Beyond that, November slots 

revenue was down $3.4 million, or 5.7% from 

November a year ago. Weather and construction 

were blamed. The picture did not deter MGM 

Mirage, which announced yesterday it has filed 

key environmental permit applications for a $5 

billion super mega casino on 72 acres next door 

to its Borgata, that operation a joint venture 

with Boyd Gaming. The new MGM Grand Atlantic 

City will have 3,000 rooms in three towers, 

and the largest gambling casino in AC with 

5,000 slots and 200 table games, due 2012.


THE BOY WHO CRIED OTB 

Like the fable of similar name, no one believes 

him after the repeated cries. Does Michael 

Bloomberg really think Albany will be coerced 

by his threats to close a city industry that provides 

1,500 jobs and handles $1 billion of New 

York’s $2.7 billion in annual wagering. The New 

York Times expressed skepticism in its story today, 

reporter Ray Rivera writing, “Whether real 

or a mere negotiating tactic, the plan promises 

to intensify debate in Albany” as the legislature 

considers the fate of the New York Racing Association. 

Rivera went on to write that “some 

industry analysts said the plan looked more like 

a bargaining ploy,” and he quoted Daily Racing 

Form publisher and columnist Steve Crist as saying, 

“It’s 100 percent posturing. OTB is looking 

for a larger slice of the betting handle.” New York 

City OTB president Ray Casey says the threat is 

real. “It’s very serious,” he told Rivera,“We’ve 

been trying for years to have the inequities corrected, 

and this is an action at this point for 

us, and for me personally, of last resort.” The 

Bloomberg threat to shut down OTB June 15 if 

no legislative relief is forthcoming might carry 

some credibility if the issue of selling OTB were 

discussed at the same time. Why anyone would 

close down an operation worth hundreds of millions 

of dollars to private operators without serious 

efforts to sell it makes it difficult to believe 

that the threat is anything other than the Times 

story implies: a bargaining ploy. 

MEANWHILE, IN HARRISBURG... 

While the NYRA and New York City OTB matters 

occupy Albany legislators, their counterparts 

in Pennsylvania’s House were enjoying an 

orgy of tax cut proposals following on the heels 

of exceptional success with slots at the state’s racinos. 

The legislators went on what Philly. 

com called “a tax-cutting stampede” of 

proposals for billions of dollars of cuts. 





No action was taken, because all the talk involved 

amendments to an underlying property tax issue 

up for consideration today. Yesterday’s proposals 

included slashing personal income taxes by a 

billion and other hugely expensive cuts on everything 

from cell phone taxes to inheritance taxes 

and pet adoptions. House members, Philly.com 

reported, paid little heed to warnings about the 

enormous hole they were potentially blowing in 

the state budget. 

WHAT ELSE IS NEW? 

Thoroughbred horsemen, acting through their 

eastern-based Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, 

are asking state racing commissions to 

slow down the rush to enact bans on steroids. 

Daily Racing Form reports THA chairman Alan 

Foreman as saying the intent of the delaying effort 

is to avoid “unfair punishments” that would 

result from horses moving from anti-anabolic 

states to those not adopting such rules. Unification 

of rules is, of course, the mission of the Racing 

Medication and Testing Consortium, of which 

Foreman is an influential board member. Foreman 

notes that the goal is not yet accomplished. 

“Right now,” he was quoted in the Form, “we’ve 

got this piecemeal approach for a problem that 

needs a national solution.” Will someone please 

step up and bell the commissioners’ cat. 

FORE! CONTACT HTA’S BRODY 

If you want a respite from the work scheduled 

for consideration at the upcoming HTA/TRA 

joint annual meeting, now is the time to contact 

Brody Johnson at HTA. Golf has been arranged 

for Monday afternoon, Feb. 18, starting at 1 

p.m., for men and ladies, with clubs and shoes 

available for rental. Transportation will be provided 

to the course, 1.7 miles and 5 minutes from 

the hotel. Brody has full details.






BANGOR HTA’S 44TH TRACK 

Bangor Historic Track, located downtown on 

Main Street in Bangor, Maine, has applied for 

membership in Harness Tracks of America and 

will become the association’s 44th member when 

the HTA board meets in St. Petersburg, Florida, 

February 18. Jon Johnson, Bangor’s general 

manager, will serve as the track’s director on the 

HTA board, with the track’s manager of raceway 

operations, Corey Smith, as alternate director. 

Bangor is a member of Penn National Gaming’s 

ever-widening circle of tracks and gaming 

facilities. 

NEW LIFE FOR SACRAMENTO 

The California Horse Racing Board this week 

extended the license of the Sacramento Harness 

Association, racing at Cal-Expo in Sacramento, 

for 11 weeks while it continues to study the financial 

condition of the not-for-profit track, HTA’s 

and harness racing’s only west coast operation. 

SHA had hoped for a full license through its 

scheduled August 2 close, but the board instead 

granted it racing dates through March 30, and 

said it would reconsider the matter at a March 

27 meeting. It has asked SHA, under its new 

president Ivan Axelrod, to provide its audited 

financial statement for 2007 showing a positive 

net worth, a $400,000 letter of credit to cover potential 

liabilities, a plan for future harness racing 

operations, and other documentation showing 

profitable operation. The commission, issuing 

the extension, also issued “a very public message 

of support for harness racing.” The message encouraged 

harness horsemen to continue racing 

in California while the board makes sure the industry 

is on solid financial footing. Elsewhere in 

California, Hollywood Park president Jack Liebau 

called for “a forum” of track officials, trainers, 

owners, veterinarians and breeders to 

meet for an in-depth discussion on synthetic 

tracks. 

2008 ADIOS SET FOR POCONO 

In a cooperative move reported here earlier unofficially, 

Mohegan Sun at Pocono and The Meadows 

Racetrack and Casino have announced that 

Meadows’ classic centerpiece event, the Adios for 

3-year-old pacing colts, will be raced this year at 

Pocono while The Meadows builds its new track. 

The move bodes well for Pennsylvania harness 

racing, already flush with slots success, and assures 

unbroken continuity for the Pace for the 

Orchids. Pocono’s vice president of racing, Dale 

Rapson, called it “an honor to host the Adios,” 

which will become the richest race in Pocono history 

when it is presented Aug. 9. The Meadows’ 

John Marshall, Rapson’s counterpart at the 

western Pennsylvania track, thanked Pocono for 

keeping the Adios in Pennsylvania and called the 

move “clearly in the best interest of racing.” The 

classic’s sister race for fillies, renamed the Quinton 

Patterson Adioo Volo to honor The Meadows’ 

longtime plant superintendent, also will be 

raced at Pocono, and a voice will move with the 

races. Roger Huston, the familiar Voice of the 

Meadows, will remain in that role for the Adios 

presentations at Pocono. 

LUNCH, RACES AT TAMPA BAY 

The agenda of the joint HTA/TRA annual meeting, 

that appeared here in Monday’s Executive 

Newsletter, did not show it because of space limitations, 

but the Tuesday, Feb. 19 program will include 

lunch and the races at Tampa Bay Downs. 

We thank president Stella Thayer and vice president 

and general manager Peter Berube for 

their hospitality, and look forward to a delightful 

afternoon at the track. Transportation will 

be provided. 

STILL TIME TO NOMINATE 

Pompano Park has extended its nominating date for 

the $350,000 Isle of Capri and $100,000 Francis Dodge 

pacing series, and the $100,000 Mack Lobell trot series, 

from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25 to accommodate horses being 

sold at the big winter sale at the Meadowlands 

Jan. 21.






JUST WHAT RACING NEEDS 

The New York State Lottery, with the tacit support 

of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and at the urging of several 

Wall Street firms, is thinking of expanding 

its outlets to coffee shops and malls in the state. 

It would not be done, according to the Albany 

Times Union, by the state but through privatization 

of a large segment of the lottery. Spitzer will 

unveil the plan tomorrow in his budget proposal, 

having been inspired by the Wall Streeters who 

are convinced the state should diversify the gambling 

market by broadening the demographic of 

lottery customers. Their rationale is triggered 

in part by the thought that anyone who can afford 

a $4 cup of coffee at Starbucks can afford 

a lottery ticket, but obviously the sweep of the 

proposal would take in a lot of others strolling 

or shopping in malls. Patrick Maloney, the governor’s 

first deputy, gave it a pleasant spin by 

cloaking the proposal in the robe of education. 

“We want to consider anything,” he said, “with 

an eye toward creating more value for higher education 

and consistent with the governor’s principles 

- - support for K-12, continuing all existing 

regulation and oversight, and no big increase in 

gambling.” 

V-75 POOL NOW AT 18 MILLION 

Saturday’s V-75 bet in Stockholm, Sweden, did 

not have a payout for seven consecutive winners, 

or five either because the payoff did not reach the 

government’s threshold, and the carryover jackpot 

now is $18 million US for next Saturday’s 

pool. Advance wagering for the V-75 starts on 

Wednesdays and remains open until the close of 

business on Fridays. The bet is available in the 

US at the Meadowlands, Monmouth Park, and 

Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, and at Delaware 

Park in Delaware and Saratoga Gaming 

and Raceway in Saratoga Springs, NY. It 

is the most popular bet on horse racing in 

the world in terms of pool size. 

AROUND THE HTA CIRCUIT..... 

ROCKINGHAM PARK has a great idea for 

reaching the youth market. It is offering a 

$15,000 grand prize in an inaugural New England 

College World Series of Poker, open to all 

students at least 18 who currently are enrolled in 

an accredited college or university in a six-state 

New England area. The tournament will begin 

Wednesday, Feb. 7, with satellite games of $25, 

$40 and $70 to be held through Saturday, Feb. 9, 

and the top four finishers in the $70 category, the 

top two in the $40 division and the top one in the 

$25 bracket winning a seat in the final on Feb. 

10. There also is a buy-in provision for the final 

for $150 with 8,000 starting chips. First prize of 

$15,000 is based on a minimum of 300 players. 

Ten percent of the players, or the top 30 finishers, 

will receive cash prizes. Players can pre-register 

at the track’s poker room to avoid being shut 

out. Poker at Rockingham, operated by Granite 

State Poker, benefits a variety of local charities. 

Want to bet they are oversubscribed? 

THE DELAWARE COUNTY FAIR has commissioned 

a new book, featuring personal and 

favorite memories of the Little Brown Jug, to be 

written by Jug publicist Tom White and his colleague 

Jay Wolf. Publication is expected in the 

summer of 2009. 

THE CALIFORNIA HARNESS HORSEMEN’S 

ASSOCIATION will induct driver Rick Kuebler 

and major owner Lloyd Arnold into the California 

Standardbred Hall of Fame at the association’s 

meeting in late March. Horses I’m Damn 

Good and Denali also will be inducted. 

PRAIRIE MEADOWS will recognize 194 community 

betterment projects on January 31, and 

award $1.98 million in grants to foster programs 

in education, human services, economic development 

and the arts.






MASS GOV PICKS UP STEAM 

Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts, 

apparently is a Boston brawler as well as a savvy 

politician. Girding for a legislative battle with 

Sal DiMasi, the powerful House speaker who opposes 

expanded gambling in the state, Patrick 

held a “cabinet meeting” that turned out to be a 

pep rally with organized labor cheering his proposals 

for casino gaming. Included in the turnout 

was the head of the 107,000-member Massachusetts 

Teachers Association, the president of 

the Massachusetts AFL-CIO with 400,000 members, 

and the head of the Greater Boston Labor 

Council. The leader of the 75,000-member Massachusetts 

Building Trades Council was there, 

and said, “We are geared up and ready to go.” 

Robert Haynes, the AFL-CIO boss, said, “We 

intend to do a full court press and do a real campaign 

to advance this issue.” Patrick said of the 

gathering, at which union officials held up procasino 

placards, “It’s important to pay attention 

to everyone in the work force. Let us get this 

heard and debated. Let us carry this over the 

line.” The Rev. Richard McGowan, an economics 

professor at Boston College, thought the occasion 

was significant. “I think this is a lot broader 

group,” he said. “The teachers never got near 

this before. All they need is for the firemen and 

police to say they are for it.” Anne Wass, who 

leads the teachers’ group, said, “We don’t normally 

take positions on issues that some say are 

not educational, but the budget cuts to public 

education have been so drastic and dramatic.” 

Gov. Patrick presents his budget this week, facing 

a $1.3 billion deficit. 

A RICH HUMANE SOCIETY 

People think of the Humane Society as simply a 

benefactor of animals, but they deal with political 

animals too. The HSUS is giving $500,000 

to anti-slots forces in Miami, Florida, to 

oppose a slots vote set for Jan 29. 

THE TEAGUE MARKET STRONG 

The Tattersalls January mixed sale at the Meadowlands, 

driven by an ownership difference of 

opinion in the powerful George Teague stable, 

set new records, with 387 horses sold for $13.4 

million, an average of $34,730. The race horse 

market, reflecting the influence of slots on purses, 

saw 287 horses bring $11.7 million of the total, 

averaging $40,925. Teague and one partner, 

the Only Money Stable, bought 2006 Pacer of 

the Year Total Truth for $900,000, second highest 

price ever paid at auction for a harness horse. 

Teague also bought the 2007 Breeders Crown 

3-year-old filly pace winner Artcotic, like Total 

Truth part of a disputed Teague stable partnership, 

for $315,000. Other Teague stable stars 

selling included 3-year-old pacers Moon Beam, 

sold to Richard Annunziata of Mahopac, NY, 

for $750,000, and Duneside Perch, purchased by 

trainer Ross Croghan for $700,000; the Hambletonian 

Oaks winning trotting filly Danae, which 

brought $240,000; and Isabella Blue Chip, 

2-year-old pacing filly champ of 2006, sold for 

$210,000. 

DELEAN, GAZETTE LOST 

The Montreal Gazette, one of Canada’s most important 

newspapers, has ended racing coverage 

in the wake of economic problems. The paper’s 

outstanding racing writer for 25 years, and columnist 

for the last 18, Paul DeLean, bade farewell 

to readers with a column thanking them for 

their “feedback, story ideas, cooperation and encouragement.” 

Fortunately for racing, DeLean 

will continue writing, doing regular features for 

The Harness Edge. 

ATTRACTIVE JOB OPENINGS 

An HTA member track is looking for a substitute 

racing secretary available for immediate work. 

Another HTA member is seeking a simulcast director/racing 

development coordinator. If 

interested, contact Paul Estok at HTA.






CRUNCH TIME IN NEW JERSEY 

Jon Corzine, the governor of New Jersey, and 

the state’s legislators, now have a clear choice. 

They can sacrifice the state’s premier position 

in world harness racing at the altar of the Atlantic 

City casinos, or they can fulfill commitments 

and promises and produce some action in 

the place of rhetoric. Dennis Robinson, the New 

Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority’s chief 

executive officer, announced a draconian purse 

cut as of the end of the month if the state does 

not either replace the expired subsidy of Atlantic 

City casinos or provide slots for New Jersey 

tracks. Robinson said the NJSEA has been subsidizing 

purses at the Meadowlands, but cannot 

continue. “Right now,” he told the Newark Star- 

Ledger’s New Jersey.com, “we’re paying higher 

purses than we’re earning. It’s as simple as that. 

I think we would lose our position as the number 

one harness track in North America, so it’s a 

serious issue.” There is no question that Robinson 

is right if the proposed 45% purse cut takes 

place. Nightly purses would drop from $220,000 

a program to $90,000, and the Meadowlands 

would fall from its 30-year position of preeminence 

among harness tracks. The New Jersey 

Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association 

president, Tom Luchento, said, “We are still 

hoping that the governor will fulfill the promise 

he made in October to provide a supplement for 

the racing industry. We are at a crossroads for 

the future of racing and breeding in this state. 

We need the legislature and the Governor to step 

up and finalize this agreement.” 

Freehold Raceway, not waiting for the governor 

or legislators, released a reduced purse structure 

that severely cuts prize money at the daytime 

HTA member. The lowest class, $4,000 claimers, 

would race for $2,000, the highest class for 

$9,100. That class raced for $14,000 last 

Saturday. 

ONTARIO MOVES FORWARD 

While New Jersey’s crisis deepened, the Ontario 

Racing Commission voted to move forward with 

the provincial Horse Improvement Program, an 

ambitious proposal put forth by the Industry 

Advisory Group. The ORC acted after a Monday 

meeting of industry associations advised 

John Blakney, the commission’s executive director, 

that it could not reach agreement on any 

change in the wagering levy and slots revenue 

contribution to fund the proposal. The commission 

board then revisited the issue and voted to 

move forward this year, using existing Horse 

Improvement Program funding. A Breeders Reward 

Program will be part of the improvement 

package. The commission asked a review panel 

headed by law professor and former commission 

chairman Stanley Sadinsky to identify how sustainable 

funding might be attained. The ORC is 

Ontario’s designated hitter on implementing the 

program. 

SPITZER: SLOTS AT BELMONT 

Facing a $4.4 billion budget gap, the governor 

of New York, Eliot Spitzer, yesterday outlined 

a budget replete with cuts and a controversial 

proposal to put slots at Belmont Park. The plan 

includes a one-time $250 million payment to the 

state from whichever company is awarded the 

contract to operate the video slots. Spitzer no 

sooner announced the plan than House Speaker 

Sheldon Silver cast doubt on its fate. Senate 

Majority Leader Joe Bruno supported Spitzer 

saying, “I hope he gets the speaker there.” In a 

related development, the non-profit Racing Association 

Oversight Board now operating the 

New York Racing Association while the legislature 

fiddles, voted to sharply curb the powers of 

the new chairman of the New York Racing and 

Wagering Board, Steven Newman, a Spitzer appointee. 

A government source said the purpose 

was “to shut Newman down.”


RACING? WHAT’S RACING? 

That seems to be the attitude of Jon Corzine, 

the governor of New Jersey, and his legislature. 

While putting the stature of America’s number 

one harness track, the Meadowlands, at risk, and 

failing so far to do anything to solve the plight of 

the state’s tracks, the legislature now is toying 

with the idea of trying an end run around federal 

restraints on sports betting. An Assembly committee 

is scheduled to consider legislation today 

to ask voters to allow casinos to offer professional 

sports betting, according to philly.com. The legislators 

are concerned about keeping the casinos 

competitive with neighboring states (read Pennsylvania) 

but have not given much thought to 

keeping racing competitive. Although the state 

capital is in Trenton, New Jersey seems to be run 

from Atlantic City, where the 11 casino bosses 

get pretty much whatever they want. After bills 

to allow sports betting passed the Senate in 1992 

and 1993 but went nowhere from there, the issue 

became largely moot when the federal government 

banned sports betting except for four 

grandfathered states. New Jersey is not one of 

them. Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon 

are those grandfathered. Now assembly budget 

chairman Lou Greenwald and Senate wagering 

committee chairman Jim Whelan want to circumvent 

federal law. Senate president and former 

governor Richard J. Codey, who knows and 

values the state’s racing, has a different view. 

“I think Appalachian State would have to beat 

the Giants before the federal government would 

allow New Jersey to change the law to permit 

sports betting in casinos,” Codey said. Happily, 

there is one voice of reason left in Trenton. In 

another New Jersey development of interest, an 

appellate court has ruled that the New Jersey 

Racing Commission violated the Open Public 

Meetings Act last year when it distributed 

monies from the Casino Simulcasting 

Fund without providing its reasoning. 





The commission was ordered to meet again to 

reconsider the matter. 

FREE SPEECH AND BRITCHES 

Another racing commission has been challenged, 

this time in Kentucky. Jockey Jeremy Rose has 

filed a suit there contending the Kentucky Horse 

Racing Authority’s ban on advertising on jockeys’ 

riding pants is a violation of his free speech 

rights under the Constitution. A U. S. district 

court judge ruled almost four years ago against 

an earlier version of the ban, which was altered 

and implemented by the Authority. 

HEALTH V. WEALTH IN INDIANA 

A measure that would have banned smoking in 

racetracks, bars, bowling alleys, and all other 

public and work places died in committee yesterday 

in Indiana. The executive director of the 

Licensed Beverage Association hailed the vote, 

saying, “Tobacco is still a legal product.” The 

administrator of a county health department 

called the ban’s defeat “unfortunate.” 

SLOTS BATTLE HEATING UP 

Slots proposals in Miami-Dade county in Florida, 

and in the state of Massachusetts, are nearing 

critical boiling points. The Florida vote 

comes next Tuesday, Jan. 29, and opponents 

have dragged out the old war-cry of “the crack 

cocaine of gambling,” which now has been used 

for opposition to everything from trifectas to 

tiddleywinks. One possible blow to approval 

came this week when the Miami Herald threw 

its editorial voice against slots in a strong appeal 

to readers to vote no on the issue. In Massachusetts 

Gov. Deval Patrick included $124 million in 

his budget allocations despite the fact that there 

is still substantial opposition to his three-casino 

idea in the state legislature. That vote will not 

come until early summer.


THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE 

The incredible inaction of New Jersey’s governor 

and legislature in allowing the state’s once proud 

horse racing industry to slide down the slippery 

slope -- and help push it there -- took a new turn 

yesterday. The Assembly’s Tourism and Wagering 

Committee enthusiastically endorsed sports 

betting for Atlantic City casinos, despite it being 

against federal law. The state’s policy of “anything 

the casinos want” continues, as the chairman 

of the Assembly’s Budget Committee, Lou 

Greenwald, said the federal law banning sports 

betting can be challenged as a violation of states’ 

rights. This one could be headed for the U. S. 

Supreme Court, but what happens to racing in 

New Jersey before that long process is completed 

could be a grim story for a once dominant industry. 

The president of the Casino Association of 

New Jersey, which at times appears to run the 

state, thanked the committee backing sports betting 

by saying, “It has been a tough year for our 

industry. We appreciate the fact that you’re taking 

this effort, the heavy lift that it is, to help the 

industry out.” Leon Zimmerman, testifying before 

the committee for the Standardbred Breeders 

and Owners Association, told members of the 

huge impact of casinos on racing in the state, and 

said it endangered the livelihood of thousands of 

people who are in the horse racing and breeding 

business. He noted that a recent study at the state 

university at Rutgers found racing contributes 

$1.7 billion a year to New Jersey’s economy. 

In a strong letter to Gov. Jon Corzine, the director 

of Rutgers Equine Science Center, Karyn 

Malinowski, joined by the president of the SBOA, 

Tom Luchento, and the president of the state’s 

thoroughbred horsemen’s association, Dennis 

Drazin, told Corzine, “We are not crying wolf,” 

and said a real and imminent disaster was 

about to happen in the state, including 

possible loss of the Hambletonian. 





“If the lowered purse structure remains as reported,” 

the letter said, “the Meadowlands will 

have to cancel the premier events scheduled at 

the track. Races like the Hambletonian and 

Breeders’ Crown will need to find a venue outside 

of New Jersey. Horsemen could no longer 

allow the large expenditure from purse accounts 

needed to support these world class events that 

bring national attention to our great state. This 

is a sobering thought for all involved. We are on 

the edge of collapse of the entire horse industry 

in New Jersey.” 

NO VERNON ACTION, EITHER 

This week’s session of the New York Assembly 

has ended without action on the tax relief bill, 

and the best racing got there was Assemblyman 

Bill Magee’s promise that “We’re working on 

it,” and the hope that it might be discussed next 

week. Yonkers reportedly is unhappy with the 

legislation as proposed, and its horsemen continue 

their damaging opposition under a leadership 

apparently intent on torpedoing the measure. 

PASSPORT, BANS IN ONTARIO 

Ontario’s racing commission approval of new 

measures designed to protect the province’s 

horses and horse industry are far reaching. 

They include a “horse health passport” that 

will require public disclosure of all vaccination 

records to new owners; greater limits on commission 

approved veterinarian-only administration 

of medications except in emergencies; limits 

on shock wave therapy; mandated use of safety 

reins and safety vests; new guidelines regarding 

trainer transfers; new measures on out-of-competition 

testing; and perhaps most significant of 

all, banning from racing for 90 days of horses 

that show positive tests. Commission chairman 

Rod Seiling said the new rules are designed to 

protect the health of the horse, ensure the safety 

of the participant, and reinforce the integrity 

of the sport.






LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN NY? 

A bill introduced last week in the New York Assembly, 

described as “essentially a compromise 

among track operators, horsemen and breeders, 

and state officials,” could break the legislative 

logjam in Albany. The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman 

J. Gary Pretlow, the man who Jeff Gural 

thought he had a deal with last summer, reportedly 

has crafted a consensus piece of remedial 

legislation that downstate horsemen describe 

as “both economically sound for the state and 

our industry.” Yonkers Raceway’s opposition to 

earlier legislation reportedly has been satisfied 

by stabilizing the track’s percentage of slots revenue 

at 32%, regardless of total play, as opposed 

to the present sliding scale that drops it to 26% 

after $160 million. New York’s SOA says it is in 

“total support of the bill.” It would redistribute 

video lottery vendors fees for Vernon Downs and 

restate allocation of racing dates. 

NOT SO HAPPY IN NEW JERSEY 

If there is any cause for joy in New York, there 

is little in New Jersey, where smoke and mirrors 

are all that the governor and legislature have so 

far produced in the way of a state subsidy agreement 

with Atlantic City casinos. Horsemen met 

yesterday and are talking boycott of the entry 

box, a move Dennis Dowd of the Meadowlands 

calls “not timely or appropriate.” Dowd says the 

governor already is aware of the situation and 

working on it, and a boycott would do little more 

than deprive owners of purses, not pressure 

the state into action. Two state senators, Jennifer 

Beck of Monmouth county and Paul Sarlo 

of Bergen, Essex and Passaic, sent a joint letter 

to Joseph A. Corbo, the president of the Casino 

Association of New Jersey, which some think is 

the de facto government of the state, asking for a 

meeting within two weeks, but both Freehold 

and the Meadowlands have draconian 

purse cuts in the works. 

RIDE THE WAVE IN INDIANA 

One place where optimism and happiness reign 

is Indiana, where slots are on the way, and two 

job openings are available at HTA’s Hoosier 

Park meeting in Anderson. Hoosier is looking 

for a track superintendent for both its harness 

and thoroughbred meetings, and also has a spot 

open for a program director for harness racing. 

JOY IN WOODBRIDGE, TOO 

The Meadowlands’ OTW operation in Woodbridge, 

NJ, now three months old, is exceeding 

all expectations. It racked up $18 million in bets 

to the beginning of this month, and if business 

holds it could handle at much as $70 million 

this year. If that holds, the NJSEA, parent of 

the Meadowlands, could pick up $3 million in 

Woodbridge. Woodbridge is the first of 15 offtrack 

wagering facilities planned for New Jersey, 

and the operation, called Favorites, is the 

top grossing OTW in the country, according to 

Frank Zanzuccki, executive director of the New 

Jersey Racing Commission. The food business 

at McLoone’s restaurant also is doing well, and 

the only problem to date has been a tough one 

to solve: parking. Nearby businesses are complaining 

their customers have no place to park. 

Site planners please note. 

1 PLUS 1 EQUALS 2 IN FLORIDA 

A 38,000-member teachers’ union in Miami- 

Dade county in Florida has figured out that slots 

at county tracks could generate more tax money 

for education, and has endorsed a vote for them 

in tomorrow’s election. Karen Aronowitz, president 

of the United Teachers of Dade, said her 

schools need the additional $210 million that predictions 

say slots could provide, and even though 

the money would be spread over all 67 counties 

in Florida, Ms. Aronowitz says, “You fill a cup 

drop by drop. We can’t let any funding 

source go untapped.”


The death of Tom Cholakis. The popular former 

HTA director as president of Capital District 

Regional OTB, died at 73. Operated on for an 

artery blockage, he left the hospital, returned 

home, went into cardiac arrest and died suddenly. 

A member of a prominent Rensselaer county 

political family and a former county majority 

leader and Republican chairman, he was headlined 

in an Albany Times Union feature eulogy 

as “a class act.” 

Maier gets a year in jail, 5 years probation. Former 

driver Daniel Maier, convicted of bribery 

to affect the outcome of a race at Cal-Expo, 

was sentenced to a year in prison and five years 

formal probation for his part in a race-fixing 

scheme. Maier did not drive in the race in question, 

but bet more than $3,000 on it. Maier, 23, 

is appealing. A second driver who was involved 

in the case and testified for the prosecution, Raymond 

Burt, received six days in jail and three 

years probation. Sacramento Harness, racing 

at Cal-Expo, also barred veterinarian Stephen 

Slender from its grounds after receiving a notice 

that Slender had been suspended by the British 

Columbia Racing Commission. 

The Meadowlands 2008 National Harness Handicapping 

Championship will be held June 21 at 

the track. It is the only tournament for harness 

players to feature a $50,000 guaranteed grand 

prize, and players can earn their way through 

qualifying rounds or buy in for $1,000. The first 

qualifier of the season will be Saturday, 

Feb. 23. Fourteen tracks held qualifying 

rounds for last year’s championship. 





LOST IN SPACE..OR OUT OF IT Northfield Park’s horsemen responding to a 

January was a busy month, and a number of 

newsworthy items were lost in space, or actually 

because we ran out of it. Here are a few that deserve 

tardy attention: 

Cleveland news story broadcast about starving 

and neglected horses at an area farm, produced 

500 pounds of specialized grain feed, blankets, 

and hoods. An Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Assn. 

representative, Amy Hollar, organized the response 

to an appeal from the Portage County 

Animal Protective League request. Northfield 

COO and past HTA president Tom Aldrich, commenting 

on the development, said, “I have seen 

this spirit many times from Northfield’s horsemen. 

At the core of this business is a respect and 

love for these animals.” 

Pocono, Woodbine build new paddocks. Mohegan 

Sun at Pocono is building a new $3.5 million 

paddock and will introduce it at the start of the 

2009 harness racing season. The 52,670 squarefoot 

building will be air conditioned and heated, 

accommodate a 14-race card, and contain the 

racing’s secretary’s office, program department 

and horsemen’s bookkeeper’s office. Work will 

begin in September after the 2008 harness meeting 

and the paddock is expected to be ready in 

March, 2009. Woodbine Entertainment has already 

broken ground on its state-of-the-art paddock, 

designed to incorporate the best features 

of the old one with the best ideas of paddocks 

around North America. The two-story building 

will contain 160 stalls, drug testing stations 

for runners and harness horses, offices for track 

veterinarians, emergency personnel and track 

maintenance crews, a television studio and a second-floor 

kitchen/cafeteria seating 60 to 75, with 

an elevator and panoramic view of the track. 

Target date for completion is Sept. 1. 

A Joe Joyce scholarship is being established at 

the Race Track Industry Program at the University 

of Arizona in memory of the racing leader 

who contributed so much to the program as 

a member of its advisory committee.






AN ELOQUENT VOICE STILLED 

And a good friend gone. The death at 86 of Dominic 

Frinzi, orator, statesman, 26-year leader of 

Harness Horsemen International, opera authority, 

fighter for unity and a force of good in harness 

racing, diminishes the sport even further in 

a time of crisis. Frinzi, a prominent Milwaukee 

attorney who once ran for governor of Wisconsin, 

traveled coast to coast in the interest of unification 

of harness racing, arguing eloquently 

that horsemen and management had to work 

together as a team for the common good. He 

interceded in numerous disputes, represented 

numerous causes, and gained wide respect as a 

voice of reason. A close friend of HTA, he made 

numerous appearances before its board, worked 

tirelessly for horsemen’s causes, and still found 

time to play an active role in state, regional and 

national Italian community activities. His stentorian 

tones and wise understanding of the need 

for balanced, power in the sport will be sadly 

missed, with no one even close to his skills on 

the scene. He was inducted into Harness Racing’s 

Hall of Fame in 1996 and to the Wisconsin 

Hall of Fame two years later, and won both 

HHI’s Man of the Year and U.S. Harness Writers 

Good Guy Award. Visitation will be on Monday, 

Feb. 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Schmidt and 

Bartelt Funeral Home at 10121 West North Ave. 

in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, with a Requiem Mass 

Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 12 noon at Gesu Church, 1145 

Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee. 

WAITING ON CORZINE 

Horsemen and management at Freehold Raceway 

agreed on a one-week postponement of the 

draconian purse cuts ordered by the track in the 

view of inaction by the governor or legislature on 

the purse subsidy issue. Amid threats of strike 

action, the SBOA called a special meeting 

of horsemen for 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 

in the Meadowlands back paddock. 

MIAMI-DADE GET THEIR SLOTS 

Despite the tumult and the shouting, the city of 

Miami, and Miami-Dade county overwhelmingly 

approved slots at their tracks yesterday, by an 

almost 2-to-1 margin. The vote paves the way 

for upgrading and renovation of Calder Race 

Course, Flagler Dog Track and Miami Jai Alai, 

all in the area covered by the vote. The tracks 

claim the development will produce 6,000 new 

jobs, stimulate local business and generate $210 

million for state revenues that could be used for 

education purposes. An identical bill was defeated 

three years ago. 

STALL PUT ON STEROIDS 

It didn’t take long to undo the ballyhoo about 

steroids. The Maryland Racing Commission, 

which just a month ago announced its intention 

of banning anabolic steroids on race day, 

now has caved in to horsemen’s protests and 

scrapped the idea indefinitely for “further study.” 

Chairman John Franzone, who says, “We could 

implement this tomorrow, but we don’t know 

how we’re going to test for it or how we’re going 

to pay for it.” Franzone presumably could have 

asked those same questions a month ago when 

the commission moved forward with the ban. Instead, 

he criticized Delaware and Pennsylvania 

for starting policing steroids without consensus. 

Franzone now has created a four-man commission 

task force to study new rules in the hope of 

implementing a steroid policy, delaying any ban, 

until Jan. 1, 2009, at the earliest. Time, and steroids, 

march on. And some racing leaders continue 

the old line of “There go my people. I am 

their leader. I must follow them.” 

HOOSIER GIRDS FOR HIRING 

HTA member Hoosier Park has scheduled two 

career opportunity forums to provide local residents 

with job opportunity information as it 

gears up for slots this coming season.


SVENSSON GROOM OF YEAR 

Fia Svensson, a diminutive 22-year-old Swedish 

groom in the Florida-based Jonas Czernyson 

stable who delights in providing special care 

and attention to tough and difficult horses, has 

been named Caretaker of the Year by Harness 

Tracks of America, the association of major harness 

tracks in North America, and Hanover Shoe 

Farms. 

The winner, chosen by a committee of racing executives 

and officials who groomed horses themselves 

earlier in their careers, is symbolic of the 

dedication and sacrifices of all caretakers everywhere. 

Ms. Svensson, who currently works with five 

horses in the Czernyson stable and helps other 

caretakers with their duties as well, earned recognition 

for her overall work ethic and selfless 

contributions to her horses. They included last 

year’s winner of the $85,000 final of the New 

Jersey Sires Stake for 2-year-old trotters, the 

Self Possessed colt Better Than Most. Described 

along with other Svensson charges as “no walk in 

the park,” the colt could be a nasty kicker in the 

paddock on any second visit. After Jeff Gregory 

drove him to victory, Ms. Svensson stopped 

Gregory on the backstretch and had him replace 

the colt’s earplugs, knowing otherwise the winner’s 

circle would be “a gruesome scene.” 

Another pupil was a Danish colt named Number 

One D, with a sign hanging on his stall door 

reading, “Caution, I Bite.” The colt delighted in 

grabbing arms of unwary visitors, and bit Ms. 

Svensson in the stomach while she was blanketing 

him. She responded in her usual fashion, 

saying, “All he needs is love.” Ms. Svensson’s 

pride and joy last year was the 3-year-old 

Dream Vacation filly Resortful, second in 

the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks. 





After the filly fractured a cannon bone and was 

retired in Kentucky, Ms. Svensson spent a vigil 

with her at Millstream Farm before returning to 

New Jersey to groom Per Henriksen’s Breeders’ 

Crown winner Southwind Serena. 

Ms. Svensson will receive an oil painting of herself 

and a favorite horse of her choosing, as well 

as one of the Hanover-HTA jackets that goes to 

all caretakers named as nominees. 

The four runners-up in the Caretaker of the Year 

competition were Kelly Prinz, caretaker of Lis 

Mara; Mary Ceaser, groom in a small Massachusetts 

family stable; Mario Glynn, who groomed 

two million dollar winners -- Our Lucky Killean 

and Moving Pictures -- in Casie Coleman’s 

powerful Ontario stable; and Diana Fagnani, a 

groom for more than 20 years in the Jim Groff 

stable in Pennsylvania. 

CAREFUL BOYS, HE IS TOUGH 

A news story from New Jersey says harness 

horsemen at the Meadowlands are considering 

a boycott of the entry box in protest to lack of 

action by Gov. Jon Corzine, and will be meeting 

Sunday to discuss the matter. It is a bad idea, for 

three reasons and perhaps more. 

If the idea is to pressure the governor into action, 

it is not likely to work. He already is aware 

of the problem, and his negotiators are working 

on trying to solve it and reportedly are nearing 

resolution. 

The move is likely to greatly upset and irritate 

the governor, turning a dispassionate neutral 

into an unneeded foe. 

The horsemen are overmatched. Their power in 

New Jersey, compared to the casinos, is minute. 

Don’t pick fights where you aren’t likely to 

win, and more important might get hurt.


NEW STEROID DEVELOPMENTS 

Faced with challenges to the readiness of steroid 

testing and its cost and efficacy, the Racing 

Medication and Testing Consortium announced 

yesterday that it would have additional research 

in place by August that would “reduce the anticipated 

costs and better facilitate the testing” and 

regulation of anabolic steroid administration to 

racehorses of all ages. Given that time frame, 

the RMTC strongly reinforced its belief in the 

procedures and the need for them, but adopted a 

year-end deadline for nationwide acceptance of 

model rules. The Solomonic solution should end 

a mini-rebellion set in motion by Alan Foreman, 

CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association; 

Kent Stirling, chairman of the National 

Horsemen’s Benevolent Association medication 

committee, and Dr. Steven Barker, the state racing 

chemist of Louisiana who frequently steers a 

course far apart from his colleagues. It was imperative 

that the RMTC, faced with financial issues, 

respond quickly, firmly and unequivocally, 

and its chairman, Dr. Robert Lewis, did so, saying, 

“Our entire board firmly believes that the 

regulation of anabolic steroids in racehorses is 

essential to the integrity of horse racing and the 

welfare of the horse.” Alex Waldrop, president 

and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Horsemen’s 

Association, took a public relations tack, 

summarizing the issue by saying, “Given the 

scrutiny of anabolic steroids by the media and 

Congress, and the consequential negative perception 

of these drugs by the public, the horse 

racing industry must take initiative on its own 

volition to properly and uniformly regulate the 

use of anabolic steroids in racehorses this year.” 

Dan Fick, CEO of the RMTC, stressed that it was 

not seeking a delay, but on the contrary urging 

commissions and jurisdictions to move forward 

aggressively toward meeting the year-end 

deadline. 




February 1, 2008 

Foreman and Stirling were careful in their remarks 

not to appear to be jumping ship from the 

RMTC, where both are board members. Both 

represent horsemen, the users of anabolic steroids, 

and both walk fine lines. Foreman, whose 

call for delay triggered the RMTC’s new deadline 

schedule, called the issue “very emotional 

on all sides,” and said the 11-month reprieve in 

enforcement would give the entire industry sufficient 

time to address the testing and regulatory 

issues that need to be resolved and allow for adjustments. 

Stirling, also conscious of his dual 

role, said, “I don’t think the model rule is quite 

ready for prime time. I sit on the RMTC, which 

has done good work. I’m not bashing it, but mistakes 

were made.” Barker, not a member of the 

RMTC, took a loose horse approach, calling the 

model rule as drafted “an embarrassment,” and 

saying, “The group that put this together should 

be taken out and beaten. What we’ve heard is an 

awful lot of misinformation and mythology.” He 

was talking to horsemen, deeply aware of their 

dislike of restrictive medication rules, and not 

to fellow scientists and peers. A more civil approach 

was taken by Chris Scherf, representing 

thoroughbred racetracks on the RMTC board. 

He said the RMTC understood there were “testing 

and logistical issues” that racing commissions 

will have to address before adopting the model, 

but reiterated that the RMTC stands by the 

rules and thinks all racing jurisdictions should 

adopt and enforce them by the end of the year. 

Proposed penalties range from a $500 fine to a 

$2,500 fine, plus suspension, but some jurisdictions 

are contemplating fines as high as $10,000. 

In a significant policy change, the United States 

Trotting Association now will publish lifetime 

major suspensions and penalties of drivers and 

trainers, with details available, on its Web site 

for use by prospective and present owners and 

other interested parties.






IT ALWAYS COULD BE WORSE 

No matter how pressing your problems, how 

troublesome your annoyances, how disturbing 

your relationships, things always could be worse. 

Ask management at Santa Anita. The track cancelled 

its eighth day of racing Saturday, with a 

$181,000 Pick Six carryover, and announced it 

will not resume racing before this coming Friday 

while more work was done on its water-logged 

Cushion racing strip. While this was going on, 

the Thoroughbred Owners of California used its 

veto power to deny permission for Santa Anita 

to simulcast to New York’s OTB, saying it wants 

that entity to pay the same percentage as other 

wagering platforms, like TVG, that serve multistate 

customers via account betting. OTB says 

its out-of-state account betting is negligible, and 

asks why, if the dispute is over account wagering, 

the TOC should take it out on OTB simulcasting. 

SPITZER’S PLAN A LONGSHOT? 

That’s what the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 

called it in yesterday’s edition, saying Assembly 

members, led by Speaker Sheldon Silver, 

still are unhappy with Spitzer’s proposals. The 

paper’s Albany bureau writer Joseph Spector 

says Silver and other members of Spitzer’s own 

party do not want slots at Belmont Park; do not 

want expansion of Quick Draw, the keno game; 

and do not want portions of the state lottery sold 

to private interests. Other than that they’re 

fine. Silver said, “I don’t believe that we should 

make gambling an attraction where people on 

their lunch hour, people after work, can go and 

gamble a day’s pay, a week’s pay, a month’s pay. 

I believe very honestly that you shouldn’t be 

balancing the budget by, in effect, taxing lower 

income working men and women in this state.” 

New York currently has 734 Quick Draw 

terminals, but Spitzer wants to drop limits 

and allow them in all stores and bars. 

OHIO’S GOV NOW LIKES KENO 

He didn’t like horse racing having slots when 

that issue was a red hot election item in Ohio, 

but it’s amazing how a looming $733 million 

budget deficit can change a governor’s mind. 

Ted Strickland, who runs the Buckeye State 

these days, now thinks electronic keno can help 

solve the fiscal problem, and he is proposing it 

for bars, tracks and private clubs. He thinks 

the machines can provide $73 million to help 

fund the state’s schools. Rob Walgate, the vice 

president of the Ohio Roundtable, a conservative 

research group opposed to gambling, called 

the switch “pretty embarrassing to the state. Six 

months ago we kicked the gambling industry out 

of the state. Now we’re stepping in and doing 

the exact same thing we threw them out for. This 

is crazy. It makes no sense.” Ah, but $73 million 

does to the governor, Rob, and what’s a mind for 

if it can’t be changed? 

CANADA’S BEST IN DEAD HEAT 

They huffed and they puffed, and in the end they 

wound up at the wire together. Voters could not 

separate the undefeated 2-year-old pacing colt 

of last season, Somebeachsomewhere, from the 

3-year-old Little Brown Jug and North America 

Cup winner Tell All, and the race for Canadian 

Horse of the Year honors wound up in a dead 

heat between the two. It was the second time 

that happened, the first being 12 years ago when 

Riyadh and Whenyouwishuponastar also were 

deadlocked for the honor. 

GOOD JOB FOR RACE SECY 

An HTA member track with a long season and 

slots has an opening for a racing secretary. Send 

resumes to HTA at 4640 E. Sunrise Drive, #200, 

Tucson, AZ 85718 or fax to 520-529-3235, or e- 

mail jen@harnesstracks.com and we will forward 

to the track for their consideration.






ON THE ROAD TO HELL 

New York’s state budget division has started 

down the path to privatization of the state lottery, 

an announced goal of Gov. Eliot Spitzer. 

The agency has started a talent search for an independent 

investment adviser for the governor, 

who wants $4 billion upfront for openers. Whoever 

is hired will advise on an option for leasing 

the lottery, ways to optimize value, and developing 

a bid procedure and negotiating guidelines. 

OHIO’S FLAVOR OF THE MONTH 

When Ohio’s seven tracks tried to get slots last 

fall, Gov. Ted Strickland denied them on grounds 

they were games of chance, not skill. Now that 

he has flip-flopped to supporting Keno, a shell 

game at best, he is calling them games of skill. 

When the tracks tried to operate video games 

of skill late last year, they were told they were 

games of chance and shut down. The governor 

has been called hypocritical over this contradictory 

stand, one attorney noting that keno games 

are gambling pure and simple, with no element 

of skill involved. This time it seems no one but 

the gov will have anything to say about it. The 

keno proposal reportedly needs neither legislative 

nor voter approval. 

NO PROGRESS ON CAL-NYCOTB 

No progress to report in the dispute between the 

Thoroughbred Owners of California and HTA 

associate member New York City OTB. Ira 

Block, OTB’s general counsel, says there have 

been no discussions since the California horsemen 

denied access to California thoroughbred 

signals. There has been no urgency to, since 

Santa Anita is repairing its Cushion Track once 

again and has cancelled eight days of racing, 

with none scheduled before Friday of this week. 

Block would not provide details, but said 

the California horsemen were asking for 

a “premium rate.” 

A WARM AND FUZZY SEARS 

Brian Sears, currently the leading driver at 

the Meadowlands and one of the very best in 

the sport worldwide, has not in the past been 

thought of as a particularly warm and cozy homeowner 

and family man. In a long feature interview 

with former journalist and publicist Carol 

Hodes, however, Sears comes across as a man 

who has found inner peace. Sears told Hodes 

he “is enjoying success more because I appreciate 

it more,” and says he is more reflective about 

his life and the concerns he has for his family. 

Sears turned 40 a few months ago, and the death 

of a beloved aunt brought a reevaluation of the 

idea that “youth makes you feel like you’re bullet 

proof. You realize you’re not a kid, and it’s 

given me more of an appreciation for life. When 

you’re younger you never think you’re going to 

grow old, and you’re never going to die.” Talking 

about racing at the Meadowlands, still the 

sport’s premier track, Sears told Hodes, “They 

don’t give it away here. You have to earn it with 

every horse you drive.” 

ANTI-STEROID STATES FIRM 

Despite successful pleas from thoroughbred 

horsemen to postpone implementation of antisteroid 

regulations until next year, committed 

states are moving ahead with their plans. Indiana, 

the first to adopt the Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium model rule, reaffirmed 

its intentions, executive director Joe Gorajec 

saying, “Regulators in Indiana want to do and 

need to do the right thing. The right thing is to 

curtail the over-reliance on and abuse of anabolic 

steroids.” 

YES VIRGINIA, THERE ARE 2 

Some readers have been confused by two notices 

of openings for a racing secretary. It is not an error 

or duplication. Two long-season HTA members, 

both with slots, are looking for a good 

man (or woman).


DARKNESS DESCENDS 

The sky turned black for Jeff Gural and horsemen 

at his Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs 

operations yesterday when “me too” infighting 

among New York tracks doomed the tax relief 

bill sponsored by Gary Pretlow, chairman of 

the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee. 

Pretlow could muster only 2 votes on the 10-man 

committee. He held the bill aside rather than see 

it killed in committee, which could end racing at 

the two Gural tracks. Pretlow said Yonkers Raceway 

opposed the bill because it didn’t do enough 

to help the track get out of a ‘bad’ business decision 

to invest $280 million on a VLT facility that 

doesn’t earn enough to pay off loans. Unlike 

many racinos, Yonkers did not bring in major 

professional operators to run its slots project, 

but opted to do so itself. Two of Pretlow’s committee 

members who opposed the bill said they 

did so at the request of Yonkers, Monticello and 

Saratoga. Other committee members objected 

that Aqueduct was not included. An angry Pretlow 

said his bill -- “which I never wanted to do” 

-- would have provided $2.8 million for Batavia 

Downs, $4.8 million for Buffalo Raceway, $2.4 

million for Finger Lakes, $6 million for Monticello, 

$6.2 million for Saratoga, $6.3 million for 

Tioga Downs, $5.1 million for Vernon, and $26 

million for Yonkers. Vernon and Tioga’s principal, 

Jeff Gural, who was relying on passage of 

the bill, said after it went down, “I don’t know 

what to do. This is an example of just pure greed 

on the part of some tracks in the state.” 

The New York Racing Association, meanwhile, 

still faces a Feb. 13 deadline, when its franchise 

extension granted by the legislature expires. 

CEO Charles Hayward says NYRA is working 

on a contingency plan, which “we should be able 

to share in the next day or two without 

employees.” Hayward said the employees 

will meet, perhaps tomorrow. 





If the sun isn’t shining in New York, it’s no brighter 

in New Jersey. Bloomberg.com addressed the 

issue today, saying Gov. Jon Corzine is caught 

between Atlantic City’s casinos and the state’s 

racing industry, harness and thoroughbred. 

The article quoted Senate President Richard D. 

Codey as saying, “The clock is ticking. If they 

don’t do something quick, especially with the 

subsidy, all hell is going to break loose.” Corzine 

does not want to give the tracks slots, and the 

casinos do not want to continue the $20 million a 

year subsidy they paid the last four years under 

a now expired contract. The quid pro quo was 

that the tracks would not seek slots, effectively 

guaranteeing the casinos slots monopoly in the 

state. Now the casinos want it both ways. They 

don’t want to help the tracks, their spokesman 

asking, “Is Smith Corona looking for a subsidy 

from IBM?” while at the same time asking the 

state of New Jersey to leave them free of all competition. 

A question for Joe Corbo, the president 

of the Casino Association of New Jersey, would 

seem appropriate: “Is IBM looking for a state 

or federal law to eliminate competition, including 

Smith Corona?” 

STRONACH TO INVEST OWN $$ 

In a long interview in today’s Toronto Star, Frank 

Stronach says his Magna Entertainment, which 

saw its stock fall below $1 a share on Dec. 31, 

will soon benefit from an infusion of millions of 

dollars from Stronach’s own personal fortune. 

“I can tell you now,” Stronach told business reporter 

Tony Van Alphens, “I will put quite a bit 

of money in there. I will put more than last time 

($20 million last September) because I believe in 

the concept.” 

VETERANS AT RUNNING ACES 

Bob Farinella has been named general manager 

and Gregg Keidel racing secretary at the 

new Minnesota track opening April 19.






VERNON TO CLOSE, NYRA MAY 

Frustrated once again in his efforts to gain tax 

relief in Albany -- this time with the opposition 

of other tracks in New York state playing a role 

-- Jeff Gural has announced he is closing Vernon 

Downs at 1 a.m. next Monday, Feb. 11. Gural 

said the closure was temporary, and he lashed 

out at Yonkers Raceway, which he said would 

have received $34 million under the proposed 

legislation but upped the ante to $50 million. Gural 

said, “We have been in an untenable financial 

position for a long time, but now we’re forced to 

temporarily close Vernon Downs to get the legislature 

to focus on the fact that the original Lottery 

business model for these racinos is broken 

and it’s time to fix it. Maybe when 600 people 

lose their jobs and the state loses the $100,000 a 

day that we pay toward education, maybe that 

will get their attention.” Other tracks had other 

problems with the bill, Batavia Downs for example 

not wishing to lose money racing 30 extra 

days in the dead of harsh northwestern New 

York winters. 

The New York Racing Association, meanwhile, 

sent notices to its staff and horsemen from NYRA 

chief Charles Hayward saying in part, “In spite 

of our best efforts to negotiate a long-term agreement 

with the state, it now appears that a shutdown 

of racing may occur next Thursday. While 

we will continue to pursue every option to forestall 

this shutdown, all indications point to the 

fact that we will be shutting down, and so I felt it 

was fair and prudent to give you this notice.” 

Joe Bruno, president of the Senate and the key 

obstruction to passage of Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s 

racing bill, brushed off the notion of a NYRA 

closure. “NYRA was threatening last December 

to close down racing in New York . It 

didn’t happen then and it’s not going to 

happen now.” 

ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE 

In New Jersey, reports that Gov. Jon Corzine has 

dispatched negotiators to Atlantic City to hammer 

out details of a track subsidy bill. 

In Indiana, where Hoosier Park plans to hire 600 

people to run its racino, now under construction, 

four “career forums” are being held, two in the 

track’s home town of Anderson and two others 

in nearby Noblesville and Muncie. Construction 

of the racino is expected in June, but Hoosier has 

not yet issued an opening date. 

InMinnesota, harness racing’s newest track, 

Running Aces Harness Park, now under construction 

on the north side of the Minneapolis-St. 

Paul urban complex, announced it will open for 

racing on its mile track April 11. Aces will operate 

53 days, racing Friday, Saturday, Sunday 

and Monday nights through July 6, with a 6 p.m. 

post time on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays 

and 3 p.m. afternoon cards on Sundays. Veteran 

Bob Farinella, formerly of Prairie Meadows and 

Tioga/Vernon Downs, has been named general 

manager and Gregg Keidel, the longtime racing 

secretary at Northfield Park, has been granted a 

leave of absence to do the same job at Running 

Aces. Dave Bianconi will fill in until Keidel returns 

in early July. 

In Kentucky, www.kentucky.com reports that 

Gov. Steve Beshear’s plan for racinos and casinos 

in the state “has taken a double-barrelled hit 

even before it’s been unveiled.” The news service 

says the election of Republican Brandon Smith 

to the Senate not only bolstered the opposition, 

but that it could have a dampening effect on the 

Democratic-controlled House. The Republican 

House caucus chairman, Rep. Bob DeWeese of 

Louisville, said, “I would think that House members 

would probably not want to hang themselves 

out on a vote if it’s not going to go 

anywhere in the Senate.”


In New York, Senate president Joe Bruno, the 

man stepping on the brakes slowing a New York 

Racing Association agreement, went on the offensive 

again, accusing NYRA of “scare tactics” 

in its threat to close down next week if action is 

not taken on extension of its franchise. Bruno 

outlined what he called the framework of a franchise 

agreement that he said was close to the announcement 

stage. Its provisions include: 

-- A 25-year extension of the NYRA franchise 

rather than 30, with periodic reviews, a new 

11-man board with 10 members appointed by 

the state, and four-year term limits for NYRA 

chairman; 

-- A state appropriation of $75 million to get 

NYRA out of bankruptcy and an additional $30 

million for operational costs until the Aqueduct 

racino is built and underway; 

-- Work on building that Aqueduct racino to begin 

within 30 days, starting with appointment of 

a vendor to build and run it; 

-- Purses to get 6.5% of VLT revenue initially, 

then 7.5% after three years; breeders would get 

1% initially, then 1.5%. 

Both Bruno and state government spokesman 

said they expected the finished bill would 

be acted on before the expiration of the 

extension deadline next Wednesday. 





DECISIONS CLOSE IN NJ, NY Bruno may accuse NYRA of “scare tactics” with 

It appears that the light in the tunnel may be the its talk of closing down, but Jeff Gural says he 

other side of the mountain, and not a train approaching. 

Racing leaders in New Jersey expect Monday without action in the Assembly on the 

is not bluffing and he will close Vernon Downs 

an imminent response as to what Gov. Jon Corzine’s 

representatives have been able to work summer by a committee chairman who could 

tax relief bill that he says was promised him last 

out with the Atlantic City casinos on continuation 

of a subsidy arrangement. Freehold already has passed the legislation, and state senator Joe 

not deliver when the time came. The Senate 

has implemented its sharp purse cuts, and the Griffo asked Gural to hold off for three weeks 

Meadowlands is waiting to see what evolves before 

doing so. The negotiations have been tough could be addressed again. Gural said no, adding 

until the next legislative session, when the matter 

and up and down, and nothing is certain as this that to do so would be interpreted that he was 

newsletter goes to press. 

bluffing, and he says he is not, he has gone as far 

as he is willing to go. 

A LITTLE MATTER OF U.S. LAW 

The New Jersey Assembly, salivating over the 

$100 million or so bet in Las Vegas last Sunday 

on the Super Bowl, voted once again for sports 

betting yesterday, the third time it has taken 

such action. Assemblyman John Burzichelli, a 

co-sponsor of the legislation, proposed allowing 

the betting at the state’s three tracks, the Meadowlands, 

Freehold Raceway and Monmouth 

Park. Senate president Richard Codey, a big 

fan and friend of racing, said, “It doesn’t matter 

where he wants to put it, federal law does not allow 

it.” Codey said a better option would be for 

Burzichelli to sponsor a resolution asking New 

Jersey’s attorney general to go to court against 

the federal government. Rep. Frank Pallone said 

he would sponsor such legislation if it provided 

that the racetracks would be given the right to 

operate sports betting. 

HE SAYS, SHE SAYS 

New York’s St. Regis Indians say Empire Resorts 

has dumped them as partners in their joint deal 

to build a racino at Monticello. Empire denies 

that, but reportedly was near signing a contract 

to build at the former sight of the Concord hotel, 

once regarded as the jewel of the Catskills.


VERNON RACINO CLOSES 

Jeff Gural did what he said he would do, and 

closed the doors of the Vernon Downs racino at 1 

a.m. this morning. He called the closing temporary, 

saying he would reopen the facility as soon 

as the New York Assembly passed the tax relief 

bill he had been promised by the chairman of its 

wagering committee. Gural said the uncertainty 

of the situation “puts a terrible burden on our 

employees and their families,” adding that he 

hoped for quick legislative action so he can reopen 

“in a matter of days rather than a number 

of weeks.” Simulcasting also is closed, shutting 

down revenues of $150,000 or so a week, and Vernon’s 

750 VLT’s had been grinding out $500,000 

a week, according to Vernon sources. 

In Albany, the main action was not Vernon but 

final details of the NYRA franchise extension. 

Senate president Joe Bruno, presiding over the 

delay, keeps saying the solution is imminent, but 

staffers were still at work yesterday, and the state 

budget director, Laura Anglin, said forecasts for 

revenue now are $384 million less than predictions 

three weeks ago, but the NYRA bailout will 

continue as scheduled. “The risk of recession,” 

she was quoted, “has increased since we got out 

our budget.” NYRA president Charles Hayward 

said NYRA had notified its employees of a possible 

shutdown Thursday of this week, but had 

not made a public announcement to fans for fear 

of them misunderstanding and thinking NYRA 

had given up on negotiations. 

In New York City, meanwhile, Mayor Michael 

Bloomberg said the NYRA situation would hinder, 

not help, the New York City OTB shortfall 

by delaying any state aid to OTB. Bloomberg repeated 

his intention to shut down the city’s OTB 

network in mid-June if relief is not forthcoming 

from Albany, and now is clearly 

on the record as intending to do it. 





Bloomberg was quoted in the New York Post as 

saying, “New York City has been forced, because 

of the New York State policies, to subsidize a 

bookie operation. And we’re just not going to 

do that.” 

In New Jersey, meanwhile, all reports indicate 

some solution -- perhaps not one racing will be 

happy with -- is imminent in the casino subsidy 

to tracks. 

PENNSYLVANIA CELEBRATES 

While New York and New Jersey agonize over the 

inaction of their legislatures, Pennsylvania celebrated 

its good fortunes with a “Celebration of 

Pennsylvania Racing” gathering of some 300 at 

Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack. Dave 

Palone was honored as the state’s top driver, 

Mickey Burke as the leading trainer, and caretaker 

Dave Teed as the best groom of 2007. John 

Marshall, vice president of racing at The Meadows, 

said, “The celebration is further evidence 

that the Pennsylvania Horse Race Development 

Act is doing what it was intended to do.” 

Underscoring the success of the Pennsylvania 

program, 37 municipalities in northeast Pennsylvania 

submitted 83 funding requests to the 

state’s Department of Community and Economic 

Development, seeking $75 million when the 

first disbursement of county-wide grants is made 

from levies on Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. 

Since only $11.6 million was generated last year 

for the fund, a major editing job was required, 

and the Department narrowed the field to 32 

proposals, still involving $57.6 million. That 

number will be cut to fit the $11.6 million available, 

and the grants will be announced March 14. 

Funds sought include sewer development, curbs 

and sidewalks, condominiums and commercial 

buildings, and a mine-water reclamation 

project. Someone will be disappointed.


Vernon closed yesterday, as Jeff Gural promised, 

and UticaOD.com reported that it may stay closed 

until the end of the month, with its 200 winter 

employees out of work. State Assemblywoman 

RoAnn Destito told the news service that some 

committee members still need to be convinced 

passage of the bill is the right thing to do. She 

said she hopes her colleagues “recognize there is 

an urgency here.” Another legislator, state senator 

Joseph Griffo, said the negotiating committee 

working on the NYRA bill also is considering 

the Vernon matter as part of a settlement plan. 

Griffo said, “Unfortunately this appears to be 

the manner sometimes in which Albany works. 

You wait until you’re on the brink, and then 

it appears that there is progress. Now they’re 

trying to deal with the racing issue collectively, 

rather than in segments.” 

NYRA, meanwhile, has showed its teeth in what 

the New York Post’s Ed Fontaine called “a game 

of chicken.” Joe Bruno keeps saying the deal is 

done -- his exact words were “It’s not ideal. It’s 

a deal” -- and said an announcement would be 

made by the deadline for franchise extension on 

Wednesday. C. Steven Duncker, chairman of 

NYRA, had a slightly different take on the situation. 

He said, “Unfortunately, a weekend review 

indicated that the franchise discussions are going 

backward, not forward. The areas of concern 

continue to be the economic model for the 

future of racing in New York and governance. 

It is essential that the legislation provides 

a proper framework to ensure that New 

York thoroughbred racing maintains 





THE WORD IS BLEAK 

its leadership for the life of the new franchise. 

That’s this morning’s status report on the fate The bill does not provide the proper business 

of New York thoroughbred and harness racing, model and economic terms that permits NYRA 

with Vernon Downs closed for simulcasting and to emerge from bankruptcy, nor does it correct 

VLT’s and NYRA promising to be closed Thursday 

if a settlement is not reached by tomorrow. ing in New York, a broken model that can only 

the broken business model of thoroughbred rac- 

worsen and further imperil this industry under 

the legislation currently proposed.” 

Bruno’s spokesman, Scott Reif, was quoted in 

the Post as saying of Duncker’s statement, “We 

think it lacks credibility. It’s an example of more 

scare tactics. We’re continuing to work with the 

Governor and the Assembly to finalize the agreement 

and still expect to announce by Wednesday.” 

Bruno accused Gov. Eliot Spitzer of “putzing 

around” on reorganizing the NYRA board 

and added, “If you don’t do something new and 

different, shame on us.” 

Did you ever try a one-handed handshake? 

STATE CAN’T STOP SHUTDOWN 

The Troy Record, commenting on the threatened 

NYRA shutdown, reported that the New York 

State Labor Department cannot stop the action 

if NYRA chooses to close. A spokeswoman, Chris 

Perham, told the newspaper, “Our hands are tied 

if they (NYRA) don’t do what they’re supposed 

to. The WARN act (a federal bill that prohibits 

shutdowns without 60 days notice) does not contain 

any enforcement power for the state Labor 

Department.” Ms. Perham said NYRA employees 

would have to take action in federal district 

court to prevent a NYRA shutdown. A NYRA 

spokesman, John Lee, said, “The legal opinion 

we’ve received is that the law does not apply to 

this situation.” Lee said the state had offered 

NYRA another extension beyond Wednesday, 

but “we have serious problems with operating 

again with another extension.” The ball 

passes once again to Joe Bruno’s court.






A MULTI-SIDED STORY 

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the NYRA 

agreement hammered out in typical New York 

state photo finish fashion was the early reporting 

of the event. Depending on who was doing the 

writing, totally different elements were stressed. 

The New York Times took the high road, saying 

that NYRA would continue to run the tracks, as 

it has for 53 years, for another 25 years, rather 

than 30, and would receive $105 million from 

the state to stabilize operations, with that money 

to be paid back by future racino revenues. In 

return NYRA is giving up its claim to the land 

its tracks are built on, ceding that to the state, 

but will retain controlling interest of its board 

of directors. A formal report of the final version 

of the agreement is expected today. The Albany 

Times Union led its story with mention that the 

state gets the deeds to the three tracks, Aqueduct, 

Belmont Park and Saratoga Raceway. It 

quoted Steve Newman, chairman of the NYRA 

oversight board, as saying it was his understanding 

that all four parties -- the governor, Assembly 

speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate president Joe 

Bruno, and NYRA -- had agreed to terms, with 

final details to be hammered out today. Newsday 

headlined its story, “NYRA deal closed, but Belmont 

VLTs not authorized,” saying VLTs would 

not be coming to NYRA’s flagship track. The 

Times Union story intimated that the state’s seven 

harness tracks’ share of increased VLT revenue 

would be part of the NYRA settlement. 

READY FOR THE TRUMP TROT? 

The St. Regis Mohawks say they have withdrawn 

from their partnership with Empire Resorts and 

are out of the deal for a Catskill casino in the 

New York resort mountains. Taking their place 

will be The Donald -- Donald Trump -- who is 

partnering with developer Louis Capelli 

to build a $700 million entertainment 

palace at the site of Capelli’s Concord. 

FREEHOLD CUTS HURT CARDS 

With New York finally resolving its racing crisis, 

New Jersey continues to dally in reaching a settlement 

with the Atlantic City casinos on continuation 

of their subsidies for the state’s three racetracks. 

Freehold Raceway, which has implemented deep 

purse cuts, is feeling the effects of horsemen leaving 

the state for other venues. The Asbury Park 

Press reports some 20% fewer races, quoting general 

manager Don Codey as saying the track now 

was drawing only 65 to 70 horses a day in the entry 

box compared to the 100 normally received. 

Codey told the paper, “The horsemen are starting 

to react. We’ve had to list purses at levels nobody 

wants to see.” A spokesman for Gov. Jon Corzine 

said, “The administration is working very hard 

to craft a deal that does as much as possible to 

stabilize the future of horse racing.” In the end 

Corzine’s refusal to consider slots at tracks could 

damage New Jersey’s racing and breeding industry 

beyond repair. 

A GREAT OWNER GONE 

The current generation in harness racing may 

not know him, but Dr. Max Fischer of Washington, 

DC, who died recently at 86, was one of the 

finest owners in harness racing. In partnership 

with attorney Norman Diamond, he owned top 

horses like Directo Scooter, Bit O Fun and Rocket 

Speed, and was at one time vice president of the 

Cloverleaf SOA and Harness Horsemen International. 

Fischer, a 1946 graduate of Georgetown 

Medical School, was chief resident for the US 

Army in the ear, nose and throat division of Tokyo 

General Hospital in Japan for two years. He 

followed that with a distinguished 55-year career 

in otolaryngology in private practice and service 

at Washington area hospitals and in public service 

volunteer work. Dave Legum and Warren 

Cameron trained his horses, and Fischer and Diamond 

were a popular and successful team 

on the Washington-area scene for years.






HERE IS NY’S VALENTINE The franchise board could create local advisory 

Here is a summary of what the new racing legislation 

passed yesterday in New York state pro- 

offer input on development plans proposed by 

boards for each track in the state which could 

vides: 

NYRA. 

Extends NYRA’s franchise for 25 years. 

Clarifies that the state owns all land on which 

the three thoroughbred tracks rest, the physical 

properties themselves, and all intellectual rights 

including simulcasting. 

Reconstitutes the NYRA board to include a total 

of 25 members: 14 to be appointed by NYRA; 7 

by the governor; 2 by the Senate and 2 by the Assembly. 

The governor’s 7 would include 1 recommended 

by horsemen, 1 by breeders, 1 by the 

AFL-CIO and 1 by OTBs. 

Ensures that the selection of the VLT operator to 

be named at Aqueduct be subject to the unanimous 

approval by the governor, Senate and Assembly. 

Obligates NYRA to honor all collective bargaining 

agreements to which it currently is a party, 

and provides that any VLT operator selected will 

enter into present labor agreements and they 

and their service industries be represented by a 

labor union. 

Creates a Franchise Oversight Board of 5 members, 

3 appointed by the governor and 1 each 

by the Senate and Assembly, to ensure quality 

racing and growth of the industry, raise revenue 

for education, and ensure integrity and public 

confidence in NYRA. The board would monitor 

NYRA’s compliance with the franchise agreement, 

could terminate NYRA’s franchise if there 

were failure to comply with performance 

standards, represent the state’s interests 

and hold title to the tracks. 

Provides for NYRA’s franchise agreement to 

include performance standards, to be reviewed 

by the oversight board every four years, relating 

to racing dates, New York-bred races, stall 

maintenance, jockey and equine safety, CAFO, 

backstretch operations and the Saratoga training 

track. 

Provides a statutory percentage payment to 

horsemen and breeders at NYRA and harness 

tracks and increases marketing allowances to 

VLT operators and capital expenditure allowances 

(the Vernon Downs solution, but applicable 

to all tracks.) In Yonkers’ case, the allowances 

could reach $26 million. Vernon’s racino 

reopened today. 

EDUCATORS BACK GOV’S PLAN 

In a lengthy document signed by scores of western 

New York education advocates, the signors 

endorsed Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s $4 billion public 

higher education endowment without ever mentioning 

expansion of the state lottery, which will 

fund it. The plan is expected to initially produce 

$220 million a year of new funding for state universities 

and colleges, with that number increasing 

to $330 million within 10 years by creating 

an endowment fund of $6.3 billion. 

AND OF COURSE NAYSAYERS 

Not everyone was happy. Newsday on Long Island 

called the NYRA agreement “bad for state 

and Long Island” because it passed up billions 

from private investors and does not provide 

VLTs for Belmont Park. Its wrath was directed 

against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who 

successfully protected Aqueduct by shutting 

out Belmont in the slots legislation.






GOV UNVEILS KY SLOTS PLAN 

Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky unveiled his 

slots valentine yesterday, proposing that seven 

track racinos and five free-standing casinos be 

allowed under a constitutional amendment. The 

tracks would pay up to $100 million for license 

fees, and Keeneland and The Red Mile would 

share a Lexington racing location, with the other 

six tracks in the state each getting their own. 

Racing would retain only 15% of gross casino 

revenue, with the state getting 35% and casino 

operators up to 50%. Beshear predicts that 

when all systems are go in five years, Kentucky 

would reap $600 million a year in taxes. 

NEW HARNESS TRACK IN NY? 

The plans for a lavish pleasure dome at the site 

of the old Concord Hotel in the Catskills includes 

a new harness track, to take the place of old and 

crumbling Monticello Raceway. The plans were 

outlined by Concord owner Louis Cappelli in 

presentations to local governments, but with considerable 

caveats. One was money. Capelli said 

he and his partner Empire Resorts can raise half 

of the $700 million needed, but they will require 

help in funding the balance, and that he plans 

on calling on the state of New York to come up 

with the other half. Capelli said he has a plan B 

in mind, “a fallback position” that would entail 

tearing down only half of the Concord and renovating 

the other half for a racino. He mentioned 

his recently completed $500 million Ritz Carlton 

in White Plains, saying it proved his group was 

capable of pulling off the pleasure palace, but he 

did not mention Donald Trump, who a day or 

two earlier had been prominently mentioned as 

a potential partner in the venture. One skeptical 

local legislator told Capelli, “We went for the 

first set of rugs and toilet fixtures. This time I 

want to see something with a ribbon cutting 

afterwards.” Capelli, who has had 

previous grandiose plans, said he knew 

this was his last shot. 

PAPER CREDITS POLITICIANS 

The Binghampton, NY, Press & Sun-Bulletin, 

commenting on the NYRA agreement that also 

included healthy boosts in tax revenues for New 

York’s harness tracks, went out of its way to 

thank local politicians who played a role in getting 

the compromise through the legislature. The 

paper noted that its close neighbor Tioga Downs 

and its sister track Vernon Downs will see their 

share of racino revenue rise from 32% to 40%, 

with an increased marketing allowance and capital 

improvement fund worth up to $2.5 million, 

and said principal track owner Jeff Gural called 

the arrangement “very fair” after a real struggle. 

The paper tipped its hat to state senator Thomas 

W. Labous, “a strong advocate for Tioga Downs 

from the start,” and assemblywoman Donna 

Lupardo for “convincing colleagues that a little 

compromise could go a long way in preventing 

another shuttered upstate business.” It said the 

region’s economic future would benefit from the 

revenue break for the tracks. 

. 

YOUBET CLOSING OFF-SHORE 

Thoroughbred Times reported today that Youbet. 

com has announced it will close its offshore wagering 

company, International Racing Group, in 

the near future. Youbet’s Curacao-based rebate 

shop, operating through Youbet’s Oregon hub, 

ceased taking bets today because of decreased 

business in the last four months. IRG’s customer 

base has dropped steadily since the site became 

the subject of investigation last fall, when the 

Oregon Racing Commission issued a Notice of 

Intent to suspend its wagering hub license. Also 

in the news, Magna Entertainment may lose its 

Nasdaq stock market berth after its stock traded 

under $1 for 30 consecutive days. MEC has six 

months to boost its stock to avoid being delisted. 

There will be no Executive News next week 

during the HTA/TRA annual meeting.






THE NEW JERSEY SOAP OPERA 

Back from another joint HTA/TRA meeting, 

and checking in on the New Jersey situation is 

like missing a week of a soap opera....nothing 

has changed. NJSBOA president Tom Luchento 

told Dave Little of the New York Daily News, 

“This has gone on much too long. We are at the 

point now where it’s like pulling wings off flies. 

They’re just torturing us and I get nothing from 

the state. No information from the casinos. They 

leave us out of the negotiations. We are never at 

the table.” Freehold cut its purses by 40%, but 

the Meadowlands soldiers on, maintaining the 

sport’s highest purse schedule and its number 1 

position in harness racing, but not able to support 

that schedule indefinitely. “Come spring,” 

Luchento told Little, “if we don’t have any more 

money, there will be a mass exodus out of this 

state that you won’t believe. This thing will just 

crumble.” Governor Jon Corzine’s staff apparently 

is simply outgunned and overwhelmed by 

the Atlantic City casinos’ vast power in the state. 

Either that, or Corzine doesn’t care about racing’s 

fate, and does not intend to keep the promises 

he made to racing months ago. 

A NEW THREAT IN MARYLAND 

Like kudzu or predatory fish, a new threat has 

appeared in Maryland, and this one, currently 

limited to St. Mary’s county in southern Maryland, 

is threatening to spread and could impact 

the state’s horse racing industry. Video bingo, 

introduced last August, has exploded, the number 

going from 150 to nearly a thousand in the 

last month, according to the local sheriff. Resembling 

slot machines, they are appearing in bars 

and restaurants all over the county, which allows 

gaming devices if the proceeds go to nonprofit 

organizations. Owners of the machines -- and 

the bars and restaurants -- can take a cut 

to cover expenses. Maryland doesn’t vote 

on slots until November, but the weed is 

likely to grow illegally until that time. 

DIRT AGAIN AT SANTA ANITA? 

It may not be surprising that Santa Anita, which 

lost 11 days of racing in late January and early 

February because of drainage problems with its 

synthetic track, is planning to return to dirt, but 

it is a bit startling that the man who mandated 

the change to synthetics, racing board chairman 

Richard Shapiro, agrees with the decision. 

Track president Ron Charles announced over 

the weekend that the track is considering returning 

to dirt later this year, and CBSSports. 

com reports Shapiro as saying he would not 

bar the way. “If, at the end of the day,” he was 

quoted, “Santa Anita comes forward and says, 

‘We’ve looked at the options and we believe for 

the safety of the horse and rider that we’ve got 

a plan to put in a dirt track on top of a good 

solid base’, and they would put in a track that 

was safe, personally I’m not totally opposed to 

that.” That’s two years and untold millions after 

his board mandated synthetics. HTA’s Executive 

Newsletter said at the time it felt the mandate was 

premature, and events are indicating that assessment 

was right. 

OTB CRISIS STIRS NOSTALGIA 

Last week’s decision by the New York City board 

overseeing the city’s OTB operations to close all 

71 parlors by mid-June has stirred a sudden 

wave of nostalgia in the New York press. The 

Times last Saturday ran a long story by Corey 

Kilgannon telling how loyal patrons will miss the 

establishments, which NYCOTB general counsel 

Ira Block said “are like social clubhouses or 

gathering places.” Karl Kelly, the regular bartender 

at the upscale upper level of the Seventh 

Avenue and 38th Street OTB said he had customers 

who spent 12 hours a day in the place and bet 

only one race, “They just hang out with friends 

and spend five bucks for a whole day.” The 

Brooklyn Daily Eagle mentioned a New York 

Daily News feature about a Brooklyn OTB 

that closed four years ago.


USTA board chairman Ivan Axelrod of California 

expressed concerns about the sport’s shrinking 

wagering base, and said USTA has to help 

tracks market the sport to slots players and 

others, “and somehow ‘grow’ the wagering on 

our races.” Toward that end Axelrod chaired a 

meeting yesterday of USTA board members who 

represent tracks with racinos, and promised an 

ad hoc committee would report to the USTA Executive 

Committee later this year and provide an 

action plan and proposed budget. 

AND USTA AMENDS P-M DUES 

USTA also amended its pari-mutuel dues structure 

for member tracks at yesterday morning’s 

board meeting. Here is the actual wording affecting 

the changes, since the new formula, like 

all dues formulas, does not lend itself to easy 

memorization. It can be found in Article 1, Section 

4 of the USTA By-Laws, as reviewed 

by the USTA Finance Committee and approved 

by the board yesterday. 





FONTAINE SPEAKS UP AT USTA (b) At tracks in the United States with extended 

Attorney Paul Fontaine, who made the motion pari-mutuel meetings of more than ten days duration 

where total gross purses are more than 

five years ago that led Harness Tracks of America 

to deny honors to those under suspension for $50,000, the membership fee paid shall be based 

positive tests, has taken his quest a step farther. on the number of programs (performances) applied 

for in the current year (note that a ‘dou- 

Speaking at the United States Trotting Association’s 

3-day annual meeting that ended yesterday, 

Fontaine, Plainridge Racecourse’s direc- 

single day shall constitute two programs or perbleheader’ 

or two separate programs raced on a 

tor on the USTA board and a member of HTA’s formances), and the net purses raced for at the 

Executive Committee, said he felt it imperative meeting for the current year, at the rate of $50 

that USTA take a more forceful role in urging per program plus 0.33% of the first $4,999,999 

state racing commissions to honor USTA’s denial in net purses paid, plus 0.21% of the amount of 

of membership privileges in their licensing procedures. 

Fontaine said USTA should make cer- 

0.15% of the amount of net purses thereafter. 

net purses from $5,000,000 to $9,999.999, plus 

tain commissions know of USTA’s denials and For the purposes of this rule net purses is defined 

as gross purses less the sum of nominating 

do what it can to have the commissions consider 

them in license denials. President Phil Langley fees, sustaining fees, starting fees, and any other 

asked Fontaine to form a USTA committee to amounts paid into the gross purses by stakes 

pursue that proposal. 

sponsors, state agencies or any other source other 

than gaming revenue. 

(1) The 0.33%, 0.21%, or 0.15% of net purses 

shall be paid upon receipt of prorated statements 

which will be tendered to track members 

at monthly intervals beginning following the first 

month of each track member’s meeting with the 

balance, if any, due and payable upon receipt of 

final statement at the conclusion of each meeting. 

(2) Interest at the rate of 1% a month, compounded, 

will be charged on any unpaid portion 

of any such statement computed following 30 

days from the date of such pro-rata statement. 

(3) The definition of ‘net purses’ as set forth herein 

notwithstanding, a track member may elect to 

compute its net purses by using a standard deduction 

of 25% from its gross purses, thereby 

arriving at a ‘net purse’ figure in calculating its 

membership fees. 

Got it?


CAL-EXPO FATE THURSDAY 

With Sacramento Harness Racing stepping out 

of the picture at Cal-Expo Saturday night because 

of inability to meet rent requirements, 

and Cal-Expo itself applying for the license, the 

California Horse Racing Board meets tomorrow 

to consider the situation. Other bidders are 

reportedly seeking the license, and rumors are 

that Cal-Expo would consider another tenant. 

For the moment, however, the fair management 

will take over as operators of the meeting. Sacramento 

Harness Association, the not-for-profit 

lessee for the last few years, announced at the 

HTA/TRA meeting through their general manager, 

Dick Feinberg, that under the terms of its 

lease with Cal-Expo, “it cannot perform. Our 

goal has been to help in a smooth transition so 

that harness racing can continue uninterrupted 

at Cal-Expo for the horsemen, the track employees, 

and all their families. The industry is very 

fortunate that our landlord -- Cal-Expo -- has 

picked up the reins and will continue operating 

pari-mutuel harness racing at the State Fairgrounds.” 

Some existing personnel already have 

received notice, however, that their services will 

not be needed under Cal-Expo’s regime. 

In other California news, lifelong horseman Kirk 

Breed has been named executive secretary of the 

racing board, replacing Ingrid Fermin, and the 

board announced it is considering a proposed 

tournament-style pari-mutuel horseracing wager 

to be sponsored by the World Poker Tour. 

Details were to be announced today at Santa 

Anita at a meeting of the board’s Pari-Mutuel 

Operations/ADW and Simulcasting Committee. 

BRUNO ON THE BRINK 

That was how the New York Post described the 

situation in Albany after a Democratic victory 

in a special upstate election moved 

Democrats within one vote of taking control 

of the New York Senate. 





Democrats have not controlled the New York 

Senate in 43 years, but after Assemblyman Darrel 

Aubertine won over Republican Will Barclay 

in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats 

by 30,000 the Democrats can smell blood. 

The Post says Gov. Eliot Spitzer is hoping to woo 

“some Republican senators to the Democratic 

side before the November elections.” If successful, 

Joe Bruno would lose the Senate presidential 

seat from which he has wielded enormous power 

in the state. 

HOOSIER BUYING CITY LAND 

Or at least is trying to. Hoosier Park’s hopes of 

acquiring its 110-acre site in a deal that would 

provide the Anderson, Indiana, parks department 

with at least $150,000 a year over the next 

five years. Hoosier currently leases the land 

from the parks department for $128,000 a year 

plus 0.5 percent of pari-mutuel revenue for an 

average of almost $186,500, according to the 

Chicago Tribune. Centaur, which owns Hoosier, 

is considering building a hotel on the property. 

Track president and HTA director Rick Moore 

says, “We want to own our house. We want to 

control our own destiny.” It moved a step closer 

when the Anderson Parks Board voted 3-1 Monday 

night to recommend the city redevelopment 

commission approve the sale. 

SETBACK FOR TRACKS IN KY 

Kentucky’s racetracks lost a crucial round in 

their quest for slots yesterday, when a proposal 

to provide five racinos for them failed in committee 

in the House. House speaker Jody Richards 

saved the day with a parliamentary move 

that would pave the way for a constitutional 

amendment that would allow casinos but not 

give the tracks any preference in receiving them. 

Speaker pro tem Larry Clark, who favored the 

bill, called the committee chair’s move that led 

to defeat “the cheapest form of petty politics.”


OUR BIG WORRY CONFIRMED 

Horse racing wound up yesterday where it most 

fears to be, before a Congressional committee 

checking into drug use, particularly steroids. The 

mode was defense. Four commissioners of professional 

sports were there for questioning too, 

as Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National 

Thoroughbred Racing Association, tried 

to convince members of the Congressional Subcommittee 

on Commerce, Trade and Consumer 

Protection that federal control was not necessary. 

Waldrop faced tough questions from Rep. 

Ed Whitfield, the Kentucky Republican whose 

wife is the former chairman of the Kentucky 

Racing Authority, by accusing racing leaders of 

failing to make good on promises to self-regulate 

medication issues. Waldrop claimed otherwise, 

pointing out that every race contested every day 

is tested, and that up to 200 drugs are tested for 

in one sample. Waldrop said racing spends between 

30 and 36 million dollars a year on testing 

at 18 private or university laboratories. He 

said that although racing had no commission 

office like the professional sports represented at 

the hearing -- basketball’s David Stern, Bud Selig 

from Major League Baseball, Roger Goodell 

from the National Football League, and Gary 

Bettman from the National Hockey League -- 

racing used “its convening authority” to address 

illegal medication, which he called “a national 

issue that all shareholders agree is central to 

our industry’s integrity.” Some members of the 

Congressional subcommitee were underwhelmed 

and suggested what sports fears most: federal 

regulation. Joe Barton of Texas said, “Let’s go 

ahead and get something into law that is acceptable. 

It’s no fun having this hearing every two 

to three years.” David Stern insisted that sports 

have gotten things right in the intervening years, 

but Rep. Martha Blackburn of Tennessee 

disputed that strongly. “If we had gotten 

it right -- if you all had gotten it right 





-- we would not be here again today. I would 

suggest that we have not gotten it right enough.” 

Blackburn accused the witnesses of being “very 

well coached,” which upset Stern, who replied 

that the subcommittee had been provided with 

a “voluminous, uncoached record” that showed 

“enormous progress.” Rep. Whitfield put the issue 

and question bluntly addressing Waldrop, 

asking, “Is it time to call the federal cavalry and 

send it chasing into your stables with guns blazing 

to clean up the sport of horse racing?” Waldrop 

replied that a model rule on steroids had been 

adopted in many states and that it is hoped that 

all states will adopt the Racing Medication and 

Testing Consortium and Racing Commissioners 

International model rules by the end of 2008. 

“If they don’t step up,” Waldrop said, “then it is 

incumbent upon the federal government to step 

up.” That statement, now on the federal record, 

should convince racing commissioners the time 

is at hand for action and not rhetoric. 

Waldrop’s full statement to the Congressional 

subcommittee can be read on HTA’s Web site, 

www.harnesstracks.com. 

MEADOWS PADDOCK OPENS 

After four months of superb cooperation by 

horsemen enduring tough conditions with a temporary 

paddock, The Meadows is running final 

troubleshooting tests on its shining new 38,500 

square-foot, state-of-the-art, 11-race paddock 

and office complex, and plans to open the facility 

one week from today on March 6. John 

Marshall, vice president of racing at The Meadows, 

thanked all horsemen for their patience and 

cooperation, saying, “Our horsemen exhibited a 

tremendous collaborative spirit in enduring winter 

conditions in the temporary paddock. Their 

cooperation was a key element in allowing us to 

continue racing through construction.”






MONEY PROBLEMS IN QUEBEC 

Failure of a government plan to revitalize Quebec’s 

harness racing industry by reducing the 

number of VLTs in bars has led Attractions Hippiques, 

Paul J. Massicotte’s ambitious operation 

including four tracks, to cancel two nights of 

racing. The underperforming VLT operations, 

called Ludoplexes and located next to the tracks, 

have fallen well below anticipated projections 

and could impact Massicotte’s plans to build a 

new Hippodrome de Montreal north of the city. 

In cancelling racing on Saturdays in Montreal 

and Tuesdays in Trois-Rivieres, Massicotte said, 

“This is a decision that I bitterly regret when I 

think back to the hopes raised throughout the 

Quebec horse racing industry when we signed the 

agreement late in 2006 with the government of 

Quebec. We were enthusiastic and excited about 

this plan to relaunch the industry. In Quebec City 

and Trois-Rivieres alone we invested $15 million 

more than the initial $23 million committed under 

the agreement with the Quebec government. 

Moreover, we increased purse money by 40%, as 

soon as possible, in order to support the thousands 

of jobs that depend on this industry in the 

province. We worked with equestrian associations 

to bring together stakeholders across Quebec. 

I do not exaggerate when I say that we gave 

more than 110% in meeting our commitments.” 

The Ludoplex plan gives 22% of VLT revenues 

to the tracks, but they in turn must reinvest 60% 

of that money through purses. Massicotte said, 

“At this point, we are forced into making very 

difficult decisions. I hope Loto-Quebec (which 

runs the VLTs in the province) can soon agree 

on a new recovery plan for the industry. That 

would allow us to return to a full racing schedule 

and, of course, move ahead with the construction 

of a new complex north of Montreal. I hope 

there is a political will to act -- the survival 

of a whole industry depends on it.” Racing 

on Sundays continues in Montreal. 

CAL-EXPO APPROVED TO RACE 

The California Horse Racing Board yesterday 

unanimously approved transfer of the harness 

racing license at Cal-Expo from retiring Sacramento 

Harness Racing to the fair management, 

which will operate harness racing at least until 

the end of the year. The move, necessitated when 

not-for-profit Sacramento Harness felt it no longer 

could sustain rent payments to Cal-Expo, 

will mark the first time Cal-Expo will operate 

racing outside the State Fair meetings held there. 

Cal-Expo’s CEO, Norb Bartosik, told the Sacramento 

Bee that harness racing will continue 

on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through 

Aug. 2, when a break for track renovation for 

the State Fair meeting takes place, and will resume 

in mid-September. Bartosik said, “We’re 

picking up many of the same people who worked 

with Sacramento Harness. It’s a very fine staff. 

We’ll be ready to roll when our dates start.” Recently 

elected Sacramento Harness president 

Ivan Axelrod, who is chairman of the USTA and 

a financial consultant, said the association’s financial 

problems were “just too overbearing” 

to continue as operator of the meeting. “More 

than 20% of our income went to rent,” he told 

the Bee, adding, “Nobody can pay that kind of 

rent and be viable.” 

A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT 

The chairman of the House Democratic Policy 

Committee, Congressman George Miller of 

California, has become a co-sponsor of Barney 

Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement 

Act, which would allow licensed operators 

to provide Internet gambling services in 

the United States. Miller, who also is chairman 

of the House Education and Labor Committee, is 

one of the most influential leaders of the Democratic 

party and now becomes a major supporter 

of federally regulated Internet gambling. The 

Frank bills are HR 2046 and 2607.





CHUCKAS LEAVES ROSECROFT 

Tom Chuckas Jr., longtime chief executive officer 

of Rosecroft Raceway, is leaving the post 

he has held for 10 years. His departure was 

announced Saturday in a terse, one-paragraph 

release that read, “Thomas F. Chuckas Jr., Chief 

Executive Officer, and Kelley Rogers, President 

of Cloverleaf Enterprises, Inc./Rosecroft have 

announced today that the parties have entered 

into a mutually agreed separation. CEO Thomas 

F. Chuckas Jr. has agreed to assist Cloverleaf 

Enterprises, Inc./Rosecroft through a transition 

period to ensure the stability and continuance 

of operations while Cloverleaf Enterprises, Inc. 

begins an immediate search for a successor.” 

DEFRANCIS LEAVES MAGNA 

In another shocker Saturday, Joe DeFrancis announced 

he was resigning today from the board 

of directors of Magna Entertainment, ending 

more than two decades of DeFrancis involvement 

in Maryland thoroughbred and harness racing. 

His father Frank played a prominent role in obtaining 

favorable legislation for the industry prior 

to Joe’s entry on the scene. DeFrancis announced 

he was leaving Magna just hours after chairman 

Frank Stronach told investors in a conference call 

that DeFrancis would not remain as a director 

this year. Stronach said he was excluding De- 

Francis from Magna’s strategic planning sessions 

because of “a conflict of interest,” presumably 

involving DeFrancis’ beneficial position should 

slots be approved next November. Slots appear 

critical to Magna’s survival in Maryland. The 

company announced a $43 million fourth quarter 

loss last year, and it faces delisting on NASDAQ 

if its stock, currently trading at 79 cents a share, 

does not rise to a dollar by summer. Stronach 

still believes a turnaround is possible, 

but Magna’s financial statement said its 

“ability to continue as a going concern is 

in substantial doubt.” 

March 3, 2008 

TRACKS ON THEIR OWN IN KY 

A bill to amend the Kentucky state constitution 

to permit up to nine casinos in the state passed 

committee muster and went to the full House, 

but without provisions mandating any of the nine 

for racetracks. The proposal, with assurances 

for five racinos stripped out by a revised House 

Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental 

Affairs Committee, passed by a 

7-2 vote, and Gov. Steve Beshear said he would 

support it, adding that he would try to help the 

horse industry through follow-up legislation. 

The deletion of tracks originally failed to pass 

the committee, but House Speaker Jody Richards 

changed the membership to make certain it 

passed and went to the full House. Beshear met 

with Richards and four other members of the 

House leadership, the Louisville Courier-Journal 

reported, and assured tracks following the meeting 

that he still was committed to protecting the 

horse industry in the state. The newspaper’s 

Web site also reported, however, that the senior 

Democrat in charge of counting members’ votes 

said Friday that he doubts the proposed amendment 

to allow casinos will get the 60 votes needed 

for passage. The representative, Rob Wilkey, 

said he counted 50 votes, but was not sure about 

mustering 10 more and said, “I think that its fate 

is in serious jeopardy.” If it passed in its present 

form, Kentucky’s tracks would have to fend 

for themselves in getting racinos from the nine 

available licenses. 

NO CINCH IN MASS, EITHER 

Boston.com reports that an informal poll of state 

representatives in Massachusetts shows a large 

number undecided on Gov. Deval Patrick’s casino 

proposal. Of 107 of the 155 members who 

responded, 40 said they were opposed, 27 said 

they were in favor, and 40 said they were undecided. 

A Jesuit professor of economics 

at Boston College said, “The pressure is 

really on, big time.”





March 4, 2008 

JOY ABOUNDS IN NEW JERSEY 

Those fireworks and joyous whoops in New Jersey 

mean it’s over, at least for the next three years. 

Gov. Jon Corzine made good on his promise to 

racing, hammering long and hard to reach an 

agreement where the Atlantic City casinos will 

provide $30 million a year for three years to help 

keep the state’s horse racing industry on even 

keel, and in the case of harness racing in its position 

of North American dominance at the Meadowlands. 

The governor said, “Both the equine 

industry and the casino industry play important 

roles in New Jersey, from preserving open space 

to attracting visitors, and it was essential to 

strike a balance that will allow both industries to 

thrive.” The casinos signed off on the $90 million 

supplement package for purses and help to the 

breeding industry in return for a moratorium on 

slots at tracks during the three-year time frame. 

Corzine said the agreement would involve no taxpayer 

dollars and would not reduce casino funds 

that flow to the state, but legislators who want 

slots at the Meadowlands were not as overjoyed 

as the people who race there. State senator Paul 

Sarlo, who represents the Meadowlands’ district, 

is assistant majority leader, and sponsor of a bill 

that would have brought 5,000 slots to the Big 

M, told the Bergen Record, “If we want to remain 

in the horseracing industry, we are going to 

have to enact VLTs in our horseracing tracks.” 

Barbara DeMarco, a thoroughbred lobbyist, 

told the paper, “We are grateful, we appreciate 

it, but it doesn’t solve our problem long term. 

For us to sit there and say Atlantic City is an island, 

and we can’t touch it. You can’t operate in 

a vacuum. Forty-eight states have some form of 

gaming.” Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of 

racing at both the Meadowlands and Monmouth 

Park, who played a large role in sustaining high 

purses at the Meadowlands during the 

negotiations, said he looked forward to 

talent-filled fields this summer. 

HOOSIER ‘OWNS OWN HOUSE’ 

New Jersey is not the only place celebrating today. 

HTA member Hoosier Park in Indiana is 

happy too, its owner Centaur getting approval 

from the Anderson, Indiana, Parks Board to 

buy the land on which the track sits, and on 

which Centaur is building a major racino, for 

$750,000. Track president and HTA director 

Rick Moore had said Hoosier wanted to own its 

own house and control its own destiny, and he 

gets his wish. Hoosier had been leasing the land 

from Anderson for $125,000 a year and 0.5% of 

pari-mutuel revenue, amounting to $2.1 million 

in rent from 1994 to 2005. Until now, Hoosier 

had to get approval from the Parks Board for 

any material changes. HTA executive committee 

member Jeff Smith, Centaur’s managing director 

of racing, told the Anderson Herald Bulletin 

that the purchase “affects every aspect of how 

we do business.” 

PLAINRIDGE WILL BE THERE 

Massachusetts legislators will hold a hearing on 

Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed casino plans at 10 

a.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Boston, and Plainridge 

Racecourse plans to be well represented to 

let the lawmakers know it wants one. The track, 

which opens its 2008 season the previous day on 

St. Patrick’s Day, has asked the Massachusetts 

Racing Commission for permission to cancel racing 

on Tuesday so horsemen and other interested 

parties can attend the hearings in numbers and 

let the legislators hear their voices. The House 

Speaker, Sal DiMasi, is strongly resisting the 

governor’s slot plan. 

A GOOD JOB OPPORTUNITY 

An HTA member track with a major racino is 

looking for an experienced Program Editor/ 

Charter. If you are interested send your resume 

to HTA and we will forward to our member 

track for its consideration.


In Indiana, Dennis Tyler, the author of a bill to 

allow pull tabs in taverns, who last week said he 

would fight Senate changes that eliminated restaurants, 

changed his mind and went along with 

the Senate, gaining passage in both chambers 

and sending the bill to Gov. Mitch Daniels for 

signature, which is expected. The measure provides 

for the slot-like pull tabs at somewhere between 

2,000 and 6,000 establishments, depending 

on whether proponents or opponents are 

making the estimate, but does not include Hoosier 

Park or Indiana Downs or their OTBs. One 

opponent, House minority leader Brian Bosma, 

an Indianapolis Republican, called the measure 

“a ridiculous proposal that did not receive the 

appropriate scrutiny in this body by the author 

or others. I understand their desire to try to help 

the tavern owners, and to do something reasonable 

is perhaps appropriate. But to create 6,000 

potential minicasinos in this state is a huge step 

in the wrong direction.” Pull tabs show symbols 

under tab windows on the back, if they match 

combinations on the front, the holder is a winner. 

The House vote to accept the Senate version 

was 53-42, and it is difficult to construe how the 

development can be regarded as anything but 

negative for horse racing in Indiana. 

In Florida, Senator Steve Geller, a longtime 

friend of racing, has sponsored SB 970, which 

would reduce the state tax on Class III Vegas 

style machines at tracks from 50% to 35%. 

Senator Dennis Jones has introduced SB 1380, 

which would allow Class II “electronic gaming 

machines” such as bingo-like slots. Both senators 

said the tax reductions would allow 

tracks to spend more retained earnings 

for marketing and improvements. 




March 5, 2008 

THE LEGISLATIVE WHIRL 

In Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear told the press 

Activity all over the place, legislative, judicial he still did not have the 60 votes needed to get his 

and gubernatorial. 

slots bill passed. Beshear said it was “an uphill 

fight” getting the proposed constitutional amendment 

on the November ballot. At last count the 

bill had 50 House supporters. 

In Ottawa, the Canadian federal government is 

considering measures to enforce a ban on Internet 

gambling on an Indian reservation near Montreal. 

Some 400 poker and sports betting sites 

operate from the Kahnawake reserve. They are 

illegal, but the National Post says “neither federal 

nor provincial governments have attempted to 

enforce the law” until now. Among the measures 

being considered is prohibiting banks and credit 

card companies from making financial transactions 

with illegal Internet operators, a move taken 

in the United States two years ago. The Kahnawake 

Mohawks take the same position as U.S. 

tribes, that the prohibitions do not apply to them 

since they are a sovereign nation. Ross McLeod, 

CEO of Great Canadian Gaming, noted that his 

tracks and casinos pay $1 billion in tax receipts 

annually, and he called the offshore operations 

“parasites on the butt of Canada.” McLeod says 

he expects the government “to do the right thing 

and protect our country’s interests.” 

In Georgia, despite long odds in the conservative 

state, a group of legislators are again trying to legalize 

horse race betting, according to the Jacksonville 

Florida Times-Union. The legislators 

have introduced HR 1477, which would allow local 

option legalization of tracks and casinos. 

In California the racing board is setting strict 

limits on threshold levels of the four anabolic 

steroids allowed under Racing Medication and 

Testing Consortium model rules, enabling it to 

reclassify the four and move them into penalty 

categories that will call for meaningful fines 

and purse forfeitures.


LIFE OR DEATH IN FRANKFORT 

Jody Richards, Speaker of the House in Kentucky, 

told the Louisville Courier-Journal yesterday 

that the bill enabling a constitutional amendment 

on slots would be moved to the House floor, 

although the 60 votes necessary for passage still 

were not there. Separate counts indicated supporters 

were in the low or mid 50s at present. 

The legislation was passed by the constitutional 

amendments committee, which stripped out a 

provision for five racinos set aside for tracks and 

sent the bill to Rules, where it has been for five 

days. Once on the floor of the full House it could 

be voted on at any time. The Courier-Journal’s 

Gregory Hall reported that Richards’ action is “a 

move that sometimes is used to kill bills.” Gov. 

Steve Beshear indicated this week that if the bill 

passes the House, he will move to have the tracks 

provision restored in the Senate, and will support 

its passage there. While the legislators considered 

the matter, a group of some 500 to 600 

people -- the Lexington Herald-Leader called it 

“the biggest anti-casino rally yet this season” 

-- jammed the Capitol Rotunda yesterday, holding 

signs and cheering ministers, lawmakers and 

others speaking against the governor’s plan. The 

Rev. Jeff Fugate, a Lexington Baptist minister, 

organized the protest rally. With appropriate 

fire and brimstone, one opponent, John-Mark 

Hack, head of the Say No To Casinos movement, 

said, “Casino-crats are hell-bent on transforming 

the commonwealth with a ‘casino republic.’” 

He asked the ‘casino-crat’ politicians “to tell us 

which 10% of the children in the Rotunda today 

are going to be condemned to a life of addiction.” 

YEA AND NEA IN BOSTON 

HTA member Plainridge Racecourse got a little 

help -- and a lot of hurt -- yesterday in its 

slots quest. Rep. David Flynn, saying 

casinos won’t work but slots at tracks 

might, introduced a bill allowing them. 




March 6, 2008 

Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, meanwhile, 

went to the trouble and expense of having 

a 12-page color brochure extolling the virtue 

of his casino plan printed and distributed to all 

legislators. One of them, Rep. Ruth B. Baiser, 

a Democrat from the upscale Boston suburb of 

Newton, commented that she found it “interesting 

that the governor is going to this extent. This 

kind of glossy marketing attempt, I’ve never seen 

come from someone else in government before.” 

The governor, pushing furiously to get his casinos 

passed, also went to excess in another area. He 

announced a plan to dedicate $50 million a year 

from casino take to treat compulsive gambling. 

Reporter Scott Van Voorhis of the Boston Herald 

pointed out in a story that the amount was 

50 times higher than Massachusetts now spends, 

and far exceeds any other state in the union. The 

closest, Kansas, spends $17 million. The mecca 

of American gambling, Nevada, spends between 

$2 million and $3 million a year. 

REP. ON INTERNET: TAX IT 

U. S. Congressman Jim McDermott, a Washington 

Democrat, introduced new legislation yesterday 

calling for federal regulation and taxation of 

Internet gaming. McDermott’s bill -- the Internet 

Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement 

Act of 2008 -- follows a Price Waterhouse Coopers 

claim that a tax on online gaming could produce 

up to $43 billion over 10 years. The American 

Gaming Association’s president, Frank 

Fahrenkopf, reasserted that group’s contention 

that regulation and taxation of gaming is a state 

matter, not a federal one. He called chances of 

repeal of the current federal Internet gambling 

ban remote. McDermott’s bill has only one cosponsor, 

while the bill it is intended to supplement 

-- Barney Frank’s similar legislation -- has 

46. A McDermott spokesman acknowledged that 

Frank’s bill must move before McDermott’s. 

Twenty-three million gamblers reportedly 

now bet on some 2,300 Web sites.





March 7, 2008 

MIXED REVIEWS ON FED CASE 

Depending on your vantage point, yesterday’s 

federal court decision dismissing a challenge to 

the federal Internet gambling ban was a victory 

for the government or for the gambling interests 

that brought the case. U.S. District Judge Mary 

L. Cooper in Trenton, NJ, ruled that the Unlawful 

Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, passed 

two years ago, was not unconstitutional. She also 

ruled, however, that the challengers of the law, 

the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming 

Association (iMEGA) while not showing sufficient 

cause to block enforcement of the gaming 

act, did have legal standing to further challenge 

the law. The chairman of the challenging group, 

Joe Brennan Jr., hailed the decision as a victory. 

He said, “You’re looking at a law criminalizing 

an activity online that is legal offline in 48 of the 

50 states. If I have that right offline in the real 

world, I should have that right online. Her ruling 

echoes the growing consensus of opinion that 

UIGEA is a fundamentally flawed statute.” The 

iMEGA president, Edward Leyden, was touring 

the Tonga Islands when the decision was handed 

down, but he said from there, “At the end of 

the day, all we wanted is standing and the ability 

to keep fighting. We may ultimately end up 

in the Supreme Court.” iMEGA’s lawyer, Eric 

M. Bernstein, said, “Granting iMEGA standing 

is a major victory any way you look at it. Judge 

Cooper’s ruling holds that, even with the passage 

of UIGEA (the anti-Internet gaming law) online 

gambling is only illegal in states where a statute 

specifically says it is. We believe Judge Cooper 

missed the opportunity to affirm Americans’ online 

privacy rights and we plan to appeal to the 

Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Her honor’s decision 

significantly undercuts the federal government’s 

argument that UIGEA is a well-drafted, 

effective and enforceable law.” iMEGA is 

the only entity in the industry challenging 

online gambling prohibition in courts. 

SLIPS & FALLS: TRY HTA’S WIN 

Claims emanating from slips and falls still are 

a constant challenge to racing management. 

The latest example is a $180,579.24 award by a 

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court judge to a 

52-year-old woman who claimed she slipped and 

fell on returning to a rest room to tip an attendant 

at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. The judge decided 

the tribe was 75% responsible for the accident 

and made the award on the basis of $120,000 

in lost wages and medical bills and the balance in 

pain and suffering. HTA cannot prevent such 

cases and claims, far too frequent in our business, 

but can successfully fight them through the 

expert and experienced lawyers we have in WIN 

(Wagering Insurance NorthAmerica). If your 

liability, auto, and/or comp insurance is up for 

renewal, before acting consider contacting Dan 

O’Leary, HTA’s lead counsel on such issues, at 

Mandell Menkes LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, 

Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60606, tel. 312-251-1000, 

fax 312-251-1010, or Chris Gannon at Marsh 

USA, 1166 Avenue of the Americas, New York, 

NY, tel. 212-345-4033, fax 212-345-4808. You 

can be talking big savings through racing’s own 

insurance company, rated on track experience, 

not other people’s problems. This is an experienced 

program, now in its 30th year, totally familiar 

and successful in winning favorable decisions 

on this troubling issue. Your local broker 

can be worked into the program. 

MI DEVELOPMENT BACKS MEC 

Despite a 60% drop in fourth quarter earnings 

attributed to losses at its sister operation, Magna 

Entertainment, MI Developments announced it 

was hopeful “that we will be able to re-establish 

a strong and active working relationship with 

them (MEC).” MI Development president John 

Simonetti told investors “Magna Entertainment 

would need more help, and we continue to 

evaluate providing further assistance.”


In Massachusetts, Deval Patrick is not worried 

about racing, but about the state losing casino 

revenue to Indian tribes. Preparing for his coming 

battle with opposing legislators at a Boston 

hearing on March 18, his 12-page color brochure 

uses the threat of a tribal casino to scare 

the troops into line. He has gone so far as to 

ask the Mashpee Wampanoags, the leading contender 

for a casino, to waive any and all rights 

under the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 

a move that Jonathon Witten, an adjunct professor 

at Boston College Law School who teaches 

American Indian Law, calls “outrageous.” Witten 

says a tribe cannot -- nor should it -- be asked 

to waive sovereign rights. “It’s highly doubtful 

the secretary of the interior would allow it, and 

with all due respects to the governor, he doesn’t 

have that power,” he was quoted. One legislator, 

Rep. David Flynn, a supporter of slots at tracks, 

told Capecodtoday, “The casino bill isn’t going 

anywhere.” He predicted it won’t even come up 

for a vote, saying, “I find very little support for it 

from members of the House.” 

In Ohio, Ted Strickland, a governor who wrecked 

racing’s chances to get slots because he opposes 

the expansion of gambling, is allowing the state 

lottery to add keno to its menu on July 1, further 

endangering the welfare of a major Ohio agricultural 

industry. Ohioans will be able to play a new 

game every four minutes at any establishment 

that has onsite alcohol consumption. Northfield 

Park is losing no time capitalizing on the opportunity, 

building a $350,000 sportsbar and lounge 

area that will take up between one-quarter and 

one-third of its grandstand ground floor. 

It will be deluxe, under chairman Brock 

Milstein’s direction and guidance. 




March 10, 2008 

THE GOV GOVERNS YOUR FATE In Illinois, slots are still close to the surface, despite 

haggling between Gov. Rod Blagojevich 

This is hardly a hot news item, but it is being 

confirmed daily, wherever horses race. 

and the legislature. A Blagojevich spokeswoman, 

Abby Ottenhoff, said in an e-mail to the St. 

Louis Post-Dispatch, “We’re open to legislators’ 

ideas, but at the conclusion of last year, it seemed 

clear that we’d all be spinning our wheels to stay 

focused on gaming expansion to fund the capital 

plan.” Although it has been sidelined for the 

moment, Rep. Lou Lang, a longtime proponent 

from the Chicago suburb of Skokie, says, “I don’t 

think it’s really gone away.” Casino business in 

the Chicago area, at least in northwest Elgin, has 

been underwhelming. The Grand Victoria Casino 

there has suffered 20% declines in business in 

both January and February. Elgin received $24 

million from the casino last year, and if the drastic 

drops continue it figures to get a little more 

than $19.5 million this year. 

In Maryland, Gov. Martin O’Malley is facing the 

realities of hard times. In the past he has called 

slots a poor way to finance government, but in an 

interview with C. Fraser Smith of the Baltimore 

Sun he now says, “In a more perfect world we 

wouldn’t have slots. But one of the inescapable 

facts that most of us have come to accept over 

the last few years is that a lot of Maryland money 

does leave Maryland for the coffers of Pennsylvania, 

Delaware and West Virginia. I think, 

unfortunately, it’s a sort of ‘can’t beat ‘em, join 

‘em.’” 

TRACK BOSSES PLEASE NOTE 

Your track should have received two important 

surveys last week. One is the HTA dues survey 

needed for dues allocation. The other is the wagering 

survey which the HTA board unanimously 

voted to provide. Please have your action officer 

or the applicable person at your track complete 

and return them to the HTA office as soon 

as possible.


SLOTS WORD IN KY IS ‘WHOA’ 

Steve Beshear, the governor of Kentucky who has 

campaigned hard for slots at the state’s tracks, 

put his proposal on hold yesterday, acknowledging 

he could not get the measure passed at 

the moment, and turned his attention instead to 

budget matters. Speaking candidly to the media, 

Beshear said, “I think we’ll know by the end 

of this week or the first of next week where we’re 

going to stand on it, one way or the other. Opponents 

called the measure “all but dead,” but 

were not celebrating, the leader of a major anti-gambling 

group saying, “dead things have a 

weird way of being resuscitated in the Kentucky 

General Assembly.” They contended, and were 

correct, that the governor lacked the 60 votes 

needed to get his bill through the House. Current 

counts showed between 50 and 55 votes. 

Legislators were amenable to nine casinos, but 

would not go along with Beshear’s wishes that 

five of the nine be earmarked for Kentucky 

tracks. The vote actually calls for a state constitutional 

amendment that would be needed, with 

that issue to be on the ballot for Kentucky voters 

to decide next November if the legislature approved 

it. 

IF WE SHUT DOWN, YOU RUN IT 

That’s what state senator Jim Whelan of Atlantic 

county in New Jersey wants his colleagues in 

Trenton to pass, a bill what would allow Atlantic 

City casinos to regulate themselves if state employees 

strike and close down normal administration, 

as happened for a week in 2006. To make a 

distasteful bill more acceptable, and prevent the 

casino bosses from doing whatever they chose, 

Whelan tacked on a provision that the governor 

had the right to summarily suspend a casino license 

if he or she thought there had been “a serious 

violation” of any state statute. He generously 

also added that any laws broken 

during a period of self-regulation would 

be punishable up to 10 times the normal 




March 11, 2008 

amount. Why pass such a bill? What makes a 

cow moo? Money. The state of New Jersey lost 

about $3 million during the shutdown two years 

ago, but the casinos say they lost $50 million because 

they could not operate while state inspectors 

were not working. Whelan says additional 

amendments may be necessary to strengthen the 

bill, and protect casinos and “every mom and 

pop store with a lottery terminal.” Otherwise, 

he says, “they all would be banging on our door.” 

Tough life, senator, being a public official. 

RESERVATION RUMBLINGS 

Indian tribes, like the mom and pop shops, are 

banging on the door, in their case the door of the 

Department of the Interior. They are complaining 

that the rejection of 22 applications for new 

off-reservation casinos in January were the result 

of sleight of hand revisions in distance requirements 

that involved lack of due process. Two 

major tribes -- the St. Regis Mohawks of New 

York and the St. Croix Chippewas of Wisconsin 

-- are leading the charge calling for the government 

to overturn the policy, which is intended 

to stop tribes from building casinos hundreds of 

miles from their reservations. Lorraine White, 

chief of the St. Regis, said members of her tribe 

had traveled to distant locations to support their 

families on the reservation by working on construction 

projects, including high rise buildings. 

“What a bunch of bullshit,” she said, “when 

you’re talking to the very people who actually 

built New York City with their hands.” Dirk 

Kempthorne, secretary of the Interior, told Las 

Vegas listeners recently that 10 of the rejected 

applications this winter were from tribes that 

sought to build casinos between 160 and 1,550 

miles from their reservations. 

REMINDER: Please return your HTA dues 

surveys and wagering surveys as soon as 

possible. We need them to continue work.





DO THEY DESERVE HAVING IT? 

That’s a legitimate question concerning members 

of the Harness Horse Association of Central 

New York, who like lemmings have followed 

their Pied Piper leader, Joe Faraldo, over the cliff 

again. The horsemen now are suing Jeff Gural 

for $250,000 for purses lost when Gural closed 

Vernon four days early at the end of Vernon’s 

2007 season because he already had lost $10 million 

last year and was trying to get the legislature 

to pass pending legislation, which it did. Faraldo 

was quoted in the Utica Observer-Dispatch as 

saying, “I just can’t have sympathy for someone 

who breaks an agreement.” Gural asked the logical 

question of the reporter: Would the Central 

New York members have preferred if he had not 

reopened Vernon, and left them ship wherever 

they had to in order to find racing opportunities? 

“We all agree I made a bad business decision,” 

Gural said, “but it would seem Faraldo’s 

members are the main beneficiaries of it.” No 

need to worry. If Gural ever closes Vernon, Joe 

will look after the horsemen. 

WHO’S RIGHT IN BOSTON? 

Depending whom you listen to, Gov. Deval Patrick 

either has or does not have enough votes 

to pass his three-casino bill in Massachusetts, 

which would likely shut out tracks from consideration 

for the licenses. Deval says he does, but 

the powerful chairman of the Economic Development 

Committee in the House says he does 

not. Daniel Bosley, a strong gambling foe, says 

only “a couple” legislators have switched their 

vote on the issue after a PR onslaught by Patrick, 

including a slick 12-page brochure, and he 

has seen anything that would change his mind 

or reverse his position. Rep. Daniel Flynn, who 

has introduced a slots-at-tracks bill, says he may 

or may not get enough support to pass it, 

but if casinos go down “I’ll have the only 

game in town.” 

March 12, 2008 

STILL THE UGLY AMERICANS 

We once were loved in Europe, but those days 

are gone forever, or at least the immediate present. 

The latest expression is from the European 

Union, which has began an investigation of the 

U.S. Internet gambling industry that could lead 

to more problems in the World Trade Organization. 

This time it is not some dot in the Caribbean 

doing the protesting. European trade 

commissioner Peter Mandelson, addressing the 

problem for the EU, acknowledges the United 

States “has the right to address legitimate public 

policy concerns relating to Internet gambling,” 

but goes on to say “discrimination against EU 

companies cannot be part of the policy mix.” 

While a temporary agreement was thought to 

have been reached last December, the Justice 

Department continues checking on prior European 

actions, and the Europeans, already hard 

hit by Justice, is up in arms. Clive Hawkswood, 

CEO of the Remote Gambling Association based 

in London, says, “We cannot simply sit on the 

sidelines and watch while our members, who are 

already badly bruised by the unlawful U.S. acts, 

suffer the double whammy of being prosecuted 

for activities whilst U.S. industry is not.” The 

Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed two 

years ago is the genesis, and which exempts horse 

racing, was the trigger that fired the present gun 

of contention. 

SPITZER IS NOT ALONE 

Eliot Spitzer is not the only powerful politician 

moving to the sidelines. One of Pennsylvania’s 

most formidable legislative figures, state senator 

Vincent Fumo of Philadelphia, announced today 

he will not seek reelection after 30 years of exerting 

influence in Harrisburg. A prime mover 

in creating Pennsylvania’s casino law, Fumo is 

facing health, legal and political problems. He 

had a recent heart attack and is facing a September 

trial for 139 counts of fraud.


In Rhode Island, the Senate majority whip, 

Dominick Ruggerio, apparently taking his cue 

from New Jersey’s legislature, decided Rhode 

Island should test the federal ban on sports betting. 

He said it could raise “$500 million” in new 

state revenue. Unfortunately for Rhode Island, 

it is illegal there, and everywhere except Delaware, 

Montana, Nevada and Oregon. 

The same idea -- sports betting -- was proposed 

by sportswriter Dave Perkins in the Toronto Star. 

Perkins wants the federal government to change 

the Canadian criminal code to allow it, saying 

tourists would flock to Ontario and “beat down 

the border trying to get in and play their 

favorite teams.” Just what the racing industry 

needs in Ontario. 




March 13, 2008 

AH YES, THE GAMBLING BEAT In Kentucky, the Louisville Courier-Journal had 

It may be the slow season in racing, but it sure a headline this morning reading, “Window to 

isn’t dull these days on the gaming front. Here’s approve gambling is closing,” saying passage of 

a quick roundup: 

a state budget yesterday “clears the way for a 

last gasp effort in the final 15 days of this year’s 

In Massachusetts, the banner headline on the legislative session to approve a constitutional 

Boston Globe’s Boston.com this morning reads, amendment allowing casinos.” Reporter Gregory 

Hall calls the prospects of getting the needed 

“Patrick’s casino plan seen losing backers,” with 

a subhead, “DiMasi said to be gaining ‘no’ votes.” 60 House votes “questionable at best.” Votes 

DiMasi is the Speaker of the House in Massachusetts, 

and the news service reports that he called Speaker Jody Richards backed a proposal for 

have been stalled in the low 50s since House 

legislators to his office yesterday to persuade nine casinos, with none set aside for tracks. Although 

the measure could pass right up until 

them to switch their votes on governor Deval 

Patrick’s proposal for three non-racing casinos adjournment, scheduled for April 15, Majority 

Whip Rob Wilkey thinks the window of op- 

in the state. The Joint Committee on Economic 

Development and Emerging Technologies starts portunity for passage will be closed after next 

its hearing on the hot issue next Tuesday, and week’s sessions. “I think in terms of passing this 

the committee chairman, anti-gambling Rep. body (the House) it needs to happen next week,” 

Daniel Bosley, says he believes the governor has Wilkey says. While Turfway Park president Bob 

overstated the benefits and downplayed the costs Elliston says long term prospects for his track’s 

of his casino proposal. “Quite frankly,” Bosley survival are bleak, Ellis Park owner Ron Geary 

told the Globe, “I don’t think we need to twist refused to go along with that assessment for his 

arms. The votes just aren’t there for this thing. operation. He said of the legislation’s chances, 

It seems like every time people lose a vote here, “Every day above ground is a better day than 

they blame someone for twisting arms.” being below ground.” You’ve got to love a guy 

with that attitude. 

In Illinois, a House Gaming Committee approved 

a bill that would create an Illinois State Fairgrounds 

Racetrack Authority that would extend 

the present 10-day non-betting meet at the State 

Fairgrounds in Springfield to a longer, pari-mutuel 

operation. The mayor of Springfield, Tim 

Davlin, testifying for the bill, said it “would free 

up a lot of money for our general revenue.” The 

bill, HB 4758, would find a contractor to operate 

a harness racing meeting for up to nine months 

a year. Maywood Park currently operates the 

10-day state fair meeting. If the bill were to 

pass, it could transform Springfield into a major 

training center, since its mile track is one of 

the fastest in the nation.





THE TEA PARTY GROWS NASTY 

Things grew testy in the Massachusetts legislature 

yesterday, erupting into what the Boston 

Globe’s Boston.com called “a political brawl.” 

Supporters of Gov. Deval Patrick’s three-casinono-slots-at-racetracks 

proposal accused House 

Speaker Sal DiMasi of “orchestrating a defeat 

of the governor’s casino legislation even before a 

legislative committee publicly airs the pros and 

cons next week.” One legislator supporting the 

legislation said, “There were a lot of reps walking 

on eggshells” yesterday. DiMasi continued to 

pressure colleagues, and one of Patrick’s spokesmen 

said, “From the signals we’re getting we’re 

concerned a full and open debate on the merits 

is not going to happen.” Observers watched the 

battle with humor, the renowned Boston College 

theologian and mediator Rev. Raymond Helmick 

replying to a reporter’s question of what Gov. 

Patrick should do by saying, “Cry,” adding that, 

“If DiMasi is determined to stop this, Patrick 

has already lost.” Democratic strategist Mary 

Anne Marsh was quoted in the Boston Herald as 

saying the governor “should just wind back the 

clock, walk back out the door and start over.” 

She said if he doesn’t make peace and expects 

to get anything done over the next three years, 

“good luck.” PR specialist George Regan said, 

“Sal’s a sensitive guy. If Patrick were smart, he’d 

apologize over pasta at Joe Tecce’s (a Boston restaurant) 

and move on.” The interim dean of 

Boston University’s College of Communications, 

Tobe Berkovitz, had a different idea about how 

Gov. Patrick should handle DiMasi. “Appoint 

him to the Supreme Court (where justices hold 

office until 70) and get him the hell out of there,” 

he said. The Herald ran all of those, and one 

from author and therapist Mira Kirshenbaum, 

who said Patrick had three options: Declare 

victory and embrace DiMasi, celebrating 

progress; Declare defeat and wear a 

crown of thorns; Declare a new war. 

March 14, 2008 

A SUPER CASINO FOR OHIO? 

Plans for a casino bigger than Paris Las Vegas, 

the Luxor or the Venetian was unveiled yesterday 

by two Cleveland investors. The Columbus 

Dispatch reported them as saying their $600 million 

resort casino would not be glitzy, like Las 

Vegas, but built with “Midwestern sensibilities,” 

which the paper said meant no gigantic neon 

signs or flashy architectural flourishes. Casino 

gaming currently is illegal in Ohio, of course, 

but Rick Lertzman and Brad Pressman, who announced 

the grandiose plans and need 400,000 

valid signatures by August to get the issue on the 

November ballot, say they will begin radio and 

television advertising by the end of this month 

seeking statewide support. Yesterday’s announcement 

differed from an earlier one by the 

pair two years ago, changed after a proposal for 

31,500 track slots was roundly defeated in Ohio 

last November. This time the pair say they seek 

one casino, with 4,000 to 5,000 slots, 100 table 

games and 20 poker tables. They also hope to 

have 100,000 square feet of specialty retail shops, 

eight restaurants, a 1,500-room hotel and conference 

center, and a 2,500-seat theater. The two 

Clevelanders say a major midwestern gambling 

company will finance their proposal. 

IT’S LEGAL, BUT LET’S TALK 

That was the message in Connecticut yesterday, 

where attorney general Richard Blumenthal told 

the General Assembly it had the legal authority 

to enforce a smoking ban in the state’s two 

huge Indian casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan 

Sun. He also said that the ban could and would 

be upheld, he felt strongly that the legislature 

should try to negotiate a compromise with the 

two tribal governments, rather than engage in a 

costly legal fight with the wealthy Mashantuckets 

and Mohegan tribes. 

Legislators indicated 

they are likely to pursue that path, rather 

than plunge ahead with lawmaking.





March 17, 2008 

DAN PACES FOR 20 MILLION 

Never mind the 90,000 and 100,000 crowds he 

drew a century ago. This is the big time. Dan is 

Dan Patch, and the 20 million is the number of 

readers Sports Illustrated says read their magazine 

each week. The editors have decided to run 

a 6,000-word excerpt of the opening chapter of 

Charlie Leerhsen’s upcoming book on Dan, Crazy 

Good, The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most 

Famous Horse in America, in their May 19 issue. 

The accomplishment is not easy to attain and is a 

huge major score for harness racing. Leerhsen, 

once a writer for USTA and later for Newsweek, 

People, US and now executive editor at SI, told 

Harness Racing Communications, “Hundreds of 

sports books are published every year, and our 

excellent crew of staff writers produce a good 

number of them, but only a very few have the 

honor of being excerpted in America’s leading 

sports magazine.” Leerhsen spent two years 

researching the great pacer’s history and background, 

and he presents the remarkable result 

in his beautifully written 338-page paperback. A 

similar excerpt also could appear on Sports Illustrated’s 

Web site, si.com. 

WILL JERSEY DEAL FLY? 

Hold the bubbly for a few more days. njbiz.com/ 

weekly raises the spectre that tax breaks that 

would leave the Atlantic City casinos unscathed 

financially supporting the state’s three race 

tracks may not pass legislative muster. Other 

sources report bickering between racing’s segments 

over how the $30 million will be split for 

distribution. Freehold Raceway, meanwhile, 

is raising purses 7% as the first step in restoring 

them to levels that existed before cuts, and 

SBOANJ president Tom Luchento called the 

move “a step in the right direction” and said he 

will be meeting with Senator Dick Codey 

and Dennis Dowd to discuss the distribution 

issue between tracks and horsemen. 

COMPETITION FOR MICHIGAN 

Michigan’s harness tracks, already beset by 

competition from casinos in downtown Detroit, 

Windsor and outstate Indian operations, now 

face the prospect of new competition from the 

sale of the Silverdome in Pontiac. Three new 

groups showed up in the third round of bidding 

for the huge arena, but one did submit the 

$100,000 opening bid, and a second wants to 

lease rather than buy, which is not what Pontiac 

wants. That outfit, Global Baseball Inc., is 

proposing a world baseball league, similar to the 

Olympics according to Crainsdetroit.com, that 

would play all games in the Silverdome. Its promoters, 

headed by president and CEO Curtis 

Henderson, think they could realize $30 million 

a year in naming rights. One new bidder, U.S. 

Hospitality Inc., has offered $32 million for the 

site, another bidder wants to open a new Indian 

casino, and a third -- Silver Stallion -- wants to 

put a racetrack under the giant arena’s roof. 

Still another, developer Samir Danou, proposes 

a $91 million indoor water park, a $40 million 

soccer field, a $60 million horseracing track, a 

$38 million hotel and a $45 million convention 

center. The sale process began six years ago. 

SCI GAMES RENEWS NASSAU 

Scientific Games has replaced its existing tote 

service contract with Nassau Regional OTB on 

Long Island, and signed a second contract to 

provide its new Trackplay advanced deposit wagering 

system. A new digital Interactive Voice 

Response telephone wagering system is part of 

the deal, which is for six years and expected to 

generate $2 million in annual revenue. 

YO GUYS, BABY NEEDS SHOES 

All of you have received your dues allocation 

survey forms. Please have them filled out and 

returned to HTA. We know you’re busy, 

but we like to eat.





March 18, 2008 

YOU’VE HEARD THIS BEFORE 

Vernon Downs is in limbo again, with horsemen 

suing and the New York State Racing and Wagering 

Board scheduling a hearing March 26 on 

whether Jeff Gural’s closing the track four days 

early last fall violated its license. Vernon is scheduled 

to open a month from today, but the racing 

board says it is likely to consider the track’s 

application at its April hearing, which has not 

yet been scheduled. The horsemen’s lawyer, Joe 

Faraldo, told the Syracuse Post-Standard, “We’ve 

done everything we’re supposed to do under the 

agreement,” and said horsemen had incurred 

costs having to drive to Saratoga and other 

places to race. Which raises a question? Have 

the horsemen considered that they may have to 

make their trips permanently if Vernon closes. 

Jeff Gural calls their stance disgraceful, saying, 

“These horsemen are just totally unappreciative 

of everything we have tried to do. I have paid all 

the bills so they could train here since January 

2005.” With the new racing law tax break that 

he was largely responsible for, Gural offered to 

add four days to this year’s season, but Faraldo 

told the Post-Standard the horsemen don’t trust 

Gural’s promises. The death wish continues. 

STILL HOPE IN ILLINOIS 

Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, who proposed 

an $11 billion state capital plan in his budget address, 

says he will not allow a raise in taxes to pay 

for the proposed state infrastructure program. 

He says he is willing to discuss gambling expansion 

as an alternative funding source for creation 

and repairs of existing bridges, roads and 

schools, but he prefers his plan to lease the state 

lottery. If the discussion resumes in Springfield, 

racing in Illinois is likely to get another shot at 

slots. 

PLEASE RETURN YOUR DUES 

SURVEY TODAY 

THE BOSTON BEAT 

A new development in the Battle of Boston. The 

Boston Herald reports that state senator Steven 

Panagiotakos, chairman of the Senate Ways and 

Means Committee, has a Plan B if Gov. Deval Patrick’s 

three-casino plan is defeated in the House, 

which the Herald says “now appears increasingly 

likely.” Panagiotakos says if the House kills the 

Patrick bill, he will seek a statewide referendum 

because “the issue is too important to be quashed 

amid a series of increasingly personal recriminations 

between Gov. Patrick and House Speaker 

Sal DiMasi.” The senator says putting the issue 

to voters in November, while a non-binding referendum, 

would give a clear sense of public opinion. 

“You have to try to utilize every avenue you 

have if you think something is important enough 

to be done,” he said. To get his measure on the 

ballot, the senator would have to gain approval 

in both houses of the legislature, and if the House 

can kill Patrick’s bill, it is unlikely to revive it by 

voting for a referendum. Hearings start today. 

SUBSIDY BILL TO CORZINE 

The New Jersey Senate yesterday voted, 38-1, 

to send the $90 million, 3-year casino support 

measure for racing to Gov. Corzine. Signature 

seems certain, since the governor’s team worked 

out the details. Now the question becomes division 

of the spoils, at meetings of horsemen and 

management already scheduled. 

DAN PATCH IS HARDCOVER 

Crazy Good, Charlie Leerhsen’s superb book 

on Dan Patch due in bookstores June 3, will be 

a hardcover, not a paperback as reported here 

yesterday. The editor’s proof copy was an impressive 

paperback, but Simon & Schuster is going 

all out with the hardcover version for which 

orders are being taken now at Amazon.





March 19, 2008 

BIG PLANS AT INDIANA DOWNS 

Things are on a fast track at HTA’s Indiana Downs, 

which has previewed its plans for a 230,000 squarefoot 

Las Vegas style entertainment complex to be 

called Indiana Live, with a bow to Woodbine. Ross 

Mangano, the Downs’ chairman, said the track is 

paying the state $250 million in license fees and 

will be spending another $180 million in building 

Indiana Live. Mangano made a point of emphasizing 

that his track was not in competition 

with Indianapolis entertainment-wise. “We’re not 

competition to the city of Indianapolis. We’re a 

complement to the city of Indianapolis,” he said, 

and undoubtedly will tell the Indiana Gaming 

Commission the same thing on March 31. Helio 

Castroneves, the two-time Indy 500 winner and 

Dancing with the Stars champion, was present for 

the preview, and told Eyewitness News, “I think 

the night life is going to be the best part. Obviously 

the gaming is going to be incredible. It’s no 

question it’s going to be fun.” Indiana Live will 

open in a temporary facility in May or June, with 

full gaming following in July, and the Indiana Live 

Casino scheduled to open early next year. 

CAL EXPO HOSTS EAST- WEST 

The second annual East-West Invitational Driving 

Challenge for amateur drivers will be raced 

at Cal-Expo in Sacramento Friday and Saturday 

nights, April 4 and 5, following success of the 

inaugural of the event last spring. A seasoned 

East team of five top C.K.G. Billings amateurs 

-- Bob Troyer of Ohio, George Casale of New 

York, Steve Oldford of Michigan, Scott Woogen 

of Virginia and Howie Gelfand of Ontario -- will 

take on a young and relatively inexperienced 

West crew of Sabrina Shaw, Susan Boyce, Jason 

Maier and Rick Bertrand. TrackMaster’s David 

Siegel, prime mover of the event and a successful 

amateur driver himself, says, “We are lucky 

to have horsemen who clearly understand 

both short and long-term benefits of a 

solid amateur program. 

SHED A TEAR FOR A FAVORITE 

For those who raced and worked at Sportsman’s 

Park in Chicago -- the editor included -- this 

week’s news brought sentimental reflections. 

The town of Cicero, where the track actually was 

located, announced the winner in the bidding to 

build an outdoor festival park featuring water 

fountains and a band. The project will occupy 

10 acres of the 89 acres of former Sportsman’s 

property, extending from Laramie Avenue to Cicero 

Avenue, which is how old Sportsman’s got 

its name as Chicago’s Intown Track. The other 

79 acres of the property will be transformed into 

retail stores and a reconfigured parking lot. Cicero 

bought the Sportsman’s property for $18 

million in 2003, and will receive $28 million from 

the John Buck company of Chicago, which will 

oversee the entire project. 

BAD NEWS FOR GOV. PATRICK 

Unless he pulls a political rabbit out of a hat, it 

appears Gov. Deval Patrick’s magic has failed 

in Boston, as House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s organized 

opposition appears to have doomed the 

governor’s three-casino plan. The defeat could 

provide another legislative opportunity for discussion 

of slots at HTA’s Plainridge Racecourse, 

although one bill proposing that died in committee 

yesterday. Another bill that would give 

Plainridge slots awaits a hearing, hopefully in 

the next two weeks. Its sponsor, House Speaker 

David Flynn, said he had convinced the House to 

consider it, despite this week’s deadline for committee 

reports. 

MAGNA MAY NOT OK MD SLOTS 

In his first major assignment as executive vice 

president of racing for Magna Entertainment, 

former Ohio racing commissioner Scott Borgemenke 

told the Maryland racing commission 

that Magna had not yet decided whether it will 

support proposed slots legislation. Joe De- 

Francis may be trying to rebuy Laurel.





March 20, 2008 

GARY GETS THE CREDIT 

Unless the full House rejects a committee recommendation 

today, Gov. Deval Patrick’s casino 

solution is dead, and the man who killed it 

gave credit yesterday to Plainridge Racecourse 

president and CEO Gary Piontkowski. Richard 

Ross, one of the few Republicans in the Massachusetts 

legislature, sealed the doom of the Patrick 

proposal late yesterday afternoon when he 

switched his vote from yes to no. Proponents of 

the bill blamed House Speaker Sal DiMasi for 

pressuring Ross into switching, but Ross said he 

was most influenced by the arguments presented 

to him by Piontkowski, who is a constituent, 

Ross representing Plainridge’s district. Prior 

to Ross changing his vote, the measure was tied 

9-9 in the legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic 

Development. His switch made it 10-8 

against the proposal, which all in sight, including 

the governor, concluded would send it to 

defeat today on the House floor. After what the 

Boston Herald called “a bizarre chain of events 

in which committee leaders extended voting by 

four hours, from noon to 4 p.m., allowing fierce 

lobbying to continue,” Ross switched his vote 

and administered the death blow minutes before 

the 4 p.m. deadline. Ross, facing a battalion of 

television cameras, told reporters, “Ultimately, I 

started to hear from constituents I represent and 

the tracks that I represent. It’s about doing the 

right thing for the people I represent. At the end 

of the day, that’s what it boils down to.” Asked 

if Speaker DiMasi pressured him into switching 

the vote, Ross replied that he had met with 

DiMasi and Rep. Dan Bosley, chairman of the 

economic development committee, in the closing 

hours of the debate, but said, “I know the 

speaker would have taken wherever I went on 

this. I am a minority party member. There is 

not a lot the Speaker has over me in terms 

of influence.” The House was expected to 

consider the matter around 1 p.m. EDT. 

OHIO KENO FACES PROBLEMS 

Another governor has run into trouble with a 

bill he supports. Ohio’s Gov. Ted Strickland 

had his financial control of the Ohio Lottery 

Commission stripped from him by the Republican 

legislature, and that body then entertained 

legislation that could lead to public hearings on 

the keno gaming expansion bill, and perhaps ultimately 

kill it. Strickland told reporters, “I’m 

not deliriously happy about it,” and called keno 

a way of addressing projected budget shortfalls 

without raising taxes. Under the administration 

proposal, Ohio tracks would be included in operating 

keno, with new pools every four minutes. 

OTHER INTERESTING DOINGS 

AT CAL-EXPO, a $57,000 superfecta, created 

by a $52 winner, a 58-1 place horse, a 13-1 show 

horse and a 9-2 fourth place finisher. 

IN ALBANY, NY, after 10 buses carried 1,500 

New York City OTB employees to its doorstep, 

the state Senate was giving consideration to a 

budget proposal from its majority leader, Joe 

Bruno, that would defer NYCOTB payments 

totaling $2 million for April and May, hopefully 

satisfying Mayor Michael Bloomberg and allowing 

OTB to escape his June closing date. OTB 

was not thrilled, however, with legislative affairs 

director Dan Wray saying, “It doesn’t save any 

money for OTB, it defers it.” 

IN MICHIGAN, a group called Post It Stables 

was granted a license for a 63-day thoroughbred 

meeting this year in Romulus, near Detroit’s Metropolitan 

Airport, to be raced with a temporary 

stand seating 2,000. Part owner Jerry Campbell 

said plans for a permanent grandstand seating 

6,000 and a 120-day to 160-day meeting were in 

the works for 2009. Michigan was threatened 

with no thoroughbred racing for the first time 

since 1933 when Great Lakes Downs announced 

its 2007 meeting was its last.





March 21, 2008 

KILLED IN COLD BLOOD 

The pundits and vote counters in Massachusetts 

were right. Gov. Deval Patrick’s slots bill calling 

for three casinos but no racinos, which was 

effectively killed in committee Wednesday after 

furious lobbying, arrived dead on arrival on the 

full House floor yesterday. Final rites were pronounced 

in a 106-48 vote. The defeat was a huge 

victory for House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who sank 

the governor’s legislation almost single-handedly 

with his lobbying, and reaped final success with 

a final hour vote switch of Rep. Richard Ross, 

who represents Plainridge Racecourse’s district. 

Ross bided his time before his critical last 

minute switch, according to the Boston Globe’s 

Boston.com, “eating from a bin full of red licorice.” 

The color red continued when he switched 

to break a 9-9 tie, making the committee vote 

10-8 against the governor’s bill and sending it 

to bloody execution by the full house after six 

months of consideration and debate. The Globe 

called it a foregone conclusion, reporting, “Most 

lawmakers leaned back in their chairs during six 

hours of testimony, nodding off, attempting to 

finish crossword puzzles, and writing text messages 

on their cellphones.” Law, like baloney, is 

something you don’t want to watch being made. 

So where to from here? Rep. David Flynn, the 

longest-serving member of the House, has introduced 

a bill for slots at the state’s four tracks, 

with each getting 2,500, but Speaker DiMasi has 

in the past been vehemently opposed to the idea. 

Gary Piontkowski, president and CEO of Plainridge 

who was credited with changing Ross’ 

mind on his decisive vote, said, “I’m hoping we 

can all get together now and the governor can say 

‘I need the revenue now because I lost casinos,’ 

and DiMasi will agree too. Am I optimistic? I’m 

not doing cartwheels that I think we’re going to 

get this, but I know one thing. We won’t 

be mudded by the casinos and the casino 

culture arguments.” 

SNOW WHITE OUT OF ACTION 

Snow White, the phenomenal champion 2-yearold 

trotting filly who was first choice in this 

year’s Experimental Championship Ratings for 

3-year-olds, has undergone throat surgery by Dr. 

Michael Ross at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania 

and will miss early stakes action. The filly 

will require stall rest for two weeks, then start 

light training, and trainer Kevin Lare says he 

hopes the surgery is a success. The success date, 

according to Dr. Normand Ducharme of Cornell 

University, is 60%. 

MILLHOAN RITES MONDAY 

Funeral services for William (Bill) Millhoan, 

the 65-year-old past president of the Delaware 

County Fair and a member and strong supporter 

of the Little Brown Jug society, will be held 

Monday at the Rodman Neeper funeral home in 

Delaware. Millhoan oversaw construction of the 

Jug Barn and was responsible for the design of 

the Jugette Barn at the Fairgrounds where the 

Jug is presented annually as an American racing 

classic. 

YOU LOST MONEY OVERNIGHT 

If you were one of three winners of the Cal-Expo 

dime superfecta who went to collect the $57,000 

that appeared on the screen and in the race 

chart -- and in a Cal-Expo release quoted here 

yesterday -- our simultaneous congratulations 

and regrets. Bets under a dollar apparently can 

generate problems for tote systems, which in this 

case interpreted the payoff as 10 times its actual 

value. 

NEW POST TIME FOR DAN 

Simon & Schuster, the publisher of Charlie Leershen’s 

Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, 

has moved the publication date from June 3 to 

May 20, the day after a 6,000-word excerpt 

will appear in Sports Illustrated.




Stanley F. Bergstein, Editor March 24, 2008 

MASSACHUSETTS AFTERMATH 

In the wake of the resounding defeat of Gov. Deval 

Patrick’s three-casino bill with no racinos, Massachusetts 

legislators and the governor must now 

figure out how to pay their bills. A study done by 

Clyde Barrow of the University of Massachusetts 

Dartmouth Center for Policy Analysis doesn’t 

help matters. It says that 2007 marked the fifth 

straight year where Massachusetts residents bet 

more than a billion dollars at casinos in Rhode 

Island and Connecticut, and made 8 million trips 

to do it. Barrow says that the legislature will have 

to consider gaming in Massachusetts to meet the 

crisis. “We are moving into a new phase of the 

debate,” he told the press, saying “As long as 

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are sitting over there, 

this will never end.” Barrows says the Massachusetts 

play at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun last 

year totaled $846 million, and they bet another 

$195 million at the Newport Grand casino in Rhode 

Island. Those numbers, he says, generated $233 

million in taxes for the two states, with $117 million 

going to Rhode Island and Connecticut getting 

$117 million. Opponents of casinos in Massachusetts 

dispute Barrows’ methods, according 

to the Boston Globe’s Boston.com. Barrows uses 

Massachusetts license plates counted during a 

five-day survey as a measuring tool, and estimates 

the individual play of the passengers of those cars. 

Rep. Dan Bosley, a key player in the defeat of 

governor Patrick’s proposal for three casinos, 

said, “We haven’t put much stock in Dr. Barrow’s 

numbers in the past,” and he didn’t know how they 

would hold up in the current difficult financial times. 

Entertainment, owners of Pimlico and Laurel, in 

saying they were uncertain about supporting the 

campaign for a slot vote in November. The two 

questioned the need for active support of the campaign, 

which could cost as high as $15 million, saying 

he felt the battle may already be won, with a 

majority of Marylanders indicating support of the 

idea in polls. “It’s going to take a lot of bad press 

to turn public opinion around,” Rickman said. 

Reports in Maryland were that Ocean Downs and 

Laurel, but not Pimlico and Rosecroft, would get 

slots, but that could change in the eight months 

until November. Borgemenke made that point, 

saying, “It’s awfully early to decide whether this 

thing has a chance or not.” Gerard Evans, a lobbyist 

for Maryland’s thoroughbred horsemen, said, 

“This is going to be a very expensive campaign. 

Without the full financial participation of all the 

stakeholders, we simply won’t have the money to 

do the job.” 

A QUEBEC EXODUS? 

Canadian harness racing journalist and editor 

Harold Howe, writing in the Hamilton, Ontario, 

Spectator, says harness racing in Quebec is in 

crisis mode, and the horse population in the province 

may shift in significant numbers to Ontario. 

Tying his article to the cutback in racing dates 

and operations of Paul Massicotte’s four Attractions 

Hippiques tracks, including one in Montreal 

and another in Quebec City, thinks Flamboro 

Downs will get many of the top Montreal stables, 

and lower class horses may head for Rideau 

Carleton in Ottawa. 

RICKMAN ON MD SLOTS 

William Rickman, the owner of Ocean Downs in 

Maryland, has told the Washington Post 

that he is undecided as to whether he will 

support legislation for slots. Rickman 

joined Scott Borgemenke of Magna 

RECENT JOB DOINGS 

Pete Savage now is president and GM at Tioga 

Downs and Vernon Downs and Jason Bluhm has 

been named director of racing for both 

tracks. Jim Beviglia has been named race 

announcer at Mohegan Sun at Pocono 

Downs.





March 25, 2008 

TWO DAYS LEFT FOR KY SLOTS 

As Kentucky House Speaker Jody Richards announced 

that a constitutional amendment vote to 

legalize slots in the Bluegrass had only two days 

to pass in this session, the bill’s principal proponent, 

Gov. Steve Beshear, called House Democrats 

together for a last gasp final push for the 

measure. Beshear told them if they could muster 

the 60 votes necessary for passage, it would put 

“an extreme amount of pressure on the Senate to 

step up and consider this amendment.” Speaker 

Richards said he didn’t think Beshear changed 

anyone’s mind, but that a budget passed Monday 

by the Senate would help the slots cause 

because “I don’t think we can live with that.” 

Track operators met privately with Beshear in 

his office yesterday, but the prospects of passage 

are dim. John-Mark Hack, the leader of a group 

called Say No to Casinos, told the Lexington Herald-Leader’s 

Janet Patton, “I can’t imagine the 

circumstances in which they think they have a 

chance to get this out of the House.” The governor 

still is 10 votes short, with only 48 hours 

to go for passage of the amendment vote. Eight 

days remain in the legislative session, but Speaker 

Richards, a Democrat, says the measure will 

be dead if not passed by tomorrow. 

GOV. PATRICK FIGHTS ON 

The slots voting is over in Massachusetts, where 

another governor went down to defeat. Deval 

Patrick is still fighting, however, not canceling a 

$189,000 study with Spectrum Gaming of New 

Jersey hoping to prove his contentions about the 

benefits of his three-casino, no-racino plan. Senator 

Mark Montigney, chairman of the Bonding 

Committee, questioned the wisdom of the survey. 

“My sense is once a bill is dead for the year,” he 

said, “cut the spigot off, because consultants will 

always continue to bill hours and keep the 

clock running.” They also turn to trade 

associations like HTA to obtain figures. 

BEACH IN DELAWARE (OHIO) 

Somebeachsomewhere, the undefeated 2-yearold 

pacing champion of last season and top-rated 

in this year’s Experimental Championship Ratings, 

heads a list of 144 3-year-old pacing colts 

and geldings currently eligible for the 2008 Little 

Brown Jug classic. The colt’s co-owner, manager 

and new trainer, Brent MacGrath, says in an 

interview in The Harness Edge that the Schooner 

Stable star out of Truro, Nova Scotia, may or 

may not skip the Jug and its heat-racing format. 

The first eight colts in the USTA Experimental 

Handicap, compiled by this editor for the last 43 

years, are nominated for the Ohio spectacle in 

August. 

PUMP 100,000 GALLONS MORE 

That may have been the command of Sheikh 

Mohammed bin Rashid-al-Maktoum to his supernumeraries 

this week, after he spent somewhere 

between $418 million and $600 million 

(the reports differ wildly) to buy one of Australia’s 

biggest horse farms for his Darley Stud. 

The seller, Bog Ingham, owns Woodlands Stud in 

New South Wales. The Sydney Morning Herald 

quoted Ingham as saying he had not been contemplating 

selling his vast thoroughbred holdings, 

but “once approached by Darley, I decided 

it was an opportunity that I should accept.” Are 

you sure, Bob? Ingham, a major part of the Australian 

racing scene for 40 years, says the deal 

includes his stables in Sydney and Melbourne, 

two stud farms, two pre-training complexes, and 

more than 1,000 horses. Ingham says he will 

continue racing horses. 

RCI, RMTC MEET IN TEXAS 

The Association of Racing Commissioners International’s 

four-day conference gets underway in 

Austin, Texas, today, and the Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium also meets there. Brody 

Johnson is representing HTA at both meetings.


DOVER DOWNS: VEGAS EAST 

HTA member Dover Downs, where the blessings 

of slots properly used are producing some of the 

highest purses in the sport, is about to add a major 

first to racing. Come late summer, Dover will 

open a 70,000-square foot Colonnade, taking a 

cue from Las Vegas. The facility will bring high 

end shopping -- Gucci purses and Godiva chocolates 

among them -- to the nation’s largest racetrack 

in terms of capacity. Dover’s auto racing 

stands hold 150,000 or more, and many of those 

racegoers, along with visitors to its slots, stay at 

Dover’s own hotel for long weekends. The new 

Colonnade will have 500 slots of its own, three 

new restaurants, and a circular bar with special 

lighting effects and a small stage for added live 

entertainment. Eric Ruth, writing a highly favorable 

story in the Wilmington News Journal, 

reported, “By broadening the diversity of its attractions 

-- and committing enough capital to 

give it all the appropriate glitz -- Dover Downs 

hopes to keep pace in a market that is becoming 

far more competitive just over the line in Pennsylvania, 

and which holds potential of establishing 

itself in Maryland.” Visually, the Colonnade 

is designed to fit in with the casino while simultaneously 

setting itself apart. Curving surfaces 

and arched architectural details soar above the 

intricate patterns of the tiled floors. At the center 

of the new Fire and Ice Lounge, a crystal 

sculpture will combine images of flame and melting 

ice, and comfy sofas and curtains will aim to 

foster intimacy. Each restaurant and shop will 

be located near an entrance, and -- unlike Vegas 

-- customers won’t have to walk through the 

crowded Dover casino to get to the attractions. 

The contractor’s supervisor told Ruth, “As far 

as a geometric project, it’s the most complex I’ve 

ever been involved in.” Dover’s senior director 

of design and construction, Rich Wertz, 

says the new bar’s metalflake-enhanced 

terrazzo floor “is going to shine like ice.” 




March 26, 2008 

It’s not surprising. Dover’s casino reflects the 

leadership of Ed Sutor, the 6-foot-8 former basketball 

player for St. Peters in New Jersey who 

got his training at Caesars, and the new project 

sounds like Caesars East. 

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES 

Atlantic City’s casinos, flexing their bulging 

muscles again in New Jersey, have won another 

round. They have convinced the Atlantic City 

Council to modify a full-court no-smoking ban 

in a compromise where it will apply only if the 

casinos do not construct airport-like smoking 

lounges within 90 days. In a frank announcement 

of the amended rules, councilman George 

Tibbitt told the Press of Atlantic City, “We will 

not sacrifice the health of our casinos’ workers 

any longer. But I pushed for this because I 

don’t want to hurt the casinos.” Of course not, 

George. New Jersey’s Department of Community 

Affairs, the state agency that oversees Atlantic 

City casino construction, says the 11 AC casinos 

have been slow to respond to its questions, and 

not one of the 11 has received approval to begin 

building the smoking lounges as of now. 

Here in Arizona, where Indian casinos took in 

revenue of $1.94 billion last year, the Tohono 

O’odham tribe’s new Desert Diamond casinohotel 

is a model for all. Arizona’s biggest, it cost 

the tribe $125 million, and opened last October 

with opulence, including cascading waterfalls 

over pebbled walls. A mile or so from the Tucson 

International Airport, it features whirlpools and 

flat screen TVs in the hotel rooms, and smoke-free 

slots, poker rooms and restaurants. The casino is 

considered an economic engine for Tucson, and 

has 100,000 members in its players’ club, which 

tracks play with state-of-the-art equipment. The 

facility has 1,089 slots, a 270-seat bingo hall, 29 

poker tables, 23 blackjack tables, and an air filtering 

system that replaces stale air with 

fresh every 10 minutes.





March 27, 2008 

THE SHADOW ON THE WALL 

what will erode that revenue stream,” he said. 

The betting exchange Betfair, still battling and In other Australian racing states, New South 

struggling for every foothold it can gain, won a Wales racing chief Peter V’Landys said following 

the decision that Betfair “should be given the 

major victory yesterday and sent shock waves 

through Australia when the nation’s High Court opportunity to make applications like any other 

ruled against Western Australian rules that wagering operator, and if it meets the criteria it 

banned local residents from placing bets using can field on New South Wales events.” But he 

the exchange. Originated in England and with noted that in the past Betfair wanted to pay a 

a Down Under base in Tasmania, across the Tasman 

Sea from Australia, Betfair had infiltrated Victoria, racing said it would await advice from 

smaller fee to racing than any other parties. In 

Western Australia until the state banned the service. 

The High Court ruled that the action con- 

the decision on racing legislation. An online 

the state government concerning the impact of 

travened the constitution by imposing protectionist 

burdens on interstate trade. Backed by High Court decision “a step forward in opening 

sportsbook operator, Con Kafataris, called the 

the hugely wealthy Packer family in the southern 

hemisphere, Betfair operates on matching ern Australia online news agency ran a headline, 

up the national wagering market.” One West- 

bets, and allows betting on horses to lose as well “Betfair could cripple WA racing industry.” 

as win. Ted van Heernst, chairman of racing in More will be heard on this in the months ahead. 

Perth, Western Australia’s largest city, said Betfair 

“undermines the financial viability of racing 

long term,” and many in racing agree with 

ARTHUR SPEAKS FORCEFULLY 

Dr. Rick Arthur, the California veterinarian who 

his view. “The economic model that Betfair operates 

under does not compensate the industry 

gave up a lucrative veterinary practice to become 

a major force in the administration of medication 

rules and regulations in the US, spoke up 

for putting on the show,” van Heernst said. The 

gaming minister of Western Australia, Ljiljanna 

strongly at the Racing Commissioners International 

conference in Austin, Texas, yesterday. 

Ravlich, agreed, saying, “The big loser out of the 

decision is the Western Australia racing industry.” 

The decision said the anti-Betfair legislation 

He disputed the testimony of Dr. Don Catlin, the 

much publicized former head of the Anti-Doping 

Research Institute at UCLA, who said horse 

was discriminatory and protectionist because, 

instead of providing for a neutral contribution 

racing is not ready to regulate steroids. Arthur 

to persons conducting Western Australian races, 

said he disputed Dr. Catlin’s knowledge of drug 

“it had a tendency to exclude Betfair.” One racing 

official said, “If it looks like something the 

testing in America, said steroid testing is not a 

difficult rule to administer, and urged state racing 

commissions to adopt the Racing Medication 

public embraces, we’ll set up our own service, 

similar to Betfair.” In Queensland, on Australia’s 

opposite eastern coast, the chief of racing 

and Testing Consortium’s rules on steroids. The 

RMTC’s home state, Kentucky, where horsemen 

operations, Malcolm Tuttle, said the racing industry 

might approach the state government to 

hold a powerful sway, announced it would wait 

a while. The RMTC recommended that all state 

amend laws to protect wagering growth. “Our 

jurisdictions follow its guidelines, but that a 

major revenue streams come through wagering 

with Unitab (off track betting), 

90-day grace period be invoked to inform horsemen 

of the rule and consequences of its violation. 

Dr. Scot Waterman of RMTC says 

so we won’t be making any decisions on 

25 states are moving to adopt the rule.





March 28, 2008 

JOBS OPEN IN TIGHT MARKET 

Things are tight in racing, as in everything else, 

these days, but two attractive jobs are open. The 

Meadowlands is looking for a Director of Properties 

and Tracks for both harness and thoroughbred 

racing, to oversee track maintenance 

and work closely with race secretaries, horsemen 

and officials to assure top quality racing surfaces. 

The job entails overall control of equipment, 

preparing operating and capital budgets, planning 

and directing preventative building maintenance 

and repairs for barns and backstretch 

buildings, managing Meadowlands horse sales, 

overseeing daily operation of the Carpentry 

Shop, and overseeing vehicle maintenance, the 

stall office, equine hospital and recreation hall. 

Five to eight years experience in track maintenance 

is a requirement, as is landscaping and 

ground maintenance and familiarity with vehicle 

maintenance procedures. If interested, fax your 

resume to Donna Hazelgreen at 201-935-4262, 

e-mail dhazelgreen@njsea.com, or write her at 

The Meadowlands Racetrack, 50 State Route 

120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073. 

A year-round job as Parimutuel Manager, with 

competitive wages, health and other benefits, 

and a 401K plan, is available at Tioga Downs. E- 

mail resume and salary requirements to jason@ 

tiogadowns.com, or write to Jason Settlemoir, 

vice president, Tioga Downs, 2384 River Road, 

P.O. Box 509, Nichols, NY 13812. 

SLOTS OFFICIALLY DEAD IN KY 

The governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, announced 

yesterday that his slots plan, a major 

plank in his election campaign, had failed and 

was dead for this year’s session of the legislature. 

Needing 60 votes to send it to a public vote on 

constitutional amendment next November, 

the measure stalled in the low 50s, and 

Beshear confirmed yesterday that the 

votes were not there and not obtainable. 

AUSSIE RACING THREATENED 

The betting exchange Betfair, which began operations 

Down Under in Tasmania and then grabbed 

a foothold in Perth in Western Australia and 

won an Australian High Court victory this week, 

now can offer bets in the entire nation, including 

Australia’s two biggest eastern cities, Sydney 

in New South Wales and Melbourne in Victoria. 

The development threatens the billion dollar wagering 

businesses of Tabcorp and Tatts Group, 

which have enjoyed monopoly status, and puts 

heavy pressure on state taxes nationwide. The 

head of New South Wales’ government review 

into Betfair, Alan Cameron, said yesterday the 

High Court decision puts “significant obstacles” 

in preventing Betfair from operating. A Tabcorp 

spokesman, Bruce Tobin, said the High Court’s 

decision puts funding for racing in Australia at 

risk, with “state governments rapidly losing control 

over their wagering markets.” The decision, 

mandating equal treatment for all betting entities, 

also likely means that bookmakers now will 

be able to advertise their services in both Sydney 

and Melbourne and everywhere else in the 

country. That would impact both ontrack and 

TAB handle, but the main danger comes from 

Betfair itself, which has proposed paying New 

South Wales, for example, 27 cents of every $100 

bet, compared to the bookmakers paying $1 and 

the TAB paying $5. 

WANT TO BUILD A TRACK? 

Here’s what to expect. Centaur had its Pennsylvania 

Valley View plans approved by a township 

planning commission. Now it faces 11 conditions, 

including state approval, county conservation 

district approval, wetland provisions, sewer 

construction, storm water plans, erosion control, 

light and sign variances, and building elevation 

variances. The township engineer said of the 

project, “A development this big is something 

you would hope for but no one expects.”





NO VOTE LIKELY IN MASS 

It now appears that voters in Massachusetts will 

not get to express an opinion in November on casino 

gaming in the state. Following the defeat 

of Gov. Deval Patrick’s three-casino-no-racino 

plan, there was an initial push for a November 

referendum, but the enthusiasm has cooled. To 

make the ballot, a referendum motion would 

have to pass in both state Senate and House, and 

there seems to be no inclination on the part of 

legislators in either body to push for the idea. 

State senator Steven Panagiotakos, who suggested 

the referendum, now says there is hesitation, 

even from people who are supportive of the idea, 

and he doubts the House would approve. Panagiotakos 

says if they change their minds, the state 

has until June to get the issue on the ballot, and 

even then it would be non-binding. He thinks a 

referendum vote will have a better chance then, 

when the Massachusetts budget crunch is likely 

to be even more severe than now. 

MDI RESTRUCTURING POSSIBLE 

A proposal has surfaced for MI Developments 

Inc. (MID), the real estate holding company that 

is the controlling shareholder in Magna Entertainment 

Corp. (MEC), to sell off its interest in 

the racetrack and gaming company. The proposed 

restructuring of the two companies, each 

of which is controlled by Frank Stronach, involves 

MID selling its 59 percent stake in MEC 

to an unidentified third party for $25 million. 

The proposal comes amid pressure from shareholders 

for MID to refrain from acting as banker 

of last resort for financially troubled MEC. 

According to SEC documents, the objectives of 

the proposal are to make a substantial cash disbursement 

to shareholders of MDI and to create 

a focused real estate company that will distribute 

up to 80 percent of its cash flow. The 

deal is conditional upon auto parts giant 

Magna International Inc. providing financial 

support for a new real estate com- 

March 31, 2008 

pany with $1 billion in loans. MID owns the land 

under many of Magna’s auto parts factories and 

hold majority interest in MEC. 

In other news from MEC, the company filed a 

proxy statement last Friday seeking shareholder 

approval for a reverse stock split. The proposal 

would consolidate shares with a ratio on the reverse 

split of between 1 to 10 and 1 to 20 shares 

in an effort to boost the firm’s share price, which 

has hovered for several weeks near a price of 30 

cents per share. 

TRACKS GET NJ PROTECTION 

When New Jersey’s government shut down for 

three days two years ago over a budget stalemate, 

tracks and casinos had to shut down because 

state investigators were idled. Losses ran 

in the millions, both to the tracks and casinos 

and the state. A budget crisis is imminent again, 

and this time legislators are scurrying to make 

sure their Atlantic City darlings are protected. 

The tracks happily are included in their plans. 

State senator Jeff Van Drew, leading the effort, 

told the Newark Star-Ledger, “To close the casinos 

only intensfies and exacerbates these budget 

problems. The gambling halls lost about $55 million 

of their own and the state $3 million in state 

revenue when they closed in 2006.” Fifty-five 

million in three days? Try multiplying that number 

and it’s hard to generate compassion, but it’s 

nice the legislators are at least thinking of letting 

us ride along with anti-shutdown protection. 

INDOOR RACING HAS PROBLEM 

Michigan lawyer Wallace Parker, who wants to 

put horse racing inside the Pontiac Silverdome, 

has a small problem. There are no licenses available 

now that the third and last one under Michigan 

law has been issued for a running track near 

the Detroit airport. Parker’s present option is 

to get the law changed or get an Indian casino, 

both involving formidable problems.


FRANK NOT FOOLING AROUND 

It may be April’s Fool Day, but Rep. Barney 

Frank of Massachusetts is dead serious in his 

efforts to legalize online gambling in the United 

States. He was to appear in his role as chairman 

of the House Committee on Financial Services 

today before another Congressional committee 

-- the Subcommittee on Domestic and International 

Monetary Policy -- to push his message 

that the federal ban against online gambling is 

“one of the stupidest things” he has ever seen. 

Frank says he wants to show not that the regulations 

of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement 

Act weren’t done well, but that they 

can’t be done well given the inherent nature of 

online betting. That act was passed as part of the 

Port Securities Act two years ago, and if Frank 

has his way his new bill, the Internet Gambling 

Regulation and Enforcement Act, would replace 

it and allow Americans to wager online. 

Frank also is waging war against the secrecy of 

the federal government in its dealings with foreign 

governments in a trade agreement negotiated 

to compensate them for the U.S. withdrawing 

from its GATS gambling commitments in 

order to deny online gambling operators access 

to the American market. He sent a letter March 

14 to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab 

asking for details of the agreements negotiated 

last December with the European Union, Japan 

and Canada. Frank complained that no dollar 

amounts have been revealed, and objected to the 

government’s contention that they were because 

of “national security implications.” Frank’s letter 

said, “If this is merely an attempt to avoid 

revealing the cost of these trade concessions, either 

because they would be viewed as too costly 

by the United States or not costly enough by the 

negotiating countries, the denial on the 

grounds of ‘national security’ would appear 

to be a misuse of the process.” 




April 1, 2008 

Coincidentally, yesterday marked a deadline for 

the U.S. to put forward a proposal to settle its 

long running international gambling dispute 

with Antigua and Barbuda. The U.S. handled 

the deadline by ignoring it, the latest in a series 

of delays and missed deadlines. 

CASINO STRIKE IN WEST VA 

More than 200 employees of the Mountaineer 

Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West 

Virginia, walked off the job Saturday to protest 

an expired labor contract. Mountaineer managers, 

supervisors and other employees filled in as 

slot technicians, cashiers and mutuel room workers, 

according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

The casino told the newspaper it was operating 

“seamlessly” and had its second highest Saturday 

of the month in slots play. The union had 

a different version, calling operations “absolute 

chaos.” The Meadows near Pittsburgh, meanwhile, 

had what a spokesman called “an extraordinary 

weekend,” but said it was difficult to tell 

what effect the West Virginia strike had because 

the Meadows had a special weekend promotion 

in which its best customers received $200 free 

play for the night. 

CALLAHAN HONORED IN NE 

Ed Callahan, vice president and general manager 

of Rockingham Park and the track’s alternate 

director on the HTA board, has been named 

to the New England Harness Writers’ Hall of 

Fame. Driver Bruce Ranger and the late horseman 

Harry Brucie also were elected to the honor. 

Callahan, who also is a director of the United 

States Trotting Association, has been involved in 

harness racing for more than 30 years and is one 

of New England’s most popular figures in the 

sport. The New England writers’ chapter also 

nominated owner David McDuffie for consideration 

for the Living Hall of Fame in Goshen, and 

nominated trainer-driver Don Richards to 

the senior Hall of Fame category.





April 2, 2008 

GRIGNOLA GETS 2 1/2 YEARS 

Bernard Grignola, a figure on the U.S. harness 

racing scene as groom and trainer for more 

than 30 years, has been suspended for 913 days 

-- from April 1 thru September 30, 2010 -- and 

fined $7,500 for fraudulent acts against racing. 

The penalty, handed down by the New Jersey 

Racing Commission, was the result of an offense 

committed far too often in racing: acting 

as a front for a suspended trainer. In Grignola’s 

case, the alleged offense was fronting for Robert 

Greenwood, a trainer suspended last November 

at Freehold Raceway for possession of needles, 

syringes, and injectable drugs. The Horseman’s 

harnessracing.com obtained the ruling from the 

New Jersey commission, and it read, in part, 

“Mr. Grignola did interfere with an investigation 

being conducted by members of the New 

Jersey Racing Commission investigative staff. 

He did engage in conspiracy related to racing by 

agreeing to be listed as the programmed trainer 

of certain horses that, by his own admission, he 

was not the trainer of, and were in fact trained 

by an individual who has been denied a New 

Jersey Racing Commission license. By acting 

as a ‘front,’ Mr. Grignola knowingly and willfully 

enabled this individual to circumvent the 

licensing requirements of the New Jersey Racing 

Commission. In addition to these horses having 

raced in other jurisdictions, Mr. Grignola attempted 

to enter at least one of these horses to 

race at the Meadowlands on Feb. 28, 2008, by 

providing false and inaccurate information upon 

declaration.” Greenwood, the trainer for whom 

Grignola fronted, received a positive test on one 

of his horses at Harrah’s Chester in Pennsylvania 

a week after he received a stay on a sixmonth 

suspension in New Jersey. The stay was 

revoked, but Greenwood continued to train and 

allegedly entered the horses to race under 

Grignola’s name as trainer. It is heartening 

to see strong action in the case. 

MAGNA, YOUBET TURBULENCE 

Problems persist for Magna Entertainment and 

Youbet. Frank Stronach stepped in to quell disquiet 

at Magna, announcing he plans to buy the 

59% stake in MEC held by his MI Developments. 

Stronach predicted the move would lead to profitability 

within two or three years, Stronach 

told the Toronto Globe and Mail in a telephone 

interview from his European headquarters in 

Vienna, saying, “It’s the interest rate that’s killing 

us.” He also said his company needs greater 

dates latitude at its California, Florida, Texas 

and Maryland tracks, saying the current restrictions 

are like telling a chef he can operate his 

restaurant only between the hours of 2 a.m. and 

5 a.m. “Racing is not free enterprise,” he said. 

“We’ve got to be able to be open when we think 

we have the most customers.” Stronach told the 

newspaper the $247 million in MEC debt that is 

being transferred out of MI Developments needs 

to be converted to equity if Magna Entertainment 

is going to be turned around. As Stronach 

talked Financial Post published a story saying 

his statement last summer that the quick departure 

of three independent directors from Magna 

International was “a coincidence” was nothing 

of the sort. The story quoted “a source close to 

the situation” as saying the directors left because 

they objected to plans being discussed for other 

Magna sources to financially bail out Magna Entertainment. 

Magna International has $2.2 billion 

in cash. 

Youbet.com, meanwhile, announced a $27.3 million 

loss for 2007, triggered by two writeoffs totaling 

$17.9 million and non-recurring charges 

of $5.2 million, leaving an operating loss of $4.4 

million, more than twice the 2006 loss. CEO 

Gary Sproule told financial analysts yesterday 

he expected 2008 to be a turnaround year, and he 

was “looking forward to getting back to basics, 

steering customers to high-yield signals.”





April 3, 2008 

BARNEY PICKS UP STEAM 

Rep. Barney Frank’s determined drive to repeal 

the Internet gambling ban pushed through 

with a port security bill two years ago by then 

Majority Leader Bill Frist (you remember him, 

don’t you?) gained ground this week. Expert 

witnesses appearing before Frank’s House Financial 

Services Committee blasted the bill as 

poorly drafted, vaguely written and ambiguous. 

Louise Roseman, head of the Federal Reserve’s 

bank operations division, told the committee, 

“The challenge we have is interpreting something, 

particularly federal laws, that Congress 

itself isn’t sure what they mean. I think it is very 

difficult (to implement) without having a bright 

line about what is intended to be unlawful Internet 

gambling.” Wayne Abernathy of the American 

Bankers Association told the subcommittee 

considering the law, that “it makes financial institutions 

the police, prosecutors and judges in 

place of real law enforcement officers.” A New 

York Times story yesterday said, “Regulations 

proposed by the U.S. Treasury and the Federal 

Reserve last fall would apply to the gambling 

business’ bank -- generally not to the gambler’s 

bank -- and require it to use due diligence to ascertain 

the nature of its customer’s business and 

ensure it is not processing illegal Internet gambling 

payments. The regulation doesn’t attempt 

a definition of illegal online gambling, since Congress 

didn’t give one.” The Times said, “The regulations 

have drawn numerous comments from 

agitated bankers, poker players and others. Officials 

from Treasury and the Fed both testified 

Wednesday to challenges in finalizing the regulations.” 

Frank said, “Almost every sector affected 

by the law complains about it.” Objecting to 

Frank’s efforts to repeal the Internet gambling 

ban is Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama. He 

helped write Frist’s law, and he called Internet 

gambling “a scourge on our society” 

that leads to addiction and crime. 

STRONACH PLAN CHALLENGED 

Frank Stronach’s plan to reorganize his nonautomotive 

holdings ran into quick opposition 

yesterday, when two of the three largest shareholders 

in MI Developments said they would 

vote to block the deal, and the Toronto Globe 

and Mail said they hold enough shares to do 

so. The paper says Hotchkis and Wiley Capital 

Management and Greenlight Capital Inc. each 

hold more than 10% of the subordinated voting 

shares of MI Developments, and explained 

that the Stronach plan cannot be completed if 

dissent rights are exercised by more than 10% 

of the class A shares. Both companies have indicated 

they intend to exercise those rights to 

prevent MI Developments from selling its stake 

in Magna Entertainment, Stronach’s racing 

arm, to Stronach for $25 million and creating 

a new real estate company. The proposed complex 

three-way deal calls for MI Developments 

to transfer $150 million in cash, $247 million 

in loans still due from MEC, and $50 million in 

real estate in Aurora, Ontario, the company’s 

headquarters, to a new company controlled by 

Stronach. He would own 10% of the new company, 

along with another 10% to be owned by 

Magna International, of which he is chairman, 

and existing shareholders of MI Development -- 

which includes Hotchkis and Wiley Capital and 

Greenlight Capital -- would own 80%, according 

to the Globe and Mail. David Green, a principal 

and portfolio manager for Hotchkis and Wiley, 

which holds 11.9% of MI Developments class A 

shares, said, “We do not understand how this 

deal can be justified.” Green said the structural 

elements of the plan make sense, and were rejected 

by MI Developments in 2005, “but the 

transfer of approximately $300 million, greater 

than 20% of the stock’s current market cap, to 

Frank Stronach in order for him to now support 

the deal is appalling. We strongly object 

and intend to vote our shares against it.”


NEW ERA BEGINS IN ONTARIO 

As Kentucky faces a regulatory crisis, Ontario 

moves into new waters with the opening of 

Woodbine’s major league thoroughbred meeting 

tomorrow. The track will be operating under recently 

passed Ontario Racing Commission rules 

calling for owner responsibility on illegal 

medication issues. Horses testing positive 

for class 1, 2 or 3 violations will automatically 

be ineligible to race for 90 days. 




April 4, 2008 

KY AUTHORITY FACES CUTS Nick Eaves, Woodbine’s 39-year-old president 

The legislators of the commonwealth of Kentucky, 

who recently rejected the wishes of their Form writer Bill Fallon, in a long and wide- 

and chief operating officer, told Daily Racing 

governor on allowing racinos and casinos in the ranging interview, that Woodbine is fully supportive 

of the new rule, saying “owner account- 

state, now have taken another step indicating 

their low esteem of racing, or at least the state ability is fundamentally fair, and should result in 

body designated to regulate it. They approved a the bettor being more confident of our product.” 

budget this week that cuts the operating funds of Eaves also expressed satisfaction that the Canadian 

government has indicated it understands 

Kentucky’s Racing Authority so sharply that the 

Authority faces the loss of as many as 20 employees 

who supervise racing in the state. Mark York, to do something about it. He said, “I would cer- 

the seriousness of pirating of signals, and intends 

the state official who oversees the Authority, says tainly consider it one of the key issues that we 

there is a concern that it will not be able to fulfill face; it hasn’t gone anywhere. We feel strongly 

its mandatory regulatory functions. Authority it’s illegal for residents of Canada to bet over 

member Tom Ludt told the Louisville Courier- the Internet in an unlicensed jurisdiction. But 

Journal, the cuts are an integrity issue that could we have a government that isn’t enforcing those 

result in “tempting people to cheat” by lessening laws, and until recently wasn’t even suggesting 

the Authority’s ability to oversee racing. Ludt that was something they were considering. At 

said unless governor Steve Beshear vetoes the least they’ve now come out and said that they’re 

measure the Authority would have to rely on the getting the sense that this issue is larger than 

tracks to monitor themselves, which he considers 

a conflict of interest. Buried deeply in the plans to do more for its big bettors, and is back- 

they once thought.” Eaves also said Woodbine 

budget bill, the racing item pares only $60,000 ing up those plans by annexing part of its media 

from the state’s $500,000 allocation, but also effectively 

cuts almost a million from the $1.4 mil- 

a private and luxurious sanctuary for one for- 

communications office and remodeling it into 

lion tracks pay for its services, exempting smaller 

tracks like the Red Mile and leaving Churchill Woodbine also will be constructing a new $12 

mer heavy hitter. During the upcoming meeting 

Downs and Keeneland to split the balance. The million, 142-stall receiving barn for its harness 

first vice chairman of the House budget committee, 

Rep. Robin Webb, said the Authority issue quarantine facility. The existing harness facility 

horses and a 32-stall dual breed detention and 

was not a major concern, and she called the Authority 

“pretty rich.” 

completion of the new barn to make room for 

adjacent to the grandstand will be torn down on 

part of the huge Woodbine Live! entertainment 

and retail complex being built on 25 acres of 

Woodbine’s vast racing property. 

WANT TO SELL YOUR TRACK? 

If so, the man to talk to is Lonny Powell, former 

president of Racing Commissioners International 

and now senior executive and advisor of Gaming 

and Pari-Mutuel Racing Consulting. He 

has buyers at 859-321-2168 and his email 

is imdgotoguy@yahoo.com. No kidding.


ARNEAULT LEAVING MTR 

The Wheeling, WVA, News-Register reports that 

Ted Arneault, chairman and CEO of Mountaineer 

Gaming Group for the last 13 years, may be 

leaving the company at the end of the year. The 

paper quoted the company’s annual report to 

the SEC which included the notation, “We have 

entered into employment agreements with Mr. 

Arneault which will expire on Dec. 31, 2008. Mr. 

Arneault has advised us that after 13 years as 

CEO, he does not intend to enter a new employment 

agreement, but would remain for a reasonable 

period if required for a smooth transition.” 

MTR also reported losses of $11.35 million, including 

losses from discontinued operations for 

2007. The news comes as 200 members of the 

United Food and Commercial workers continue 

their strike at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack 

and Resort in Chester, demanding better health 

care benefits. Mountaineer has obtained a temporary 

restraining order that limits the number 

of pickets at the site and prohibits them from using 

a bullhorn while demonstrating. Effective for 

10 days, the TRO also prohibits striking union 

members from trespassing on company premises 

at the casino or its administrative office building 

in Newell, and from encouraging or participating 

in obstructive picketing and from placing vehicles, 

barricades, tents or obstructions of 

any kind at or near the casino entrances. 

There were no plans for further talks. 




April 7, 2008 

ANOTHER GOOD JOB OPENING The News-Register printed a letter from a reader 

An HTA member track with year-round racing saying a private East coast group is buying into 

has an opening for a Simulcasting/PR Coordinator. 

The applicant must have knowledge of both the largest shareholder, and claiming that if the 

Mountaineer, in which Jacobs Entertainment is 

harness and thoroughbred racing and strong stock should go to $15 or $20, which the writer 

computer skills, with Excel and Statistics. The called “probable,” Arneault “can sell his 6 million 

shares and retire on 100 million or so at 60.” 

job offers full benefits, relocation allowance, and 

a salary to match experience. If interested, send Another writer said “shares now selling for $7 

a resume and salary requirements to HTA, e-mail may be worth as much as $20 by fall.” Please 

info@harnesstracks.com, or fax 520-529-3235. note this is not an endorsement. 

BIG PLANS, BIG GAMBLE 

Speculative or not, the market for track building 

is brisk, but not all efforts are meeting with 

joy. In Michigan, where Wayne county gave tentative 

approval for the transfer of 320 acres of 

prime, publicly owned development land for $1 

to a group that plans a track near Detroit Metropolitan 

Airport, the Detroit News has raised a 

hue and cry. The paper noted that when Wayne 

county began buying up land for the 800-acre 

Pinnacle Park, of which the track land is part, 

“it envisioned leveraging the proximity to the 

airport to attract manufacturing plants, warehouses 

and transportation businesses. Those 

plans never materialized. Now the county wants 

to devote roughly a third of the park to an entertainment 

complex. Entertainment jobs are not 

what the county promised when it created Pinnacle 

Park.” The newspaper does not explain 

why a failed project with no jobs is preferable to 

an entertainment complex with 1,100 or more, 

but it objects to using a huge taxpayer subsidy 

to do it. The deal with developers of Pinnacle 

Race Course, as it will be known, is that they will 

pay $16 million, or $50,000 an acre, if they don’t 

create those jobs in six years. They also will pay 

Huron Township $700,000 a year to defray road, 

sewer and other improvements. Michigan has 

no racinos, and seemingly little chance of getting 

them, given strong casino opposition. The Pinnacle 

developers are brave, or foolish. We 

wish them well.





April 8, 2008 

WHAT’S UP IN THE CATSKILLS? 

We’re not sure how a developer “guarantees” 

his venture will not cost a state money, but that’s 

what Westchester, NY, developer Louis Capelli 

has told the editorial board of the Middletown 

Times Herald-Record about the $600 to $900 million 

“capital reimbursement” project he is seeking 

from the state of New York to relocate Monticello 

Raceway to the site of the famed Concord 

Hotel. Capelli, whose Concord Associates owns 

2.5 million shares of Empire Resorts, and who 

is buying another 12% worth some $5.2 million, 

is seeking what amounts to a 30-year loan from 

the state at 4% annual interest to tear down the 

Concord, build a new hotel, and install a yearround 

$700 million entertainment complex with 

a hotel, 100,000 square-foot gambling area, convention 

center, restaurants and an indoor water 

park. In describing his plans to the newspaper 

yesterday, Capelli said names like Donald 

Trump, Ritz-Carlton and Steve Wynn would be 

interested in his project if it receives state approval, 

and he said he did not see how the state 

can say no. A story on the paper’s Web site, 

however, said the Capelli plan will not be part of 

the New York state budget, with two legislators 

who support the Capelli plan saying that is not 

going to happen. Rep. John Bonacic said, “The 

Assembly has said they don’t want to put it on 

the table for discussion, so it is not going to happen, 

at least as part of the budget.” He said the 

fate of the proposal will depend on whether new 

governor Paterson and Assembly leader Sheldon 

Silver approve it. Capelli said his proposal is not 

a subsidy because “the project will be generating 

billions and billions of additional revenue for the 

state.” Frank Mauro, executive director of the 

Fiscal Policy Institute in Albany, had a different 

view. He called the proposal “extremely generous” 

and said the state would become 

“like a silent partner, but a dumb silent 

partner.” 

SPEAKING OF TEARING DOWN 

Harnessracing.com quotes reports in the Newport 

News Daily Press in Virginia that Colonial 

Downs, up for sale for three months, could be 

sold to a developer and torn down to make way 

for a housing development. The track, owned by 

Jacobs Entertainment, encompasses 600 acres of 

highly desirable land between Richmond and 

historic Williamsburg, and new housing has been 

built nearby since the track opened. Colonial 

has lost money in each of the last four years, and 

its fate as a track appears to rest on a bill, stalled 

in the legislature, that would allow up to 10,000 

gaming machines showing recorded races, as has 

been done successfully at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. 

Ian Stewart, Colonial Downs’ president, 

says if that happened “it would solidify Colonial 

Downs and propel Virginia racing into probably 

one of the top five states in the country.” 

MOUNTAINEER STRIKE OVER 

Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack president 

Ted Arneault announced yesterday afternoon 

that he has reached a tentative deal with union 

slot machine technicians and money room employees 

to end their week-long strike. He said 

verbal agreements have been worked out, lawyers 

have agreed on contract language, and union 

members would vote on the proposal tomorrow. 

Also in West Virginia, Wheeling Island Casino-Racetrack 

made the New York Times with a 

promotion giving away a tank truck of gasoline 

holding some 9,000 gallons, or $15,000 in cash, 

on April 18. With gas selling for $3.41 a gallon 

in West Virginia, the tanker load could be worth 

more than $30,000 and would get you around the 

world eight times if your car averaged 22 miles 

a gallon. The track said you wouldn’t have to 

park the truck. It will provide coupons.


HTA-STYLE MEET IN CANADA 

In a good old remake of HTA-style annual meetings, 

complete with catchy subject titles and 

a past HTA keynote speaker, Standardbred 

Canada is presenting an interesting three-day 

Standardbred Wagering Conference in Montreal 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 

29-May 1. The first two days offer general presentations 

on how to stem the drastic drop in 

Canadian pari-mutuel wagering, dramatically 

shown graphically in the meeting announcement 

as down 40% since 2002. First day subjects include 

Turning the Ship, reversing the downward 

trend; Betting at Your Corner Store, the future of 

off-track betting and new technology; Wake Up 

and Smell the Coffee, asking if the product has 

to change for betting to improve, and if so how; 

and Hitting the Home Run, asking if Canadian 

Standardbred racing can replicate the V75 in 

packaging and selling a unique Canadian racing 

product. The luncheon and keynote speaker will 

be MGM Mirage CEO Terry Lanni, who spoke 

at the last HTA/TRA/USTA Racing Congress in 

Las Vegas. 




April 9, 2008 

Hotel reservations for the Conference can be 

made at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, the convention 

site, 1-800-514-9614 or 416-962-2727, 

fax 1-800-617-7587, or thru info@destinationplus.ca, 

or www.montreal.hyatt.com. The convention 

rate is $169 a night. Accomodations 

also are available at Embassy Suites, Montreal, 

1-888-561-7666, www.embassysuites.com, at 

$189. To register for the Conference visit www. 

canadiangamingsummit.com. 

RACING DOWN, GAMING UP 

While racing handle declines in Canada, the Canadian 

Gaming Association reports gambling 

revenues have grown 127% since 1995, and that 

85% of Canadians gamble in some form. The 

CGA says it was surprised by the magnitude of 

the numbers in its study, which show that one 

third of Canada’s gaming revenue -- $5.8 billion 

-- comes from Ontario’s 11 casinos, 18 racetracks 

(17 with slots) more than 70 bingo halls 

and more than 10,800 lottery retailers. Gaming 

accounted for 102,200 jobs and $4.6 billion in 

wages, according to the report. 

The second day will offer The Customer is King, 

covering reward programs, incentives and loyalty 

programs; Wagering’s New Frontier, discussing 

new bets and regulatory changes; and 

industry group meetings and a Canadian Gaming 

Summit, followed by an evening of racing at 

Hippodrome de Montreal. 

Concerning the replication of the V75, a project 

under serious study by HTA, we respectfully suggest 

any such plan, to have any chance of success 

in numbers, should be considered in the context 

of North American cooperation. It could be difficult 

for Canadian betting to generate significant 

payoffs, unless it is able to utilize lottery 

retailers, but a continent-wide cooperative 

effort could succeed in doing so. 

SMOKE STILL A MAJOR ISSUE 

Control of smoke and bans on smoking continue 

to be a major issue in racing and gaming. The 

Atlantic City Council is expected to consider a 

total ban on smoking in casinos today, a year after 

a partial ban known as the 75-25 rule was 

implemented. The total ban would apply to casinos 

that do not build special enclosed lounges 

similar to those found in some airports. Illinois 

recently enacted a full smoking ban, and 

in Connecticut, where it is a big issue, theday. 

com columnist David Collins had a suggestion. 

“I think,” he wrote, “that as Gov. M. Jodi Rell 

considers whether to intervene on behalf of the 

casinos in their campaign to protect smoking 

rights, someone should chain her to her 

desk and blow smoke in her face.”





April 10, 2008 

IT WILL STILL BE HARRAH’S 

Although Harrah’s Entertainment’s board of 

directors voted yesterday to change the corporate 

name to Caesars Entertainment to capitalize 

on the high international recognition enjoyed 

by that brand name, don’t look for its shiny new 

Pennsylvania racetrack and casino to change 

names. Harrah’s president and CEO Gary 

Loveman said Harrah’s will continue to be one 

of three name brands used, along with Caesars 

and Horseshoe, and director of racing operations 

Mike Tanner says the Chester operation 

will still be Harrah’s. Loveman also announced 

the appointment of four new directors, one being 

Chuck Atwood, who spoke so entertainingly 

at the HTA/TRA meeting in March, and another 

being Lynn Swann, the former All-American at 

Southern Cal and later the All-Pro wide receiver 

for the Pittsburgh Steelers and ABC sports commentator. 

Swann has become a major success 

as a businessman, operating Swann Inc., a marketing 

and communications consulting firm, and 

serving as managing director of Diamond Edge 

Capital Partners, a New York-based finance 

company, and H. J. Heinz and Hershey Resorts, 

two of Pennsylvania’s best known companies. 

He also ran for governor of Pennsylvania, losing 

to Ed Rendell. Jeanne Jackson, former CEO of 

Walmart and Banana Republic, and a director 

of Nike and McDonald’s, and financier Christopher 

Williams also were added to Harrah’s 

board. 

SMOKE BAN IN ATLANTIC CITY 

The Atlantic City Council yesterday voted unanimously, 

9-0, to prohibit smoking on all casino 

floors in the city’s 11 casinos for the first time in 

their 30 years of operation. The American Cancer 

Society hailed the move as a forward step in 

protecting the health of customers and 

the casino workforce. The Council gave 

the casinos until Oct. 15 to build enclosed 

smoking lounges. 

KENO FOES GATHER IN OHIO 

Legislators and other opponents of Keno in Ohio 

held a press conference yesterday to support 

House Bill 514, which would prohibit the state 

lottery from offering Keno or similar electronic 

games. State representative Jay Hottinger 

led the charge, calling Keno “highly addictive” 

and said placing it in establishments that serve 

liquor, including Ohio’s tracks, would increase 

chances the game will be used irresponsibly. 

“Government should get its revenue from the 

people’s strengths, not their weaknesses,” he 

said. Gov. Ted Strickland, who made the Keno 

proposal, continues to support it to raise $73 million 

a year. The legislature’s Joint Committee on 

Agency Rule Review will consider the issue on 

April 21. 

AND A SURPRISE IN FLORIDA 

A move to allow 24-hour operation of slots in 

Broward county in Florida has drawn fire from 

the biggest track in the county, Gulfstream Park. 

The track opposes the idea, sought by its rival, 

dog track Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming, 

two miles away, which contends it is entitled to 

operate nonstop because it holds two licenses. 

The slots law in Broward limits operation to 12 

hours for each permit. Mardi Gras claims it 

needs round-the-clock operation to meet competition 

from the Seminole’s Hard Rock casino in 

Hollywood and another in Coconut Creek. HTA 

member the isle casino & racing at pompano 

park has not been involved in the dispute. 

IS THIS GUY FOR REAL? 

A Manhattan councilman named Robert Jackson, 

speaking on the potential OTB closure yesterday, 

said the city should stop paying tracks 

and the state their shares of OTB revenue. 

“Make them sue for it,” he said, calling tracks, 

“pigs feeding on our corn.” You’ve got it 

ass backwards, Jackson.


RUNNING ACES OPENS TONITE 

The nation’s newest harness track and HTA’s 

newest member -- Running Aces in Columbus, 

Minnesota, just north of the Twin Cities 

-- launches its inaugural season tonight, just off 

highway I-35. Admission and general parking 

are free, and the track will operate on Fridays, 

Saturdays and Mondays with a 6 p.m. post time 

and on Sunday starting at 3 p.m., offering simulcasting 

seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Costing $62 million, Running Aces has a fiveeighths 

mile track, and has borrowed veteran 

Northfield Park racing secretary Gregg Keidel 

for its opening meeting. Running Aces will have 

a poker club, but under Minnesota law Running 

Aces cannot open the card room until it has raced 

50 days of live racing. The club is scheduled to 

open in early July with 25 poker tables and 25 

casino game tables. The new track is the culmination 

of a dream for Minnesota horsemen, who 

have waited years for their own home base. 

PAYDAY FOR PA BREEDERS 

Minnesota is not the only harness location celebrating 

the culmination of a dream. The first 

checks of the Pennsylvania Breeders Fund derived 

from slots play are being received by Pennsylvania 

horse breeders, with Hanover Shoe 

Farms, a major driver of the slots program, 

rightfully receiving the largest reward, an initial 

payment of $1.1 million. Both state residents and 

out-of-staters who used Pennsylvania stallions 

as sires share 90% of revenues, or $5.8 million 

in awards, from 2007 operations, with stallion 

owners getting 10%, or almost $600,000. The 

awards are divided in proportion to the money 

won by eligible horses at Pennsylvania tracks. 

Horses bred by 38 entities earned over $100,000 

last year. This year’s distribution will change, 

with 70% of the 90% going to breeders 

who keep their mares in Pennsylvania for 

six months, with 20% going to non-resident 

breeders. 




April 11, 2008 

In addition to the Breeders Fund money, slots 

revenue will boost Pennsylvania overnight purses 

and those for Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. The 

program is likely to vault the Keystone State into 

preeminence as a national racing power. 

AND THERE’S STILL MORE 

The bounty that has begun flowing in Pennsylvania 

will be boosted substantially with news 

that HTA member The Meadows Racetrack and 

Casino, near Pittsburgh, has received approval 

from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board 

to enlarge its slots inventory by 40%. Already 

one of the most successful operations in the state 

(and country) The Meadows now will be able to 

offer 4,200 slot machines, instead of the 3,000 it 

originally planned for its new racino. The Control 

Board also approved a 1,050-car parking 

garage, which The Meadows will build instead 

of the hotel and spa originally planned. The expansion 

of the casino floor space in the facility 

now under construction, and scheduled to open 

in June 2009 at a cost of $155 million, will enable 

The Meadows to offer table games if those are 

legalized in the future. As it is, spokesman David 

La Torre said, “We’re involved in an intense 

competitive situation with West Virginia casinos 

that are only minutes away, so expanding our 

floor and adding additional machines is going 

to provide our visitors with more entertainment 

options.” The Meadows’ purse structure will 

zoom with the new machines next year, turning 

the track into a major racing power in the east. 

New Jersey legislators please note. 

JERSEY SLOTS FEEL PINCH 

Pennsylvania competition already has impacted 

Atlantic City casinos. The 11 in the beach resort 

reported a 9.9% decrease in play in March from 

a year ago. For the first quarter of 2008, they are 

down 6.4% from 2007. Everything is relative, of 

course. They still won $1.1 billion, so shed 

no tears for the AC boys.





April 14, 2008 

RUNNING ACES OFF AND RUNNING Kuebler, who retired this winter, as promised, 

Running Aces Harness Park, the sport’s and when he equaled his hero Joe O’Brien’s 4,284 

HTA’s newest member, completed its first three victories, was California’s dominant driver for 

days of racing and simulcasting operations over years, winning 23 driving titles. Sacramento Bee 

the weekend, with an ingredient lacking in most racing writer Debbie Arrington reports that the 

locations nationwide: people. Large and enthusiastic 

crowds turned out, and the issue is not how second career as a screenwriter. 

personable and popular Kuebler has begun a 

much they bet. No one expects a high per capita 

in a new area, but the track has received solid OHHA WANTS INTERCESSION 

publicity in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and opened The Ontario Harness Horse Association has 

to a capacity crowd. Racing secretary Gregg asked the Ontario Racing Commission to help 

Keidel, on leave from Northfield Park, was able solve the problem of deterioration of racing 

to fill his first weekend eight-race programs, and at Windsor Raceway. OHHA members voted 

even paused to interview a distinguished local unanimously to ask the commission to sit in on 

guest and harness horse owner: former Minnesota 

Twins manager Tom Kelly. Bob Farinella, racing sliding down the tubes at the track across 

a public meeting to see what can be done about 

former general manager at Prairie Meadows and the river from Detroit. Windsor recently proposed 

reducing live dates from previously low- 

Vernon and Tioga Downs, is running the new operation, 

which opened with huge murals of the ered levels, and OHHA chief operations officer 

Minnesota-based racing hero of a century ago, John Walzak says, “Every meeting that we attend 

in Windsor I can sense the frustration and 

Dan Patch, a handsome interior decor, and a full 

service restaurant that won immediate praise for disappointment” of horsemen. One of them, the 

both food and service. The track, co-owned by veteran Mark Williams, was quoted in The Harness 

Edge as saying, “I couldn’t imagine that 

Southwest Casino Corporation and MTR Gaming, 

will have a card room with 50 gaming tables we would be racing for less total purse money 

after it completes 50 live days of racing. Running 

Aces will race through July 6. 

Something has got to change.” OHHA president 

now than we competed for before we had slots. 

Jim Whelan says he hopes the racing commission 

will attend an upcoming meeting “so that it 

can hear firsthand” from those affected. 

ARNOLD, KEUBLER HONORED 

Owner and former track operator Lloyd Arnold 

and trainer Rick Kuebler -- two men who played 

leading roles in modern California harness racing 

-- were inducted yesterday into the California 

Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Arnold has owned 

more than 2,500 pacers and trotters, including 

two world champions, and told the horsemen 

assembled at the ceremony in Sacramento that 

his greatest thrill there, where he ran the Cal 

Expo meeting some years ago, was giving away 

seven gold Cadillacs and a year’s supply 

of groceries. “We were a class B track, 

but I don’t think there ever was another 

track that tried that kind of promotion.” 

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? 

That question, asked weekly in a featured column 

in The Blood-Horse, seems particularly appropriate 

now that century-old Fasig-Tipton sales 

company is being sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin 

Rashid’s Synergy Investments. The question becomes 

what happens to rival Keeneland’s major 

sales, where the Maktoums have been the principal 

customers? And will the combined Kentucky 

harness yearling sale be affected? Probably 

not. Bucks are bucks, even in Dubai.


SILVER LINING FOR NYC OTB? 

The layoff notices have gone out, fulfilling the legal 

60-day notice to almost 1,500 New York City 

OTB employees that face losing their jobs June 

15. More than that, their president, Raymond 

Casey, has told them there is not enough cash in 

the cookie jar to pay accrued leave if they are 

fired. So it comes down, as it so often does in 

the state of New York, to the White Knight, Sheldon 

Silver, riding in at the last minute and rescuing 

the embattled troops. Silver is the majority 

leader of the New York Assembly, a very powerful 

man who reportedly is not a fan of New York 

City mayor Michael Bloomberg. If that is true, 

he can be expected to prolong the agony, but 

reports out of Albany say he does plan to meet 

with governor David Paterson soon to discuss 

the situation. One interesting possible solution, 

reported by Rick Karlin on the Albany Times 

Union’s timesunion.com, is to have NYC OTB 

pay the state and the New York Racing Association 

from net rather than gross profits. 

NEW YORK IS NOT ALONE 

New York is not the only gambling operation being 

negatively impacted by the nation’s business 

malaise. MGM Mirage is reported to be preparing 

to fire 440 management employees at both 

property and corporate levels, part of a process 

that MGM Mirage president and COO Jim 

Murren told the Las Vegas Review Journal would 

save the company $75 million a year. Those affected 

were notified of the layoffs yesterday, the 

paper said. Murren said business was improving, 

but “this was something, irrespective of the 

economy, that we needed to do.” He acknowledged 

there was “a parallel path occurring with 

the economy,” but said the management cutbacks 

amounted to less than a third of the total 

savings, the rest coming from cutbacks in 

contracts with outside consultants and 

vendors, including advertising.” 




April 15, 2008 

Daily room rates are down an average 19% from 

a year ago on the Vegas Strip, and a Bear Stearns 

gaming analyst says he sees no early change, certainly 

not before the end of summer. 

Back east, Foxwoods Resort Casino reported a 

net slot win in March of $60.8 million, down $8.3 

million from a year ago. Foxwoods attributed 

the sharp drop to higher gas prices and concerns 

of a recession. It’s here, boys. 

BUT THE ISLE FLIES HIGH 

Things may be tough all over, but there are reasons 

to celebrate at The Isle, Pompano Park. After 

its first year, the Pompano racino is the most 

lucrative in Broward county, with yesterday 

marking the first anniversary of operation. The 

state reported it had more slots revenue than the 

other two racinos combined, the Florida Division 

of Pari-Mutuel Wagering listing the Isle with $99 

million, the Mardi Gras racino $62 million and 

Gulfstream Park with $30 million. One loyal patron, 

81-year-old Anna Hogan, was interviewed 

on the occasion of the anniversary, and provided 

a verbal commercial and endorsement for Pompano. 

“The movies have gotten too dirty and 

the beach can give you skin cancer, so I play the 

slots.” 

BUY THE BOOK AND PROMOTE 

This week’s Track Topics announces an HTA 

group purchasing plan for member tracks, 

where the association will purchase a quantity 

of copies of Charlie Leerhsen’s new book on Dan 

Patch, titled Crazy Good, the True Story of Dan 

Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America, and 

pass substantial savings on to members. The 

books then can be sold at track gift shops for the 

cover price, providing not only solid promotion 

for the sport but hopefully a little profit for 

the kitty.





April 16, 2008 

BOOK OFFER TO HTA TRACKS 

Charlie Leerhsen’s Crazy Good: The True Story 

of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America, 

will be released for sale by Simon & Schuster 

May 20. The book is a hardback with a cover 

price of $26. As a service to member tracks of 

HTA, and as a promotion for the sport nationally, 

HTA has acquired a supply of copies and 

is making them available to member tracks at 

$17, shipping included. We urge our members 

to avail themselves of this special offer by buying 

copies for your gift shops or general sale. We 

have read the book and it is superbly researched 

and written in Leerhsen’s breezy, entertaining 

style. He was a great writer when he worked 

for USTA 30 years ago, and his skills have increased 

over the years with his career as a writer 

and editor at Newsweek, People, US , author of 

popular books on major news figures including 

Donald Trump and test pilot Chuck Yeager, and 

of course in his present role as executive editor 

of Sports Illustrated. You can promote the book 

on your closed circuit television and in your advertising, 

and give harness racing and yourself 

the benefit of offering the most significant book 

published on the sport in modern times. Our 

skilled operators will be available to take your 

orders during every business day, although not 

24 hours a day as the mail cataloguers love to 

say. We will accept orders from HTA tracks by 

phone 520-529-2525, fax 520-529-3235, e-mail 

info@harnesstracks.com, or good old fashioned 

snail mail. 

ANOTHER VERNON ORDEAL 

Vernon Downs management was scheduled for 

another hearing today before the New York 

State Racing and Wagering Board, this time reportedly 

to discuss a $2,500 fine for demolishing 

a barn “without written approval of the 

board.” Micromanaging continues to be 

a pastime for racing boards and commissions, 

in New York and elsewhere. 

HOMEOWNERS SLOT REWARDS 

Reduction in school property taxes, one of the 

platform promises that enabled Pennsylvania 

governor Ed Rendell to get the slots bill passed 

four years ago, became a reality today. The 

state’s budget secretary, Michael Masch, says 

reductions of 10% will be reflected in the first 

state distribution of slots-funded tax relief this 

year. Masch says the exact amounts will vary by 

school districts, but will average $169 per household 

statewide, based on $661.4 million in slots 

revenue that he certified yesterday as available 

for tax relief. Part of the revenue available for 

this year’s tax reductions comes from the $50 million 

fee that 11 casinos paid to get their gaming 

licenses, and the rest from Pennsylvania’s 34% 

share of gaming revenues. Masch predicted the 

figure will reach $1 billion in 2012-13. 

MAJOR CASINOS SHARES FALL 

Share prices in major casino stocks fell yesterday, 

one day after MGM Mirage announced it 

was laying off 440 managerial and supervisory 

employees. The Las Vegas reviewjournal.com reported 

the gaming revenues on the Vegas Strip 

had fallen in three of the last four months. In 

Connecticut Foxwoods Resort Casino, also hit by 

the slump, announced it was retiring its 16-yearold 

Wampum Rewards Program and replacing 

it with a new one called the Dream Card, which 

will act as a debit card and provide points for 

playing slots, poker, keno, bingo and the race 

book at Foxwoods. The points can be redeemed 

for rooms, tickets to entertainment events, dining, 

spa treatments and merchandise at both 

Foxwoods and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

EDDIE WHEELER DEAD AT 76 

Harnessracing.com reports the death of veteran 

trainer-driver Eddie Wheeler, 76. One of the first 

of the catch drivers, he drove stars like Cardigan 

Bay, Meadow Skipper and Duke Rodney.


BIG PLANS FOR TIOGA DOWNS 

Tioga Downs, preparing for its third season that 

gets under way May 3, Derby Day, has an ambitious 

schedule of events planned. It will open 

a Summer Concert series on May 25 featuring 

Chubby Checker, with monthly concerts following. 

With the tax break that principal Jeff Gural 

worked so assiduously to get passed now in place, 

Tioga is again planning to go forward with its $45 

million, 100-room, six-story hotel, and according 

to general manager Pete Savage also is considering 

expansion of its casino if the New York state 

lottery commission approves. A covered parking 

garage, sewage treatment plant and convention 

center also are included in the track’s ambitious 

planning. “Financing in this economy is tough,” 

Savage told the Ithaca Journal. “It’s tough to 

find the money, but I’m confident that we will.” 

The track is holding a job fair today to interview 

full time and seasonal employees, and expects to 

raise the number from 260 to 300. 

WORK BEGINS IN MICHIGAN 

The first shovel has hit dirt in Michigan, where 

businessman and banker Jerry Campbell 

held a ground breaking ceremony for his 

dollar down, $142 million Pinnacle Race 

Track and retail development project. 




April 17, 2008 

ANOTHER BONUS ON BOOKS Wayne county sold Campbell and his associates 

Thanks to Ellen Harvey at Harness Racing Communications, 

HTA can offer an additional bonus land near Detroit’s Metropolitan airport for $1, 

more than a third of their 800 acres of prime 

on book orders for Charlie Leerhsen’s Crazy with a clause that if the track does not employ at 

Good: the True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous 

Horse in America. In addition to the dis- 

$50,000 an acre. Michigan does not allow raci- 

least 1,100 people by 2014 it will pay a penalty of 

counted price of $17 (cover price is $26) we will nos, and Campbell dismissed that lightly, saying 

provide free posters and Dan Patch bookmarks “I’m a horseman, not a casino guy. Putting in 

with all orders. The price break is offered to slots is not the objective here, and I can make it 

HTA member tracks only. Order your books without them.” He also plans a $5 million bonus 

for the owner of any thoroughbred that wins 

today from HTA for your gift shops or general 

sale, promote the sport, and make a few bucks his proposed Michigan Derby in April and Kentucky 

Derby in May. Campbell expects to open 

doing it. 

a temporary facility to return thoroughbred racing 

to Michigan July 18, with permanent seating 

next year. 

LOUD NO’S ON WIDE FRONT 

Legislatures and other governing bodies said no 

to gaming on a wide geographic front this week. 

In Alabama, the House refused to consider legislation 

to allow electronic gaming machines 

at dog tracks in Birmingham and Mobile. The 

proposed constitutional amendment lost a procedural 

vote before it could reach full debate. 

Proponents said they would try again. 

In Maine, the House failed to override a veto by 

Gov. John Baldacci of a bill that would have allowed 

the Penobscot tribe to operate 100 slots at 

a casino on their Indian Island reservation near 

Old Town. The House vote fell short of the twothirds 

needed to override the veto, with 94 members 

opposing and only 49 favoring override. The 

Penobscots, hit hard by Penn National’s nearby 

Hollywood Casino in Bangor, immediately announced 

they were severing relationships with 

the state and would operate as a sovereign nation. 

In Illinois, the Senate rejected, 35-15, a bill that 

would have exempted riverboat casinos 

from the state’s smoking ban.





April 18, 2008 

HTA SELLS OUT, ORDERS MORE 

It took only two days for HTA to sell out of its 

initial group order of Charlie Leerhsen’s Crazy 

Good: the True Story of Dan Patch, the Most 

Famous Horse in America. We have reordered 

a far larger quantity and will receive all of the 

books at HTA on May 22, two days after the 

book is released by Simon and Schuster, and 

reship the $26 cover price hardcover to HTA 

tracks the same day or next, at $17 a book, free 

of shipping charges. Harness Racing Communications, 

meanwhile, will send free Crazy Good 

Dan Patch posters and bookmarks, immediately 

to all HTA tracks ordering the book. If you have 

not yet ordered your supply for your gift shops or 

special promotions, do so at your earliest opportunity. 

The book is strongly written and tough. 

Marion W. Savage, usually depicted as a hero in 

the Dan Patch story, is far from one in Leerhsen’s 

carefully researched work, and the horse’s 

best known driver, Myron McHenry, comes off 

as a drinking, arrogant, self-aggrandizing villain, 

who put his own profit far ahead of the national 

hero horse’s welfare. Dan Patch’s greatness 

rises above all around him, and Leerhsen, 

who spent two years traveling and studying the 

Dan Patch saga, and was caught up in it himself, 

tells how the amazingly durable pacer, brilliantly 

fast a century before others duplicated his 

times, became a national traveling attraction. 

The book is a fascinating narrative. It is likely 

to be controversial, but Leerhsen’s presentation 

of the facts, and skillful arrangement of them in 

well-written prose, will be hard to refute. 

TIGERAMA LAKE ERIE CHOICE 

Tigerama, a winner of $1.8 million and five 

straight in his native Canada, and Bono Bests, 

winner of five of his last six races, head a high 

quality field in tomorrow night’s $100,000 battle 

of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. Also in 

the field of eight are millionaire Western 

Ace, Booze Cruizin and KF St. Patrick. 

THE SECOND COMING 

Dan Patch has been dead almost a hundred years, 

but there were eerie echoes of him yesterday in 

Ontario, where the undefeated Somebeachsomewhere 

arrived from his Nova Scotia home, having 

trained in 2:02 so far in preparation for a return 

to the wars as harness racing’s potential savior. 

His principal owner and first and once-again 

trainer, Brent MacGrath, sounded remarkably 

like Dan Messner, Dan Patch’s original owner, as 

portrayed in Leerhsen’s Crazy Good, attributing 

human reactions “he was mentally prepared 

for the move and loves his work” and predicting 

the horse’s greatness. Photographers, cameramen 

and reporters were on hand, and if the 

colt remains as good as he was last year at two, 

or improves, harness racing may have its greatest 

hero since Niatross and Bret Hanover. One 

thing is certain: there is no more physically imposing 

horse in world harness racing today. Big 

and powerful, last year’s 2-year-old champion, 

with $773,296 on his card already, gleamed yesterday 

as photographers recorded his first sophomore 

shots. Whether he remains the unchallenged 

champion he was at two remains to be 

seen, but the public and sport will not have long 

to wait to find out. MacGrath plans to qualify 

next Friday at Mohawk, make his first start May 

17, and aim for the million dollar North America 

Cup in June. MacGrath called his colt “a true 

professional that never has had a bad day,” and 

says he thinks Somebeachsomewhere “is going 

to give the industry a boost.” He could be right. 

FREEHOLD BOOSTS PURSES 

New Jersey horsemen, already heartened by the 

3-year extension of the Atlantic City casino support 

bill signed into law by their governor, got 

more good news yesterday. Freehold general 

manager Don Codey announced a 5% acrossthe-board 

purse increase, even before the supplemental 

slot money becomes available. 

The boost starts next week.





DON’T CELEBRATE JUST YET 

It appears that Michael Bloomberg, the mayor 

of New York, is not only a hugely successful media 

mogul but a sharp poker player as well. He 

played his Albany hand to perfection, and when 

he sent out 60-day potential dismissal notices 

recently to 1,500 New York City OTB employees, 

New York governor David Paterson, Senate 

majority leader Joe Bruno and Assembly 

speaker Sheldon Silver tossed in their cards, deciding 

Bloomberg wasn’t bluffing after all. They 

quickly began serious talks to give financial relief 

to the financially strapped NYCOTB. Bruno 

pushed a plan to have OTB defer its payments 

of $1 million a month to the state this month 

and next, relieving the pressure, and meanwhile 

hammer out a plan “that should include an alignment 

of the economic interests of the tracks and 

the OTBs in order to succeed.” The tracks can 

only hope he means what he says, and prevails, 

because that is not what New York City OTB is 

thinking. They want the alignment altered, so 

that they get more and the tracks get less. While 

concern was expressed for the OTB employees, 

nothing was said about those thousands whose 

livings depend in whole or in part on racing. 

The governor talked about “those 1,500 families 

and the broader economy” and about stabilizing 

OTB operations and “making them more profitable 

and productive” statewide. He also talked 

about “the cooperation of all affected parties.” 

We hope we’re wrong, but that sounds like political 

shorthand for “get it from the tracks.” 

KEEP BOOK ORDERS COMING 

HTA still has a supply of Charlie Leerhsen’s 

forthcoming book on Dan Patch ordered and 

available for late May delivery, at $17 each, including 

shipping. Let us know how many you 

want and we’ll earmark them for you and 

fire them out as soon as Simon & Schuster 

releases the book May 20. 

April 21, 2008 

HUSELIUS PICKS UP A MILLION 

The Harness Edge reports that Kristian Huselius, 

the forward for the Calgary Flames of the NHL, 

picked up a million bucks over the weekend, 

with two winning tickets on the V75 in his native 

Sweden. Huselius, who owns harness horses in 

Sweden, said he called his trainer, Bjorn Goop, 

Friday, and Goop told him one of the stable trotters, 

Global Investment, would race without 

shoes this weekend. Huselius liked the idea and 

built V75 tickets around the horse. There were 

seven winners on the giant pool, and Huselius 

held two of them, worth around a million U.S. 

Not a bad global investment. 

FIXED ODDS BACK IN NEWS 

We don’t like the name -- we far prefer our own 

designation of permanent odds -- but we like the 

concept, and have ever since the late Richard 

Carter, better known as author Tom Ainslie, told 

us 30 years ago that it was the bet of the future, 

and was doable. Australia has experimented with 

it, and yesterday the Hong Kong Jockey Club introduced 

the idea with its popular Jockey Challenge 

at Happy Valley. The Jockey Club says 

it has been working on the idea for a year, has 

tested it, and is confident the new concept will 

work and be accepted quickly by the huge racing 

crowds in Hong Kong. Jockeys are as popular 

as the horses in Hong Kong, and the Jockey 

Challenge offers 11 individual jockeys with fixed 

odds for the day’s program, and a 12th category 

for “Others.” If any jockey other than the 

11 named wins the challenge, based on a 12-6-4 

point award for first, second and third during 

the day, players backing the “Others” category 

win. Last week at Sha Tin, a hypothetical Challenge 

winner was listed at 15-1. Hong Kong’s 

leading jockey, Douglas Whyte, would have been 

favored yesterday, but was sidelined by a suspension 

for careless riding. In 57 previous hypothetical 

Challenges, Whyte would have 

won 21 times.





April 22, 2008 

PALONE WINS 11 AT MEADOWS 

Dave Palone, who rules the drivers’ colony at 

The Meadows with an iron hand, and has won 

four HTA driving championships doing it -- in 

1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004 -- raised the bar to 

new heights yesterday at the western Pennsylvania 

track. Palone won 11 races on the 14-race 

Meadows card, the accomplishment hailed as 

the most ever on a single pari-mutuel race program. 

All 11 were under 2 minutes. 

KENO OK IN OHIO COMMITTEE 

The Ohio legislature’s 10-man Joint Committee 

on Agency Rule Review yesterday approved, 

without objection, requesting some $18 million 

for equipment to operate Keno games statewide. 

The stamp of approval came to Gov. Ted Strickland’s 

proposal to allow the machines wherever 

liquor is served -- including tracks -- an ironic 

development since Strickland ordered similar 

games removed from bars and elsewhere last 

winter and then led the successful fight to kill 

slots at Ohio’s racetracks. 

THE VERDICT: NO DEAL 

Georgia’s Supreme Court yesterday ended the 

quest of a group seeking to recover money from 

NBC for money they had spent on the network’s 

hit show “Deal or No Deal.” The losers had filed 

suit in federal court alleging that NBC’s Lucky 

Case Game, in which viewers were given the 

chance to join studio contestants in picking 1 of 

26 sealed suitcases containing money sums, up 

to a million dollars, violated state anti-gambling 

laws. The plaintiffs wanted NBC to reimburse 

them for multiple 99-cent text message calls. 

The court, in a unanimous decision, rejected the 

argument, saying there was no gambling consideration 

involved in the issue. A U.S. District 

Judge had asked the high court to help 

him interpret the statute. The decision is 

posted on HTA’s Web site. 

KEEP AN EYE ON DERBY ADW 

The stalled negotiations between the relatively 

new Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group, representing 

18 racetracks, and TrackNet Media, 

representing Churchill Downs’ Twinspires.com 

and Magna Entertainment’s XpressBet, deserve 

serious attention from all of racing. THG wants 

one-third of all advanced deposit wagering in return 

for horsemen’s approval of ADW. Churchill 

Downs contends horsemen already gave their 

approval to the track selling ADW signals for the 

Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky Derby and Woodford 

Reserve Turf Classic Derby Day in an agreement 

negotiated in October, 2006. Churchill president 

Steve Sexton, faced with the upcoming Derby 

May 3, has asked the horsemen to honor those 

obligations “given the gravity and urgency of the 

situation.” The THG yesterday said it is seeking 

a special licensing agreement that would allow 

ADW signals for the Oaks and Derby, “with resulting 

proceeds shared fairly among horsemen, 

racetracks and account wagering providers.” 

The president of the THG, Bob Reeves, said such 

an agreement “would triple, at the very least, the 

expected account wagering handle and revenue 

for Churchill Downs and Kentucky horsemen.” 

Churchill also has problems with its Calder 

Race Course operation’s relationship with the 

Florida HBPA, which is withholding approval 

of Calder signals outside Florida. Sexton called 

that action “unfortunate” prior to settlement of 

the ADW issue. The president of the Kentucky 

HBPA, Rick Hiles, denied that horsemen would 

use “America’s most popular racing events as leverage.” 

The resolution of this dispute can have 

long range implications for racing. 

JIM SIMPSON ON HTA “WORLD” 

Jim Simpson, president of Hanover Shoe Farms, 

is the latest and current guest on HTA’s World in 

Harness Internet show on the HTA Web site, 

wwww.harnesstracks.com





April 23, 2008 

FACING BAN, PURSES CUT 

Calder Race Course, Churchill Downs’ Florida 

property, has announced that the refusal of the 

Florida HBPA to allow out-of-state simulcasting 

has forced the track to cut purses by 30%. 

Churchill’s executive vice president Steve Sexton 

said, “The Florida horsemen’s refusal to allow 

out-of-state wagering on Calder’s races has 

left us with no option but to cut purses now in 

order to offset the amount of handle both Florida 

horsemen and Calder will lose every day that 

Florida horsemen refuse to send Calder’s signal 

out of state.” Sexton said Churchill found the action 

hard to understand “when TrackNet Media 

Group, which negotiates simulcast sales for both 

Churchill Downs and Magna-owned racetracks, 

has nearly doubled the ADW host fee rate paid 

to horsemen in Florida compared to last year.” 

The Florida HBPA gave its permission to New 

York OTB facilities to carry Calder, but blocked 

all other betting on Calder outside of Florida. 

LET’S MOVE THE RACETRACK 

That’s what the owners of Monticello Raceway 

and New York developer Louis Capelli plan to 

do with Monticello Raceway, and this week they 

received the final community permission they 

need. The town board of Thompson, New York, 

approved the relocation of the track from Monticello 

to Thompson, the home of the storied old 

Concord Hotel, which Capelli and Empire Resorts, 

the owners of Monticello, plan to demolish 

and rebuild as part of a one billion dollar entertainment 

complex. Thompson town approval 

was necessary because “no one ever dreamed 

of putting a racetrack there, so that had to be 

amended to the site plan at the Concord Resort,” 

according to Thomson town supervisor Anthony 

Cellini. Capelli, meanwhile, upped his plan 

from a half-billion to a billion dollar project. 

The Concord site comprises 1,735 acres, 

so there is room for the track. 

SAVING THE AUTHORITY 

Restoring the regulatory mission of the Kentucky 

Horse Racing Authority, and finding a 

way to fund it, is getting a lot of attention in the 

Bluegrass. Governor Steve Beshear, foiled by 

his legislature in his plans for slots at tracks, introduced 

a budget that included a provision that 

would have prohibited the Authority from getting 

its money from the state’s smaller tracks, 

presumably including HTA member The Red 

Mile. Authority executive director Lisa Underwood 

announced there were no plans to do that 

in any event, saying, “We are very mindful some 

of the smaller tracks in particular are having 

budget difficulties, and we will definitely take 

that into account going forward.” Underwood 

said the governor has appointed a task force to 

provide long term solutions by December. Republican 

state senator Damon Thayer, however, 

says a task force is not needed since he plans to 

introduce legislation that would use a portion of 

pari-mutuel taxes to provide permanent funding 

for the Authority. 

GELLER KEEPS ON TRYING 

Steve Geller, racing’s point man in the Florida 

legislature who currently is minority leader of 

the state Senate, has guided a bill allowing round 

the clock poker on weekends and 18 hours a day 

on weekdays through the Senate. The measure 

also would allow Florida card rooms to host two 

televised high stakes poker tournaments a year. 

Geller says it makes no sense for slot machines to 

be open longer than card rooms. Senate approval 

by no means assures passage of the Geller bill, 

however, house speaker Marco Rubio, who opposes 

any gambling expansion, has not allowed 

the measure to go anywhere in his chamber. The 

Democratic sponsor of the bill in the House, Joe 

Gibbons, concedes that chances of the bill getting 

through the House are slim, given the 

speaker’s strong opposition.





April 24, 2008 

MORGAN WINS 12,000TH RACE 

Tony Morgan, a four-time winner of Harness 

Tracks of America’s Driver of the Year award, 

added another milestone to his career last night 

when he won his 12,000th victory in the second 

race at Harrah’s Chester. Morgan drove a pacer 

named Fox Valley Impulse to join Herve Filion, 

Cat Manzi and Dave Palone as the only drivers 

to reach the lofty heights of 12,000 driving wins. 

Morgan dismissed the event lightly, calling it 

“another day at the office.” Another four-time 

HTA driving champion, Dave Palone, always 

a rampaging force at The Meadows in western 

Pennsylvania, won 11 races there on the 14-race 

card Monday night. 

BARACK, HILARY NOT ALONE 

Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton are not the 

only Democrats fighting tooth and nail. Maryland 

has its own set, in Gov. Martin O’Malley 

vs. state comptroller Peter Franchot. They share 

party affiliation, but hold widely different views 

on gaming. O’Malley wants slots, Franchot does 

not, and Franchot has toured the state like the 

presidential candidates did in Pennsylvania, 

seeking to defeat the slots referendum that goes 

before Maryland voters in November. The Baltimore 

Sun, commenting on the feud, said, “The 

public struggle could weaken the Democrats and 

embolden Republicans, who historically have 

fared best when the Democrats are split,” citing 

Spiro Agnew’s victory as governor in 1966. You 

do remember Spiro Agnew, don’t you? The Sun 

called the O’Malley-Franchot battle over slots 

“More than a split. You have a rupture.” For 

HTA’s Rosecroft Raceway, the November vote is 

critical. Rosecroft is not slated to get slots under 

the proposal, but obviously that could change 

later on. First, however, Maryland voters will 

have to make their wishes known, and the 

pugnacious Democrats, who apparently 

do not fear self destruction, fight on. 

MASS SLOTS HOPES NOT DEAD 

It’s a very long longshot, but Massachusetts 

tracks, particularly HTA member Plainridge 

Racecourse, still have a glimmer of hope at reversing 

the “no” decision engineered by House 

speaker Sal DiMasi. Their main hope lies in the 

efforts of the dean of the House, David L. Flynn, 

who wants racinos and is working hard to get 

them. An opponent, Richard Young, has used the 

old saw, “The tracks are dying anyway, unable 

to attract younger gamblers.” People need to 

question those statements and not allow them to 

go unchallenged, and one way of doing it would 

be to take Boston editors and writers and Young, 

DiMasi and other opponents on a trek to Pennsylvania, 

to see firsthand what is happening at 

Mohegan Sun at Pocono, Harrah’s Chester Casino 

and Racetrack, and The Meadows. While 

there, a trip to Harrington Raceway in Delaware 

would be worth the effort. 

BARNEY FRANK AS ALWAYS 

To make sure the Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve understand his concerns and 

plans, Rep. Barney Frank and three likeminded 

Congressional committee leaders fired off a letter 

to Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the Federal 

Reserve. The letter concerned implementation of 

the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act 

(UIGEA). A key paragraph reads, “Your agency 

and the Treasury have been struggling to issue 

these regulations, but as the hearing (of Frank’s 

Committee on Financial Services) made clear, 

the underlying statute makes your job extremely 

difficult, if not impossible. Given the many other 

priorities that are pending at your agencies, including 

the mortgage crisis, HOEPA, and UDAP 

rulewriting and many other issues, we believe it 

would be imprudent for you to devote additional 

agency resources to this Sisyphean task, especially 

as we intend to vigorously pursue legislation 

to prevent their implementation.”


CHURCHILL SUES HBPA, THG 

Churchill Downs, facing boycotts by horsemen’s 

groups as the Kentucky Derby approaches, has 

filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court 

for the Western District of Kentucky against 

the recently formed Thoroughbred Horsemen’s 

Group, and the Florida division of the Horsemen’s 

Benevolent and Protective Association. The suit 

charges violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 

and conspiracy in the case of the Florida HBPA, 

specifically in withholding consent for Churchill 

tracks sending signals to other tracks and OTBs 

out of the state of Florida. Churchill says the 

two groups have conspired to raise the price of 

simulcast signals and force acceptance of their 

demands by a joint boycott of sellers of signals. It 

is expected that Churchill will seek a temporary 

restraining order from the court prohibiting the 

THG, which says it represents 18 tracks, from 

interfering with simulcasts from Churchill to account 

wagering operators. Churchill president 

Steve Sexton says the company filed the suit, involving 

Churchill’s Calder Race Course operations 

in Florida and in the case of THG on a far 

broader stage, to protect the rights of interested 

parties. Sexton says the Florida HBPA and THG 

have acted despite Churchill’s doubling the host 

fee paid to the Florida horsemen who, through 

THG, are seeking one-third of revenues from account 

wagering betting. Churchill filed the suit 

unilaterally, although the boycott of signals affects 

its TrackNet operation and the Xpressbet 

operation of its TrackNet partner, Magna Entertainment. 

Signals from Magna’s Lone Star Park 

in Texas also have been blocked. 

CONDREN AT $100 MILLION 

Veteran Canadian driving star Steve Condren 

reached another milestone last night, going over 

$100 million in career earnings to become 

the eighth driver to do so. 




April 25, 2008 

The others are John Campbell, Mike Lachance, 

Ron Pierce, Catello Manzi, Jack Moiseyev, Luc 

Ouellette and David Miller. 

A BUCK GROWS TO $41.6 MIL 

We’re not planning to build a racetrack, but we 

are impressed by Jerry Campbell, the Michigan 

banker and thoroughbred owner who is. First 

he got Michigan racing commissioner Christine 

White to grant him a license, then got Wayne 

county to sell him 240 acres near Detroit Metropolitan 

Airport for $1 dollar. Now Michigan 

governor Jennifer Granholm has announced 

approval of $41.6 million in state and local “tax 

capture” to be used by the county’s development 

authority to help build the $72 million track. The 

largest portion of the tax capture will come from 

Wayne county which will be investing some $28 

million in public infrastructure funds for track 

and other developments in its long moribund 

Pinnacle Aeropark project. Campbell is the 

founder and former chairman of Republic Bancorp 

and now is chairman of Citizens Republic 

Bancorp, the largest bank headquartered in 

Michigan. He is developing the new track, Pinnacle 

Race Course, through his Post It Stables, 

having promised 2,300 construction jobs, 1,400 

new track jobs, and $1.5 billion in annual economic 

investment. 

PEOPLE IN RACING NEWS 

Youbet.com has announced the replacement of 

its interim CEO Gary Sproule, who is resigning, 

with its chairman, 40-year-old Michael Brodsky. 

Brodsky joined Youbet 10 months ago, became 

chairman in February, and now moves to CEO 

as well. In another development, Chris Tully, 

son of the late Phil Tully, has received the Chancellor’s 

Award from the State University of New 

York. Chris is graduating from Sullivan County 

Community College May 17 with high honors -- 

a perfect 4.0 grade average -- and President’s 

List recognition. Congratulations!





April 28, 2008 

QUICK ACTION IN MINNESOTA 

Running Aces Harness Park, the nation’s newest 

racetrack, has received a warm welcome from 

the public and a generous reception from the 

media. Now it got a hug from the state legislature 

and governor of the state, Tim Pawlenty, 

with passage and signing of a new law allowing 

the track to offer simulcasts of all breeds. Still to 

come is approval of a simulcasting schedule by 

the Minnesota Racing Commission, which has 

so far extended nothing but a cordial welcome 

to the new track. Jim Druck, CEO of co-owner 

Southwest Casino Corporation, says, “We look 

forward to adding these additional races to the 

Running Aces entertainment package as soon 

as we can complete the approval process.” The 

track currently is offering live harness racing 

Friday, Saturday and Monday nights, starting at 

6 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m., and will add two 

Tuesdays in June to its April 11-July 6 run. 

IS THIS A TREND? HOPE SO 

HTA member Indiana Downs, embarking on its 

spring and summer thoroughbred meeting, has 

received healthy support from the betting public. 

Jon Schuster called the opening night crowd 

“unbelievable,” with good cause since total handle 

was up 45% from a year ago. The numbers 

follow on the heels of a very strong first quarter 

meeting at New Jersey’s Meadowlands, where 

all-source handle in March rose 18% over last 

year’s numbers and betting on the Meadowlands’ 

harness product is up 10.4%. Total wagering on 

live Meadowlands racing is up 4.3%, including 

bets made at Monmouth Park and the NJSEA’s 

operating OTB in Woodbridge and through New 

Jersey account wagering. Another New Jersey 

OTB facility, in Toms River, opened last week. 

Back home in Indiana, HTA member Hoosier 

Park is gearing up for its eagerly awaited 

June opening of its glittering racino. 

NEW HTA DIRECTORY IS READY 

Harness Tracks of America’s 2008 World Racing 

Directory, the most comprehensive source of information 

of its kind, is off the presses and will be in 

the mail to HTA directors and officials this week. As 

usual, each member track also will receive extra copies 

for switchboard operators, secretaries and others 

needing information on tracks and racing agencies 

worldwide. Jennifer Foley compiled the new Directory 

from start to finish, a remarkable solo job, and 

Jen urges any corrections or late changes be sent to 

her at HTA. 

BLOOMBERG GROWLS AGAIN 

Making certain that it was loud enough to be 

heard in Albany, New York City mayor Michael 

Bloomberg reminded state legislators that he’s 

serious about closing down the city’s 50 or so 

OTB parlors by June 16. The New York Post 

reported that the OTB branch in the heart of 

the financial district at 17 John Street would be 

shuttered after Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, and 

next Sunday the branch at 333 Graham Ave. in 

Brooklyn will be closed after 34 years of operation. 

The John Street OTB handled $5.9 million 

last year, the Brooklyn location $5.3 million. 

THINK YOU HAVE TROUBLE? 

Track owners and operators learn quickly that 

trouble comes in all shapes and sizes, but Isle 

of Capri encountered something a little different 

this week. It closed its casino in Davenport, 

Iowa, yesterday afternoon as rain to the north 

sent the Mississippi River to flood heights dangerous 

to the Isle’s guests and staff alike. The 

Isle was continuing to offer gaming at its casino 

and hotel in Bettendorf, Iowa, which was not affected 

by flooding, and said it had adequate insurance 

to cover closing of the Davenport site. 

In Florida, a mini-rebellion against casino traffic 

by neighbors of the Hard Rock hotel, who are 

asking Dania Beach officials to close a VIP 

access road to the big Indian hotel/casino.





April 29, 2008 

LEAVITT ON KY AUTHORITY 

Alan Leavitt, master of Walnut Hall Ltd., president 

of the Kentucky Standardbred Breeders Association, 

and one of harness racing’s most prominent 

and brightest activists, has been named to 

the Kentucky Racing Authority by Gov. Steve 

Beshear. Three other men and one woman have 

been appointed to fill vacancies or expired terms. 

Ned Bonnie, one of the most knowledgeable racing 

lawyers in America, will be joined by attorney 

Robert Beck Jr., breeder Elizabeth Lavin, 

and veterinarian Foster Northrop. Leavitt and 

Bonnie were appointed for three years, with their 

terms expiring Jan. 6, 2011. 

VERNON GETS OK, AND A FINE 

The New York State Racing and Wagering 

Board approved Vernon Downs’ racing season 

yesterday, and fined the track $20,000 for shutting 

down four days early last fall. The board 

claimed “blatant disregard for the rules of racing” 

and promised fines against individuals if a 

similar action occurred again. The attorney for 

the designated horsemen’s association of central 

New York was on hand, and said he would have 

liked a larger fine, which was the biggest the racing 

board could levy under existing law. The 

horsemen’s attorney said he would work to get 

the maximum fine raised. 

PALM BEACH NOT SO LUCKY 

The Florida Senate rose in expressed indignation 

yesterday, one member calling a proposal for a 

card room at the Palm Beach Kennel Club “disgusting 

and nauseating” with the body soundly 

rejecting the idea. It was not clear what triggered 

the dissent, but it sounded from this distance 

similar to the kind of personal spite problems 

that have plagued Vernon Downs. The senator 

who proposed the bill, which included a $360,000 

tax break, said after the vote, “There’s a 

lot of things nauseating around here, but 

my bill isn’t one of them.” 

HOPE YOU WEREN’T SHUT OUT 

If, after reading here yesterday that the Toms 

River OTB in New Jersey opened last week, you 

rushed down to place a bet last night, our apologies. 

It opened -- sort of -- last night, with the 

official opening to the general public at 11 this 

morning. Last night’s VIP opening was for some 

300 invited guests, of whom 200 or so showed 

up, according to the Asbury Park Press’s APP. 

com. Among those on hand were Don Codey, 

who runs Freehold Raceway, which operates 

the new facility; Assemblyman Ronald Dancer; 

and racing commissioner Anthony Abbatiello. 

Codey, pleased that he made good by five days 

on his vow to open Toms River before the Kentucky 

Derby, likened the event “to giving birth.” 

Some may have challenged his qualifications to 

comment on that, but he justified his remarks, 

saying, “You have this long wait, and finally you 

have something living and breathing and making 

people smile.” We’ll buy that, Don. 

AND SPEAKING OF WAITING... 

Those who have grown old waiting for politicians 

in New York to do something besides talk 

about a racino at Aqueduct Racetrack apparently 

will have something to show for it in their sunset 

years. The franchise for the slots at the Big 

A, separate from the racing, supposedly will be 

chosen by Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative 

leaders after two weeks of reviewing the applications. 

Those applying to run the racino include 

Australia’s Capital Play in partnership with the 

Mohegan Sun casino; Aqueduct Gaming, which 

includes Saratoga Harness Racing, Delaware 

North and Entertainment of Buffalo; and SL 

Green Realty of New York City, which plans to 

build a Hard Rock entertainment facility at the 

Queens site. In another development, the Racing 

and Wagering Board yesterday approved 

phone and Internet betting for tracks and 

OTB facilities.





April 30, 2008 

THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE 

Another session of Standardbred Canada’s Wagering 

Conference was held yesterday in Montreal, 

with new faces but old refrains. Professional 

gamblers talked about high takeout and 

past posting, and about Betfair being the way to 

go, but Chuck Keeling, VP of racing operations 

for Great Canadian, tempered their usual plaintive 

cries by acknowledging problems with both 

but emphasizing they were a part of the problem, 

along with many other issues. 

One of them, integrity, or the lack thereof, threw 

a shadow over the proceedings from Ontario, 

where hard-hitting executive director John 

Blakney of the Ontario Racing Commission 

handed trainer Evzan Pindur a 10-year suspension 

and $40,000 fine for positive tests for darbepoetin-alfa, 

a potent, long-lasting form of Erythropoietin, 

better known as EPO. Also suspended, 

for an indefinite period of time while an investigation 

continues, is veteran Ontario trainer Bill 

Elliott, for a darbepoetin-alfa positive on the top 

flight performer Michelle’s Power, a winner of 

$1,107,201 with a mile mark of 1:50.1 owned and 

bred by Jeffrey Snyder of New York, and driven 

almost exclusively of late by Jody Jamieson. 

Blakney says that he may take additional action 

as the investigation unfolds. Both positives were 

discovered in out-of-competition testing, and 

both will result in the horses involved being suspended 

for 90 days under Ontario’s newly enacted 

drug rules. 

NEW CEO AT SCI GAMES. 

Joseph R. Wright Jr., chairman of Intelsat, an international 

provider of fixed satellite services, is 

leaving that post May 1 to join Scientific Games, 

and will become CEO when A. Lorne Weil 

retires from the post Dec. 30. 

KENN CHRISTOPHER RETIRES 

Kenn Christopher, the voice of the Office of Racing 

Commissioner in Michigan for 32 years, is retiring. 

Kenn, currently head of special projects 

and track liaison, has served for nine racing commissioners. 

After starting with Michigan tracks, 

he was hired Oct. 27, 1975 by then commissioner 

Fidele Fauri, and has served since under Frederick 

S. Van Tiem, Bill Ballenger, Bill Cahalan, 

Luke Quinn, Nelson Westrin, Annette Bacola, R. 

Robert Geake and the present Michigan racing 

commissioner, Christine White. Christopher will 

leave his post “in the next month or so,” and will 

be missed by media that he served candidly and 

faithfully for more than three decades. Always 

up, and rarely serious, he said in his retirement 

announcement that he was lucky to have had as 

much fun as he had and been paid for it, and that 

his announcement “was met with little reaction 

from ORC leadership and staff who couldn’t 

quite recall what Christopher did for the ORC.” 

Those who covered Michigan racing could recall, 

however, and HTA wishes Kenn the best of 

all things, including spending time with his kids 

and grandkids, beginning in June. When he was 

asked about other future plans, he couldn’t help 

resorting to the keenest sense of humor in the 

game. He mumbled something about, “A greeter 

at Wal-Mart.” Come to think of it, he would be 

terrific! 

CHRIS ROBERTS MOVES UP 

Chris Roberts, who has been Director of Operations 

at Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ontario, has 

been promoted to Director, Racing Operations 

Ontario, by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. 

Chris will oversee all racing and business 

development at Georgian Downs and Flamboro 

Downs, Great Canadian’s Ontario tracks. The 

company also operates Fraser Downs, Hastings 

Racecourse and Sandown Park in British 

Columbia.





May 1, 2008 

NJ TRACKS ASK FOR SHOW LIMIT A SWAP MEET IN CANADA 

New Jersey track operators asked the state’s Standardbred Canada, concerned about deep 

racing commission yesterday to place a $10,000 drops in betting north of the border, has named 

limit on show bets, and gained permission to increase 

admission and parking fees at Monmouth SC will gather the input of speakers at its suc- 

five committees to address key issues in racing. 

Park’s upcoming summer meeting. Vice president 

Bob Kulina, speaking for the New Jersey the committees in their work. The five commitcessful 

Wagering Conference this week to help 

Sports and Exposition Authority, told the commission, 

“Costs have escalated. We’re trying to 

tees and their assigned chores are: 

RESEARCH: To initiate a national and international 

fact finding mission of studies already 

do the best we can, keep up and over our costs. 

We still have the most reasonable entertainment 

undertaken to isolate who the customer and potential 

customer is, and establish what he/she re- 

venue prices in the state,” a fact supported by 

a recent HTA survey of prices of other major 

quires from the racing industry. (Ed. note: Better 

sports. On the show bet limit, Freehold Raceway 

include past customers who no longer patronize racing.) 

requested a $10,000 ceiling to curb minus pools 

DISTRIBUTION: To look at new models for the 

arising from big bettors’ action, particularly in 

exponential growth of distribution channels that 

fields with prohibitive favorites. NJSEA senior 

could potentially offer Canadian harness racing 

vice president, Dennis Dowd, told his former 

betting products to the public. 

commission colleagues that tracks have to “reallocate 

as much as $25,000 to pay off winning 

NATIONAL POOLS AND PRODUCT DEVEL- 

OPMENT: To look at a comprehensive model 

show bets on such occasions,” and Freehold racing 

secretary Peter Koch said the track “often in 

aimed at creating wagering opportunities that 

utilize Canadian racetracks. (Ed. note: As mentioned 

the past has been victimized by extremely large before, the committee better think in broader terms, working 

with U.S. tracks, if it has a chance of accomplishing its 

show bets that adversely affect us and purse accounts.” 

He said he did not think it possible to objective on this one.) 

catch all situations where this might occur, and CANADIAN BETTING EXCHANGE: To explore 

potentially offering Canadian Standard- 

that Freehold would prefer having a limit. The 

board indicated it would work on relief. bred horse wagering through a betting exchange 

TAKING ON A BUREAUCRAT 

Jeff Gural, the main man at Vernon Downs and 

Tioga Downs, is unhappy with New York Racing 

and Wagering Board chairman Daniel Hogan. 

Gural says Hogan insulted him personally 

in announcing a $20,000 fine for closing his 

Vernon meeting four days early last fall. Gural 

told the Utica Observer-Dispatch, “I’m proud of 

the fact that we reopened Vernon and contributed 

$25 million to the state for education, and I 

don’t need to be lectured by Dan Hogan.” 

Gural said Hogan “made it sound like we 

did this because we’re a bunch of crooks. 

I’m very angry and personally insulted.” 

program. 

RACING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: To 

look at the on-track product and explore areas 

of potential development on a national scale. 

In a release explaining this ambitious program, 

SC acknowledged, “The Standardbred Wagering 

Action Plan requires active participation 

from all segments of the industry, and this 

week’s conference offers great encouragement 

that real change can occur for the future of racing 

in this country.” We add more, by saying 

Harness Tracks of America, on behalf of its Canadian 

members, will be happy to join the 

effort.


SPORT GETS ANOTHER BOOST 

On the eve of release of Charlie Leerhsen’s Crazy 

Good: the True Story of Dan Patch, the Most 

Famous Horse in America, comes another media 

development that will bring further recognition 

to harness racing. The Public Broadcasting 

Services is going national with a three-part 

documentary produced by WGBY, its affiliate in 

Springfield, Massachusetts, on Currier & Ives 

lithographs. The station produced the documentary 

following news coverage in the Boston Globe 

and New York Times of Sid and Lennee Alpert’s 

decision to have their Currier & Ives collection 

remain on permanent display in the Springfield 

Museum. The Alperts began collecting Currier 

& Ives in 1965, after Mr. Alpert, then doing video 

work for Maywood Park in Chicago, contacted 

Stan Bergstein with an inquiry: are Currier & 

Ives prints worth collecting? He had found one 

in an antique shop near the HTA office, and Stan 

told him, “Buy it, and if you don’t want it bring 

it here.” Alpert bought it, but kept it, and added 

almost 1,400 more over the years, most but not 

all trotting prints, before exhibiting a small display 

at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen 

and sending the huge collection to a permanent 

home in Springfield. Because the prints depict 

a half-century of the development of American 

history, the Alperts feel they have preserved a 

unique slice of Americana for posterity. 

NOT BETTER THAN PHILLY 

We’re not sure if it is true, but an oft-repeated 

report is that the old comic actor W. C. Fields 

had his tombstone engraved with, “Better Here 

Than Philadelphia.” There is room for argument 

now, as burghers in Benjamin Franklin’s 

town begin receiving $613 million in property tax 

relief from slots at the state’s five tracks. Homeowners 

in the Philadelphia suburbs will receive 

another $139.2 in tax reductions. The average 

property tax reduction in the Philadelphia 

area from this first distribution 




May 2, 2008 

of slots benefits will be $254, ranging from $623 

in Chester Upland in Delaware county to $75 in 

Upper Merion in Montgomery county. In addition, 

there will be a reduction of $86.5 million 

in wage-tax relief for Philadelphia, 37 suburban 

Philadelphia school districts will get an additional 

$17 million to make up for wage taxes their 

residents pay in Philadelphia. No one in Philadelphia 

is calling slots evil. One school board 

member told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Maybe 

we can put it together with the federal tax rebate 

and we’ll be able to fill our gas tanks for a couple 

of months.” 

JUSTICE PREVAILS IN ILLINOIS 

A year and a half after the fact, it turns out 

that the late pacing star Holborn Hanover and 

Jereme’s Jet, both million dollar pacing winners, 

tested positive for pyrilamine after victories 

in major races in Chicago. harnessracing. 

com reports that a hearing is to be held May 13 

on the matter, and that Holborn Hanover’s victory 

positive in the $203,000 American-National 

at Balmoral Park Aug. 26, 2006, was followed by 

a redistribution of the purse, with Lis Mara declared 

the official race winner, and a $2,500 fine 

for trainer Brett Robinson. Owners John Fielding, 

Doug Hyatt and Albert Imbroglio lost the 

$97,440 winner’s share briefly won by Holborn 

Hanover. Veteran Chicago trainer Tom Harmer 

also was fined $2,500 for a pyrilamine positive on 

Jereme’s Jet in the $250,000 Windy City Pace of 

Nov. 17, 2006. USTA records do not reflect any 

purse redistribution, according to harnessracing. 

com the Web site of The Horseman weekly. 

BET DERBY, BUT NOT HERE 

That was the word put out by TwinSpires.com. 

Churchill Downs’ ADW wagering site, yesterday. 

The service notified customers to bet elsewhere 

after horsemen refused to allow Churchill 

to send signals today and tomorrow.





May 5, 2008 

THE ONCE-A-YEAR MORALISTS 

The boys and girls who write about horse racing 

once a year, for big papers and small, with 

knowledge or without, were in full-throated cry 

this past weekend over the accident and death 

of the filly Eight Belles, who outran 18 colts and 

then stumbled after the finish and fractured 

both front ankles in the Kentucky Derby. PETA 

-- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 

-- wanted the filly’s jockey, Gabriel Saez, suspended, 

saying Eight Belles was “doubtlessly 

injured before the finish.” Her trainer, Larry 

Jones, noted that she crossed the finish line with 

ears pricked, hardly the sign of a horse in distress. 

The mournful dirge swept from coast to 

coast, the contention being that the filly had run 

herself to death finishing second in America’s 

greatest race. Had she not stumbled, she would 

have been heralded as an equine heroine, with 

young girls everywhere writing notes and sending 

flowers. We wait impatiently for the columns 

on the martial arts, the most disgraceful display 

of legalized human behavior, or on professional 

boxing, or for that matter on professional football 

and the permanent injuries it produces. We 

have owned horses that fractured ankles, and 

with other assorted injuries, and as tragic as they 

are they occur as the result of accidents, not as 

an integral part of the sport, as in the full contact 

games humans play. If the same remorse were 

shown over hockey goons battering one another 

over the head or gouging one another with sticks 

or knocking one another the rails, it might carry 

some legitimate weight. There obviously have 

been too many catastrophic injuries in major 

races televised nationally -- the game has been 

lucky getting charismatic horses like Big Brown 

but dismally unlucky with its full view track disasters 

-- but to lash out at the sport and all in it 

for the kind of accidents that send skiers 

to crutches seems not only unfair but illogical. 

A REAL CONCERN UNCHECKED 

Nick Zito, who represents the absolute best in 

thoroughbred racing as a trainer and a person, 

spoke out last week about flawed characters in 

his game. We have shared that deep concern in 

ours, and in our view things are getting worse, 

not better. Last week it was learned that two of 

the sport’s top horses, the late Holcomb Hanover 

and Jereme’s Jet, both millionaire winners, had 

won major races in Chicago and then tested positive 

for a banned substance. One of Canada’s 

best known trainers, Bill Elliott, was barred 

from Woodbine’s tracks last week after a positive 

finding by the Ontario Racing Commission. 

Zito commented on this, saying it is imperative 

to improve testing not only to punish the guilty 

but “to prevent reputations from being ruined 

and careers tarnished.” Racing will have to bite 

the bullet on the cost of testing. Either that, or 

face the music when the major scandal hits. And 

it will, sooner or later. 

NORTHVILLE SUES STATE 

Northville Downs, along with other racing interests 

facing sharp declines in betting in Michigan, 

have sued the governor and state attorney, 

charging that state restrictions on video lottery 

terminals at tracks, while allowing them at casinos, 

violates the U.S. Constitution. Phillip Maxwell, 

the attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Detroit 

News, “Without legislative relief, you will 

see the end of horse racing in Michigan within 

three years.” Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office 

said the governor had not been served with the 

suit as yet and could not comment. Attorney 

General Mike Cox’s office said they are reviewing 

the lawsuit. 

QUINELLA, MUSTARD ON DOG 

MTR Gaming’s Presque Isle Downs raised the 

bar Saturday, introducing drive-thru betting at 

the track from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Derby 

Day.





May 6, 2008 

NOW ITS OTB VS. RACING BD 

The six regional OTBs in New York State are unhappy 

with the Racing and Wagering Board for 

allowing advance deposit customers to do business 

with out-of-state operators. The policy was 

granted by the racing board after the New York 

Racing Association had asked for it, requesting 

approval for Youbet and Twin Spires to carry 

their signal as well as TVG. Racing board chairman 

Daniel Hogan said at the time of approval 

in January that people liked the NYRA signals 

and NYRA wished to maximize its simulcasting 

revenue. The OTBs contend the opening of outof-state 

accounts has distorted the “level playing 

field” which plagues all of racing these days. 

FLORIDA REJECTS SLOT BILLS 

Bloodhorse.com reports that hopes for more betting 

in Florida were dashed in the legislature, 

which adjourned for the year after the Senate 

passed two bills that would have done that, but 

the House ignored the legislation during the twomonth 

session. Marco Rubio, the anti-gambling 

Speaker of the House, never placed the bills on 

the calendar, despite state revenue shortfalls. 

One of the bills would have reduced taxes on slots 

from 50% to 35%, in Miami and Broward counties. 

The other would have allowed electronic 

video slots at tracks throughout the state. The 

legislature also declined to toughen rules that 

would have imposed more stringent conditions 

on operation of quarter horse tracks. Frank 

Stronach’s Magna Entertainment plans a quarter 

horse facility near Orlando, one of six applicants 

for such licenses. Florida exempts quarter 

horse racing from distance requirements from 

other tracks in any county where pari-mutuel 

racing is legal, and provides them with live racing 

only once a year, a requirement that enables 

them to operate year-round card rooms. 

The last quarter horse racing in Florida 

was a 1990s meeting at Pompano Park. 

UNITED REIMBURSES OTB 

An operator error in programing by Youbet’s 

United Tote resulted in a betting glitch at Capital 

OTB on Kentucky Derby day, and United president 

Jeff True says the company will reimburse 

Capital for the shortfall created by the inability 

of patrons to bet. Capital president and HTA director 

John Signor says “any number that would 

have been generated on a typical Kentucky Derby 

day will be made up, and the counties will get 

their money.” Signor says some $2.6 million had 

been bet at the time the computer crashed, and 

that a normal Derby day handle would hit $3 

million or $3.1 million. True said United would 

“look at a comparable day, do the calculation 

and settle on a number” that it would reimburse 

Capital. To soothe savage beasts, Capital will issue 

free Daily Racing Forms, which sell for $5.50 

a crack, to its patrons on Preakness Day. United 

also has the contract for NYRA and Churchill 

Downs, and served 150,000 customers without 

incident at the track on Derby Day. True said the 

Capital mishap “was operator error in failing to 

completely prepare for that day.” 

PENN NATIONAL IN KANSAS 

Penn National Gaming has expanded its holdings 

once again, gaining approval from the Kansas 

Lottery to build the first casino in the state. 

The approval is for the southeast zone of the state 

only -- rivals are fighting over three other zones 

-- and the lottery approval still must be ratified 

by a special casino selection committee in Topeka. 

Penn National plans to build a $225 million 

casino with 900 slots, expandable to 1,500, and 

some 30 table games. A 225-seat buffet will be 

built immediately, along with a coffee shop, bar 

and gift shop. Future plans call for a possible 

200-room hotel, a car museum and a 1,750-seat 

events center. Projected opening date is May, 

2010.


AN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING 

The foremost weapon in the fight against illegal 

medication in this country to date is out-of-competition 

testing, where horses can be tested anywhere, 

anytime, not merely in the confines of a 

racetrack. It began in New Jersey late last year, 

and in Delaware, and yesterday the New Jersey 

Attorney General, Anne Milgram, and executive 

director of the racing commission, Frank Zanzuccki, 

announced the first hammer had fallen. 

Racing commission investigators visited Winner’s 

International Farm in Chesterfield, Burlington 

county, and drew fluids from six horses 

trained by one Ernest Adam and owned by Dr. 

Stephen C. Slender, a veterinarian who some 

months ago was asked to leave the Sacramento 

Harness Assn. meeting at Cal-Expo on the west 

coast. The six horses -- Art Maker, Jeremy’s Successor, 

Jovial Joker N, JW Dutch Treat, Pacific 

Playboy and Western Mac -- had been racing recently 

at Harrah’s Chester, Freehold, the Meadowlands, 

Saratoga and Empire City at Yonkers, 

and all reportedly tested positive for the performance 

enhancer Erythropoietin-Human, or 

EPO. They have been declared ineligible to race 

in New Jersey, and Adam and Slender are being 

issued Notices of Hearing that list their alleged 

rule violations. Violations of New Jersey testing 

rules are punishable by a 10-year suspension 

and $50,000 fine. 

THE END FOR HAROLD PARK 

Historic Harold Park, the century-old harness 

track that has been part of the racing scene in 

Sydney, Australia’s largest city, since 1902, appears 

to have reached the end of the line. Located 

on highly desirable and very valuable land 

in central Sydney, its value as real estate is estimated 

at more than $150 million, and an independent 

report commissioned by the New 

South Wales Harness Racing Commission 

has overwhelmingly advised the sale. 




May 7, 2008 

If the 700 members of the Harold Park club approve 

the sale in July after three informational 

seminars, the track at Glebe could be sold in August. 

Training miles began this week at a new, 

1,400-meter world class facility at Menangle 

Park, and was greeted with enthusiasm by trainers, 

drivers, administrators and bettors, who 

think it has a chance to boost New South Wales 

racing to a new position of preeminence in Australia. 

Rex Horne, chairman of Harness Racing 

New South Wales, thinks purses will double if 

Harold Park’s sale is approved. “If your average 

race is worth $15,000, it would go to $30,000, and 

the Derby would go from $100,000 to $200,000.” 

Trainer and former race caller Johnny Tapp 

called the new Menangle Park track “unlike 

anything I have experienced in decades in harness 

racing,” saying he was “absolutely bowled 

over by it...it is wonderful and the sooner we are 

here full-time the better.” The new track will 

open officially on June 27, offering seven Group 

One races and more than $700,000 in purses. 

MORE ON PBS CURRIER SHOW 

The documentary produced by WGBY-TV in 

Springfield, Massachusetts, has won overwhelming 

approval from American Public Television’s 

member exchange service, and will be seen nationally 

“from Topeka to Tucson, Seattle to 

Syracuse,” this summer. WGBY’s general manager 

Russell J. Peotter, explained, “If you get a 

minimum of 25 votes from affiliates it warrants 

being shown nationwide, and American Public 

Television puts it up on the satellite. We got 90, 

including New York and Boston.” Stations in 

other large markets, including Los Angeles and 

Philadelphia, also have agreed to show the documentary, 

called “Currier and Ives: Perspectives 

on America.” The hour and a half show, in three 

half-hour segments, highlights the huge collection 

of former harness racing video producer 

Sid Alpert and his wife Lenore, which was 

sold to the Springfield Museum.





May 8, 2008 

BIG NEWS AND BIG NUMBERS 

New Zealand’s greatest superstar pacer since 

Cardigan Bay -- the brilliant 3-year-old pacing 

colt Auckland Reactor, undefeated in 11 starts -- 

has been sold to North American interests for a 

figure between $3.2 million and $4 million. A son 

of Mach Three, the same sire that has produced 

North America’s undefeated Somebeachsomewhere, 

Auckland Reactor will race the remainder 

of this season Down Under, and then will be 

shipped to North America for campaigning as 

a 4-year-old in major events for older horses. 

Should the two Mach Three offspring continue 

on their present course, it will provide a dramatic 

backdrop for the entire 2009 racing calendar. 

The new owners are a syndicate of nine owners, 

including of course Jerry Silva, who has been buying 

into seemingly every top horse in the sport. 

Others in the partnership are Canadians R. Peter 

Heffering, Dr. Michael Wilson, Tom Kryon, 

Bill Loyens, Doug Millard and Irving Storfer, 

and American Carol Beneke and Australian 

Gary Lyons. John Curtin, managing director of 

J. S. International, brokered the sale, the largest 

amount ever paid for a racing 3-year-old. In 

his last start, on April 26, Auckland Reactor won 

the mile and three-quarter Southern Supremcy 

Stakes in Invercargill with a dazzling final half 

in 54 seconds and last quarter in 25.9 seconds. 

Trained by standout trainers Mark Purdon and 

Grant Payne, the colt was sold by his breeders, 

Tony and Anne Parker. Purdon and Payne will 

train him through the ending of the New Zealand 

season the 31st of this month, then will pick 

him up until he returns to the track in October. 

Down Under seasons, of course, are the opposite 

of North America’s racing calendar. His connections 

hope to race him in the InterDominion 

series in March of 2009, then ship him to North 

America for major stakes engagements at 

the Meadowlands and Woodbine before 

retiring him to stud. 

KEN HORNICK IN TROUBLE 

Ken Hornick, a familiar name in Ontario harness 

racing and a former employee of both 

Woodbine Entertainment and Standardbred 

Canada, has been charged with 13 counts of possession 

and sale of controlled substances to participants 

in racing. The Ontario Racing Commission’s 

industry-funded Equine Medication 

Control and Drug Task Force, comprising commission 

investigators, members of the Ontario 

Police Illegal Gambling Unit, and Peel Regional 

Police Service, raided Hornick’s home in Mississauga 

last December and confiscated quantities 

of controlled drugs and adulterated, unlabeled 

substances. After months of follow-up investigation 

and drug testing and analysis, it has been 

confirmed that a number of the items seized 

are in fact illegal substances. Racing commission 

deputy director Rob McKinney, commenting 

on the bust, said, “Regrettably, some few 

individuals, motivated by greed and a mistaken 

belief they can escape justice, not only break 

the rules of racing but cause harm to the horse 

and tarnish the reputation of thousands of hard 

working people who play by the rules every day. 

Through the support of the Task Force, that 

community wants to work together to solve and 

prevent these problems, to root out, expose and 

punish those individuals.” Task force members 

are continuing their investigation into the activities 

of Mr. Hornick and any known associates 

in racing, and further regulatory action may be 

taken. Hornick is to appear in Provincial Court 

in Brampton, Ontario, to face the charges June 

5. This is not the first time Hornick has been in 

trouble. He was in the news four years ago during 

a commission hearing about positive drug 

tests on horses trained by Bill Robinson, when 

Hornick admitted he had hacked into the personal 

e-mail of Hugh Mitchell, then a Woodbine 

official and now chief operating officer of 

Western Fair and president of HTA.





May 9, 2008 

LET THE GAMES BEGIN 

The harness racing stakes season gets underway 

in earnest tomorrow with the $185,000 Dexter 

Cup for 3-year-old trotters at Freehold Raceway 

and the $215,000 Berry’s Creek for 3-yearold 

pacers at the Meadowlands. Trainer Jimmy 

Takter sends out the favored Holiday Credit in 

the Dexter, a race that in the past has sent out 

future standouts such as Hambletonian winners 

Armbro Goal and American Winner and the 

top performer and sire SJ’s Caviar. The Berry’s 

Creek, which has produced star winners 

like Cams Card Shark, Mach Three and Artistic 

Fella in past editions, has an interesting full field 

that includes Mucho Sleazy, Bullville Powerful, 

Art Official and Pro Art. In a $40,000 open trot 

at Harrah’s Chester with international implications, 

Peter Kleinhans’ Enough Talk cruised to a 

1:53.2 victory for Tim Tetrick and set the stage 

for a possible trip to Stockholm for the Solvalla 

Elitlopp, one of world trotting’s great races, at 

the end of the month. 

THE TIDE BEGINS TO TURN 

The ranting and raving over the death of Eight 

Belles in the Kentucky Derby continues, the latest 

blast being a Michigan Public Radio tirade 

calling for the end of racing. Some writers 

who know the game, however, are rebelling at 

the once-a-year moralists. Jeremy Plonk, writing 

for ESPN, called them the “cup-of-coffee” 

crowd, and today Ray Kerrison of the New York 

Post lowered his powerful guns on them. In a 

column titled “Filly’s Phony Friends,” Kerrison 

called the media treatment of the Eight Belles 

story and “the blanket condemnation of everyone 

and everything associated with her so unjust 

it amounts to a high tech lynching.” Kerrison 

notes that there is “not a speck of evidence, visual 

or veterinary,” to support the contention 

of PETA that she was injured before the 

finish line. “In fact, she ran to the wire, 

full of vigor.” 

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE 

Economists can call it what they will, a downturn 

or adjustment or just plain recession, but 

times are tough in the gambling industry. First 

quarter reports from major casino companies 

are uniformly down. Trump Casinos reported 

a loss of $18.6 million, or 59 cents a share, on 

its three Atlantic City properties, with revenues 

down 3%. EBITA -- Earnings before interest, 

taxes, depreciation and amortization -- dropped 

29.5%. Slots revenue was down 2.9%, which 

Trump spokesmen called encouraging since their 

competitors in Atlantic City were down 9.9%. 

The company said its quaintly named Chairman 

Tower, named for guess who?, which offers penthouse 

suites, was “exceeding expectations.” In 

an interesting sidebar, the company said a spate 

of bad luck at the tables cost it $5.3 million in 

revenue in table games. Other casinos fared no 

better. MGM Mirage in Vegas suffered a 30% 

decline in first quarter profit. Harrah’s Entertainment 

saw revenues slip 2.1% from the first 

quarter a year ago, with property EBITA declining 

6.9%. Ameristar lost $77.1 million during 

the first quarter, largely from $129 million 

in charges related to its purchase of a riverboat 

casino in East Chicago, Indiana. Mohegan Sun 

announced a double digit drop in first quarter 

earnings. CFO Leo Chupaska reported, “Business 

is soft, especially with slots.” 

THE CONCORD COMES DOWN 

Thousands of lovers, or those seeking love, are 

suffering withdrawal symptoms this week as developer 

Louis Capelli finally is making good on 

his promises to tear down the storied Concord 

Hotel at Kiamesha Lake, New York, for years 

the heart of the Catskills. No one has slept in its 

1,300 rooms for more than 10 years, but Capelli, 

now in partnership with Empire Resorts, owners 

of Monticello Raceway, has begun actual demolition 

and is finalizing plans to move the 

racetrack to his new entertainment site.




Stanley F. Bergstein, Editor May 12, 2008 

In a statewide Massachusetts poll commissioned 

by Citizens for Limited Taxation and conducted 

among 500 likely November 2008 voters by the 

Virginia polling firm of Fabrizio, McLaughlin 

and Associates, 71% responded they would prefer 

cutting spending over raising taxes in order 

to close the state’s budget gap; 77% opposed 

increasing the gasoline tax to pay for road repair 

and construction; and 72% said they would vote 

no on any measure to raise property taxes in their 

local communities. Seems the climate is right for 

a vote on slots at tracks. 

STILL HOPE FOR MASS SLOTS 

Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts 

who saw his slots proposal shot down brutally 

two months ago, told reporter Steve DeCosta of 

SouthCoastToday.com that slots will be coming 

back on the legislative agenda, but probably not 

this session. Speaking of slots at tracks, the governor 

said, “As practical matter, it’s off the table 

for this session. But also as a practical matter, 

it’s going to come back in one form or another 

because, if for nothing else, the Wampanoags 

are still pushing forward, so we’re going to have 

to deal with the question of expanded gambling 

whether it’s in the form that I proposed or not. 

The proponents of slots at the track, which is 

not something I have supported, have some hope 

that they may be heard this session. There’s so 

much business to get done before the end of this 

session that I’m doubtful. There’s also interest 

among folks who supported the resort casino idea 

to use a slots-at-the-track bill as an opportunity 

to amend, and we’re open to some kind of compromise....We 

never got the opportunity to get in 

and negotiate an outcome that’s natural in any 

piece of legislation, and that may yet come. I 

just don’t think it’s going to come in this legislative 

session.” Patrick told the news service that 

the recent troubles of House Speaker Salvatore 

DiMasi, who led the defeat of the governor’s bill 

on the casino initiative, won’t figure in any decision 

to revive the issue. DiMasi is the subject of 

several ethics complaints by Republican legislators. 

Gov. Patrick downplayed the reports of 

personal animosity between himself and DiMasi. 

“I’m fond of the speaker,” he said, “and we’ve 

worked very well on a bunch of things. It’s been 

interesting to me how much has been made of the 

supposed conflict. We’re going to have differences 

and occasionally those differences 

will be sharp, but we’re professionals.” 

Massachusetts tracks, including HTA 

member Plainridge Racecourse, fight on. 

HORNICK HIT WITH 15 YEARS 

Ken Hornick, a former track and Standardbred 

Canada employee charged with 13 counts of possession 

and trafficking of controlled substances, 

has had all racing privileges suspended for 15 

years, and been fined $60,000, for the offenses. 

Ontario Racing Deputy Director Rob McKinney 

said the severity of the suspension and fine 

reflects the serious nature of the charges of being 

an illegal supplier of drugs to the horse industry, 

and the ORC will not tolerate the use, possession, 

acquisition of illegal substances, or of those supplying 

them to horse racing. Hornick was caught 

through the joint efforts of Ontario’s Equine 

Medication Control and Drug Task Force, working 

with provincial and local police. 

IT FOLLOWS AS NIGHT TO DAY 

The Pennsylvania House has approved a revamping 

of the state’s bingo laws, voting to allow more 

nights of bingo a week, permit bigger payoffs, remove 

advertising restrictions and legalize handheld 

electronic bingo devices. Rep. Don Walko, a 

Pittsburgh Democrat, said the bill, which passed 

the House 180-18, would help volunteer fire companies 

and other charitable organizations with 

funding challenges. The bill now moves to 

the Senate, where its fate is unknown.


In Maryland, a Circuit Court judge has overturned 

the state Attorney General’s ruling that 

slot-like electronic wagering machines in St. 

Mary’s county were illegal. Judge Karen Abrams 

granted a motion for injunctive relief that two 

local county charities and a liquor store owner 

with 50 machines requested against the state. 

The popularity of the machines in St. Mary’s 

was spreading to other counties, and state officials 

were alarmed. They still will have the final 

word, for a law passed in the final hours of the 

state legislative session outlawed the machines as 

of July 1. In her decision, Judge Abrams ruled 

that the machines differed from slots in that they 

used a computer cartridge with a pre-set number 

of wins, rather than a random number generator 

like slots, to determine winners. She said since 

they do not operate on random chance and a victory 

is guaranteed eventually, they were lawful. 

The liquor store operator told the court that his 

business received $172,000 in rent from the machines 

in several months of operation, with the 

vendor, Impact Innovations of Nevada, receiving 

50% of the proceeds. The machines were intended 

originally to benefit charities, but it was 

charged the charities received minimal amounts. 

The judge ruled that other profits did not “take 

away from the fact that the charities were 

the beneficiaries.” Come July 1, the argument 

is moot. 




May 13, 2008 

LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL BEAT In Harrisburg, PA, Gov. Ed Rendell announced 

In California, the state Senate has passed legislation 

barring Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from ban smoking in public places statewide if it would 

he would veto any legislation that attempted to 

negotiating compacts with Indian tribes whose weaken Philadelphia’s existing no smoking law. 

casinos would be located on land not federally Philadelphia has had such a law for almost two 

recognized. The action followed negotiations by years, and the governor said, “Philadelphia has 

Schwarzenegger to allow Indian casinos in areas taken a strong stand to support the health of its 

other than their approved reservations. One of residents, and I will not backtrack on that. If the 

the proposals was rejected by the U.S. Department 

of the Interior. Another is under federal Philadelphia’s ban, then it won’t go into law.” 

legislature proposes a plan that would preempt 

consideration. 

The subject of the governor’s ire is a bill being 

considered by a joint House and Senate committee 

that would preempt all local ordinances, including 

Philadelphia’s, but would provide some 

exemptions for private clubs, cigar bars and 

casinos. As proposed, whatever the committee 

agreed upon would go to the House and Senate 

without any provision for change, and require a 

straight up or down vote. 

AND ON THE POLITICAL BEAT 

The Speaker of the Massachusetts House, Sal 

DiMasi, has been under heavy Republican fire 

since he led the successful obliteration of Gov. 

Deval Patrick’s proposals for slots at three casino 

locations in the state. DiMasi is facing ethics 

charges, and yesterday he sent a two-page letter 

to all House members expressing his outrage 

“that my reputation, my integrity and my good 

name have been called into question.” DiMasi 

denied he took any actions that were not entirely 

appropriate, and called newspaper suggestions 

otherwise “baseless.” In a statement that his opponents 

undoubtedly will find humorous, given 

his powerful influence in the legislature, DiMasi 

wrote, “Like any of us, I do not control the conduct 

or actions of others. As elected officials, we 

in the Legislature are all subject to the unfortunate 

inclination of others to use our names without 

our knowledge or authorization. It is something 

that those of us in public service are 

exposed to and must guard against.”





TURBULENT WORLD OF RAC- 

ING 

It’s a volcano out there. 

In Maryland, Chris Dragone has been fired by 

Magna Entertainment after less than six months 

as president of the Maryland Jockey Club, the 

week of its biggest race, the Preakness, and replaced 

by Tom Chuckas, who served for 11 years 

as president of Rosecroft Raceway. Dragone had 

replaced the popular Lou Raffetto in the job. 

Reached in Moscow, where his new business 

partner Oleg Deripaska is located, Stronach said, 

“Dragone, he was a nice fella, but we thought it 

might have been maybe too much for him. The 

other fella had more experience. We have in mind 

he will play a greater role. It happened he was 

available.” Dragone apparently caught the brunt 

of blame for the precipitous 24.7% drop in business 

at the MJC’s Laurel Park meeting that ended 

April 13 with betting down from $291.7 million to 

$219.8 million, and Magna Entertainment suffering 

a $46.5 million loss in the first quarter of this 

year and $406.3 million in the past three years. 

With the Preakness coming up Saturday, Dragone 

told the Washington Post, “Right now, I’m president 

of the Maryland Jockey Club, and my focus 

is 100% on the Preakness. That’s my position. I 

am not going to have this event hijacked by a story 

that isn’t focused on this weekend. Nothing was 

planned to be announced until after the 

Preakness.” Chuckas, an HTA director during 

his Rosecroft years, played a key role in creating 

the important revenue sharing agreement with the 

Maryland Jockey Club in the late 1990s that led 

to a 15-year “memorandum of understanding” 

between harness and thoroughbred racing in 

Maryland, allowing the continuation of crossbreed 

simulcasting in Maryland and outof-state 

racing at Maryland tracks and 

OTB. The Maryland Racing Commission 

chairman called Chuckas “a cool customer.” 

May 14, 2008 

In Indiana, racing secretary Kevin Mack has 

been temporarily suspended by Hoosier Park’s 

owner, Centaur Inc., pending “a review of racing 

office procedures.” The problem reportedly involved 

irregularities in entries of a major Indiana 

trainer. Scott Peine, who has been on loan to Running 

Aces in Minnesota, is returning to Hoosier to 

replace Mack in the racing secretary’s office. In 

another Indiana development, racing commission 

executive director Joe Gorajec has extended the 

grace period in which anabolic steroid positives 

will not be penalized through the remainder of Indiana 

Downs thoroughbred meeting July 8. The 

grace period was to have ended 45 days after April 

1, but it has been extended to 90 days. 

In Illinois, one step forward and two backwards. 

Harnessracing.com obtained Illinois Racing Board 

meeting minutes which reveal that the board has 

vacated stewards’ rulings in the drug positives of 

Holborn Hanover and Jereme’s Jet in major Illinois 

stakes, the $250,000 Windy City Pace at 

Maywood and the $203,000 American National at 

Balmoral, in 2006. The board reportedly decided 

that since the drug level rules were changed 

on May 1 this year, the violations two years ago 

should not be considered violations in hearings 

conducted in 2008. 

In Kentucky, thoroughbred trainer Patrick 

Biancone, serving a one-year suspension, has 

gone to court seeking an injunction to prevent 

the Racing Authority from holding a hearing 

Monday to determine if he violated the terms of 

his agreement with the Authority. 

Also in Kentucky, thoroughbred horsemen took 

a strong militant stand following a meeting at 

which more than 150 were exhorted by speakers 

to “hold the line” and decide “when and if 

we want to race.”





May 15, 2008 

ANTI-TRUST CHARGES FILED 

Churchill Downs has filed an amended complaint 

in its lawsuit against various thoroughbred organizations 

and individuals, charging violations of 

the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The purpose of the 

suit is “to terminate a contract, combination and 

conspiracy to fix prices and orchestrate a joint 

boycott carried out by organizations (horsemen’s 

groups) purporting to represent the owners 

and trainers of thoroughbred horses. In a 

per se violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 

various horsemen’s groups have contracted, 

combined and conspired to raise the amounts 

they receive from advanced deposit wagering, 

the fastest growing form of off-track betting on 

horse races. Furthermore, in order to achieve 

their unlawful objective, the conspirators have 

threatened to, and are carrying out, an unlawful 

group boycott of racetrack operators that do not 

knuckle under to their demands.” The suit was 

filed in the United States District Court for the 

Western District of Kentucky in Louisville. The 

amended suit is the latest move in a bitter dispute 

that so far has brought no resolution. 

UNIQUE GAMING CHALLENGE 

The seven justices of the Kansas Supreme Court 

heard arguments yesterday afternoon on a 

unique challenge to four casinos approved by 

the state. The Court agreed to hear an appeal 

of a February decision by a Shawnee county 

district court judge that upheld the law expanding 

gambling in the state. Multi-millions are at 

stake for Kansas. If the court declares the law 

constitutional, four casinos and slots at Kansas 

tracks can move ahead. The law in question was 

passed four years ago, allowing the state lottery 

to contract with developers to build and operate 

the casinos, stipulating that they are state-owned 

and operated. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who favors 

the plan, thinks the law is constitutional 

and asked her attorney general to seek affirmation 

from the state’s high court, believing that 

otherwise developers would be reluctant to move 

ahead. The lottery commission has approved a 

15-year agreement with Penn National Gaming 

to operate a hotel and casino complex in Cherokee 

county. The court’s next date for announcing 

opinions is June 27. 

TRACKS ROLL THEIR OWN 

Taking track security in their own hands under 

track imposed rules, Tioga Downs and Vernon 

Downs have announced their own programs of 

random out-of-competition testing. The program 

will be organized and supervised by Art 

Gray, the former New York racing judge who 

also invented the safety reins now gaining widespread 

use in both harness and thoroughbred 

racing. Gray also led Tioga’s earlier efforts 

that resulted in the apprehension of medication 

violators at rest stops on roads leading to the 

track. The new program already is underway, 

and owner Jeff Gural said, “In light of the recent 

industry-wide bad news we are happy to 

say all samples drawn showed no indication 

of foreign substances.” 

MASS SENATE DIES HARD 

Even though governor Deval Patrick has acknowledged 

that there is virtually no chance of 

passage in this legislative session, the Massachusetts 

Senate refuses to let his soundly beaten casino 

plan die. The Senate minority leader, Republican 

Richard Tisei, has defiantly announced, 

“With all due respect to House speaker Sal Di- 

Masi, there are two branches of the legislature. 

The state needs money right now, and the Senate 

should have a chance to vote on this.” Tisei plans 

to push for the Patrick three-casino idea through 

an amendment to the Senate’s $28 million budget 

proposal, released by its ways and means committee 

yesterday. A Democratic House member, 

Marty Walsh, said, “This is a lot of money 

to be turning away right now.”





May 16, 2008 

AN OMINOUS START 

The bad luck plaguing the thoroughbred sport -- 

vast media coverage of the death of Eight Belles 

accompanying every mention of the final two legs 

of the Triple Crown -- is throwing shadows across 

the bright promise of the heart of the 2008 harness 

racing season. Last year’s most sensational 

2-year-olds -- the trotting filly Snow White and 

pacing colt Somebeachsomewhere -- both are out 

of action as the major stakes get underway. The 

filly was sidelined by a throat operation, and yesterday 

owner and now trainer Brent MacGrath 

announced his colt had suffered a bone bruise in 

his right front foot and would miss his scheduled 

season opener. MacGrath called the injury “minor” 

and called the scratch precautionary, saying 

the world’s fastest 2-year-old still is being pointed 

toward the Burlington stakes at Mohawk Raceway 

May 31, and the $1 million North America 

Cup in mid June. 

YES VIRGINIA, THE EPA EXISTS 

The Environmental Protection Agency has been 

relatively quiet in recent months, but it resurfaced 

this week with warnings and orders to Suffolk 

Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts, to correct 

track pollutants washing into an adjacent creek 

that feeds into Boston Harbor. Because Suffolk 

has more than 500 horses stabled at the track for 

more than 45 days a year, it is classified as a Concentrated 

Animal Feeding Operation under EPA 

rules, and the federal agency ordered the track 

to take immediate action and “make all practicable 

efforts” to stop discharging pollutants into 

its storm drain system and Sales Creek. The EPA 

found that horse manure, bedding material, and 

stable wash water were discharged repeatedly 

into Suffolk’s storm drain during dry weather, 

and inspectors saw storm water contaminated 

with “highly turbid, brown runoff.” Samples 

showed bacterial and solid waste being 

discharged into the creek in both dry 

and wet weather. Fair warning. 

AROUND THE CIRCUIT...... 

Tomorrow’s Preakness will be picketed by PETA, 

the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, 

and NBC, yielding to the media outcry, will have 

Bob Costas doing a feature on Eight Belles as 

part of the Preakness telecast from Pimlico. The 

media onslaught continues unabated, with papers 

coast to coast rehashing every aspect of the 

Eight Belles disaster. The New York Daily News, 

contributing its share, ran a long story quoting 

Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow saying, “I give 

all my horses Winstrol,” one of the four steroids 

racing permits, on the 15th of every month. 

“If the authorities say I can’t use it anymore, I 

won’t,” said Dutrow, who has 72 rules violations, 

including a number of drug infractions, on his 

record. A necropsy of Eight Belles, incidentally, 

showed no pre-existing bone abnormalities, nor 

any disease of the cardiovascular or pulmonary 

system. 

Windsor Raceway’s leading driver for the past 

two years, Allan Cullen, has been suspended for 

a year by the Ontario Racing Commission for 

multiple positive tests, his, not his horses. 

Sweden’s V64 pick six, a national bet that takes 

place each Wednesday and is available in the 

U.S. at the Meadowlands, Monmouth Park, 

Freehold Raceway, Saratoga Harness and Delaware 

Park, will have a carryover of $3.84 million 

U.S. next Wednesday. 

The Little Brown Jug Fantasy Stable contest, allowing 

contestants free entry to select their own 

stable of 10 Jug eligible 3-year-old pacers, began 

yesterday. Seventeen races lead up to the Sept., 

18 Jug, with players receiving points if their 

horses are among the top five finishers in each 

of the scheduled races. The tournament races 

begin May 31 with the Burlington Stakes 

at Mohawk Racetrack.





May 19, 2008 

IN NJ, ANYTHING BUT RACING 

As Pennsylvania racing zooms past to new 

heights, legislators in New Jersey, and its governor 

Jon Corzine, turn away from racing to keno 

and sports betting, leaving a major agricultural 

industry to wither on the vine. NJ.com reports 

this morning that “Searching for new sources of 

cash, the Corzine administration is taking a fresh 

look at an old idea: setting up keno games in bars, 

restaurants and other places where patrons can 

bet on numbers drawn every few minutes.” The 

news service also reported that the Senate Wagering, 

Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee 

was meeting today to hear testimony on a 

bill that would permit sports betting in casinos, 

or a second bill that would permit it in casinos or 

racetracks, this despite the fact that it is against 

federal law. The committee also is to consider a 

resolution to ask Congress to lift the federal ban. 

The bill sponsor, Democrat Raymond Lesniak, 

wants New Jersey to go farther. He has asked 

the Corzine administration to file a lawsuit challenging 

the 1992 federal ban, and said if it does 

not do so he will file the suit himself. All of this 

takes place in a state with the world’s foremost 

harness track, the Meadowlands, which with its 

sister track Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway 

could provide hundreds of millions to the 

state if allowed to have slots. New Jersey’s shadow 

government, Atlantic City casinos, do not 

want that to happen, and in New Jersey what the 

casinos want the casinos get. As to keno, the Lottery 

Commission already has rules in effect to 

regulate keno in bars and restaurants if they are 

approved, but the casinos do not want them. Atlantic 

City’s former mayor and now state senator 

Jim Whelan has registered strong opposition, 

saying keno could have a “devastating effect” on 

the multibillion dollar casino industry by creating 

state-wide competition. No one within 

earshot in Trenton mentioned the devastating 

effect on New Jersey racing. 

NEW TV SHOW DEBUTS IN PA 

A half-hour news and feature television show on 

harness racing, to be available to more than three 

million viewers in eastern Pennsylvania on Comcast 

SportsNet, will debut this coming Saturday, 

May 24. Two-time Emmy award winner and 

former ESPN host and producer Bruce Casella 

will produce the show, which will be co-hosted 

by Steve Ross and Shannon DiAntonio. Ross is a 

veteran broadcaster and Ms. DiAntonio is on-air 

analyst for Harrah’s Chester Racetrack and Casino. 

Harrah’s and Mohegan Sun at Pocono are 

joining the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s 

Association in producing the show, to be called 

PA Harness Week. It will feature highlights of 

the week, newsworthy harness events, profiles of 

owners, trainers and drivers, and historic footage 

from old races at long-gone and lamented Liberty 

Bell Park and Brandywine Raceway. Viewers 

in the Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Allentown, 

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wilmington, Delaware, 

markets will be able to access the show on 

Comcast SportsNet from Saturday weekly until 

August 23. Earl Beal Jr., president of the sponsoring 

Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, 

said that PHHA is “constantly in search 

of innovative new promotional vehicles,” and the 

show will offer a stage for Pennsylvania’s new 

found status as a slots-fueled major power in the 

sport. 

SNELL BACK IN FIGHT IN MD 

Ted Snell, who served as an HTA director at Rosecroft, 

Ocean Downs, Atlantic City, and Pompano 

during his many years as a harness racing track 

president and general manager, now is coming out of 

retirement to lead the charge for slots in Maryland. 

Snell will take over as chief executive officer at Rosecroft 

June 1 and use his long political experience as a 

harness, thoroughbred and greyhound general manager 

and political savant to work toward passage 

of slots legislation that could mean millions in 

revenue sharing to the Cloverleaf track.





May 20, 2008 

CANADIAN HALL OF FAMERS 

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame announced 

its 2008 inductees today, and four 

harness racing greats got the call. The late allaround 

star and hugely popular Cliff Chapman 

and breeder Pierre Levesque are the humans, 

trotter Peaceful Way and pacer Real Desire are 

the latest horses to be honored. On the human 

side for thoroughbred racing are multiple Sovereign 

Award winning trainer Robert Tiller and 

Woodbine Entertainment archivist, historian, 

journalist and author Louis E. Cauz, managing 

director of the Hall of Fame. Cliff Chapman, 

a racing secretary, auction bid-spotter extraordinare, 

and former owner and publisher of the 

Canadian Sportsman, was one of the friendliest 

men in North American harness racing, always 

smiling and bubbling over with good cheer and 

optimism. He was the first racing secretary at 

HTA member Western Fair Raceway when that 

track opened in 1961. Pierre Levesque, founder, 

owner and operator of Angus Farms, home 

of hundreds of top horses including the super 

broodmare Amour Angus, dam of Andover Hall, 

Angus Hall, Conway Hall, Emilie Cas El, and 

cumulative winners of more than $3.5 million. 

Her son Angus Hall sired new inductee Peaceful 

Way, the richest Canadian trotter of all time, 

who defeated top fillies and males, and Canada’s 

2006 Horse of the Year, Majestic Son. Real Desire, 

a winner of $3.1 million and now sire of the 

winners of more than $7.1 million, was a multiple 

Breeders’ Crown winner, won the $1 million 

Meadowlands Pace and Hoosier Cup, and paced 

in 1:48.2 as a 4-year-old. New horse inductees 

on the thoroughbred side of the Hall of Fame are 

two outstanding runners of the 1990s from Sam- 

Son Farms, Wilderness Song and Smart Strike, 

sire of the thoroughbred Horse of the Year Curlin 

and Breeders’ Cup champion English 

Channel, and now standing at Lanes End 

Farm in Kentucky. 

SCIOTO CELEBRATES BIG 50TH 

HTA member Scioto Downs is pulling out all the 

stops to celebrate its 50th anniversary season this 

coming Saturday night. Ohio Harness Racing 

Hall of Famers and other dignitaries, including 

Howard Beissinger, Laverne Hill and Jim Ewart 

will present trophies and Communications Hall 

of Famer and Ohio Hall of Famer Roger Huston 

will call the races. One exceptionally nice 

touch will be the presentation of the first trophy 

of the night by Sara and Ann Short, daughters of 

trainer-driver Forrest Short, who won Scioto’s 

first race on October 9, 1959. Sara is the US- 

TA’s longest serving employee, having worked at 

the association’s Columbus headquarters for 54 

years. She started in 1954, a month before Barbara 

Brooks, who still serves as assistant registrar, 

and the pair are two of the association’s 

most valued employees. 

A LOVELY DAY FOR SPORTS 

Readers of this morning’s New York Times could 

be excused if they thought they had picked up 

copies of the old Police Gazette. The paper had a 

story about the National Basketball Association 

vehemently denying charges by John Lauro, an 

attorney for disgraced former NBA referee Tim 

Donaghy, that NBA games had been influenced 

by relationships among referees, coaches and 

players. The charges were included in a sentencing 

memorandum sent to the U.S. district judge 

who will sentence Donaghy July 14, suggesting 

the NBA might have “pressured” the U.S. attorney’s 

office “into shutting down this prosecution 

to avoid the disclosure of information unrelated 

to Tim’s conduct.” The NBA called the charges 

“an assortment of lies and unfounded facts.” 

Other stories today included Charles Barkley’s 

assertion that he had paid a $400,000 gambling 

debt owed to Wynn Resorts and was quitting 

gambling, and a report calling for investigation 

of possible fixes in 45 pro tennis matches 

played in the last five years.





May 21, 2008 

CAL ACTS, KY PONDERS 

What a difference a coast makes. 

While the California Horse Racing Board decided 

yesterday to adopt the recommendations 

on steroids of the Kentucky-based Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium, the Kentucky 

Horse Racing Authority decided to appoint subcommittees. 

Authority member Connie Whitfield, 

chairwoman of the Kentucky Equine Drug 

Research Council that advises the Authority, 

said, “We don’t want to be rushed to judgment 

and make a decision we’ll regret later. We need 

to get it right.” Pressure from Kentucky thoroughbred 

horsemen, who want more research 

which will delay any decision on steroids, obviously 

played a role in the decision. There are 

ironies in the development, in that U.S. Congressman 

Ed Whitfield, Connie Whitfield’s husband, 

is advocating federal control. Kentucky 

state senator Damon Thayer, the legislature’s 

most interested and vocal voice on racing and 

a member of the equine research panel, understands 

what is at stake, particularly in view of the 

Eight Belles uproar, despite the fact that steroids 

were not involved. “I don’t think the public is 

going to be very patient with us on this,” Thayer 

told the Associated Press. “We can’t committee 

this to death. We can’t symposium it to death. 

We can’t talk it to death. We’ve got to do something.” 

The primary “something” Kentucky has 

done to date is hire Dr. Mary Scollay, the track 

vet at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park, 

who has done a study of breakdowns and other 

safety issues, to be the first equine medical director. 

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports 

Dr. Scollay will work with Kentucky Racing 

Authority chairman Bob Beck and his newly appointed 

safety and welfare committee while the 

Authority awaits RMTC summer research at the 

University of Florida. We are haunted by 

remembrance of the old, old line that “a 

camel is a horse built by a committee.” 

WIDENING CAL INVESTIGATION 

Steroids are not the only concern of the California 

Horse Racing Board. It is investigating 

the circumstances that forced it to call a halt to 

all Quick-Pick betting in the state. The problem 

involves the apparent omission of some 

numbers from the random computer selection 

process of the Quick-Pick that came to light after 

Big Brown’s victory in the Kentucky Derby 

racing as number 20. CHRB executive director 

Kirk Breed issued a post-Derby order to Scientific 

Games, which provides all tote equipment 

to California tracks, to cease Quick-Pick betting 

until it can correct the issue, and then appointed 

his assistant Richard Bon Smith to discover 

whether Sci Games had been previously aware of 

the software malfunction. Racing board chairman 

Richard Shapiro, concerned that the same 

programming failure might exist in other racing 

jurisdictions, advised Racing Commissioners International 

president Ed Martin that California 

had “discovered a potentially serious issue.” 

10 GRAND FOR A MILLION 

United Parcel Service, which has received a 

million dollars worth of free publicity with the 

roaring coverage of its nickname namesake Big 

Brown, and will receive several million more 

with the upcoming Belmont Stakes and beyond, 

has decided to have its UPS Foundation contribute 

to Thoroughbred Charities of America, not in 

honor of Big Brown but in honor of the departed 

Eight Belles. The contribution? $10,000. That 

is what is known on the street as ROI, or return 

on investment. Or perhaps non-investment. 

ONEIDAS GET 13,004 ACRES 

In a move that UticaOD.com says could have 

“enormous implications” for central New York, 

Vernon Downs’ home, the U.S. Department of the 

Interior is placing 13,004 acres of land in trust 

for the Oneida Indian Nation, exempting it 

from local and state taxation and laws.





May 22, 2008 

HIPPIQUES “ON ROPES” 

Attractions Hippiques, the racing venture 

launched two years ago with unbridled optimism 

by Quebec senator and business executive 

Paul Massicotte, is “on the ropes,” according to 

a headline in this morning’s Montreal Gazette. 

The lead of writer Kevin Dougherty’s story 

reads, “Attractions Hippiques, the company controlled 

by Senator Paul Massicotte, winner in the 

privatization of Quebec’s four horse-race tracks, 

could declare bankruptcy, Finance Minister Monique 

Jerome-Forget said yesterday.” In a move 

last year to pump $36 million into the privatized 

tracks, Loto-Quebec transferred lottery terminals 

from bars to ‘ludoplexes’ or racinos at Hippodrome 

de Montreal and Massicotte tracks in 

Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres and Aylmer, but the 

tracks 22% cut of revenues produced only $8.6 

million last year. Ms. Forget, asked about continued 

support, said she was not eager to bail out 

the industry again, and said, “There is a possibility 

Mr. Massicotte will declare bankruptcy. It is 

as simple as that. He is losing money.” SONACC, 

the Quebec group that administers racing, notified 

Massicotte that its lawyers believe his reduction 

in number of races and downsizing of purses 

are violations of his 2006 agreement of sale. 

FUN AND GAMES IN BOSTON 

Massachusetts House speaker Sal DiMasi, the 

man who engineered the crushing defeat of Gov. 

Deval Patrick’s proposal for three casinos in the 

state, caught his political allies and enemies by 

surprise yesterday, suggesting the state conduct 

a nonbinding, statewide referendum on the issue 

this fall. Although some legislators regarded the 

idea as “a door opening,” the governor’s office 

immediately denounced it, saying Massachusetts 

voters already had expressed their support of 

the casino idea. The secretary of economic 

development called the DiMasi proposal 

“not the best course of action at this 

time.” 

DEVELOPMENTS AT YOUBET 

Good news for Youbet.com. The online betting 

service was notified it has regained compliance 

with Nasdaq rules requiring 10 consecutive days 

of trading above $1 a share, and has avoided delisting 

by the exchange. Its stock, reached a 

52-week low of 65 cents in late April, rose above 

$1 in early May and has remained there since, 

currently trading at $1.47. Three directors -- 

Michael Sands, Jack Liebau and Michael Brodsky 

-- buoyed prices with big acquisitions, Sands 

buying 22,500 shares at $1.36, Liebau 120,000 

shares at between $1.35 and $1.50, and CEO 

Brodsky awarded 1.4 million shares at $1.63 a 

share. The company also gained approval for an 

advanced deposit wagering license in Virginia 

after almost five years during which it refused to 

pay license fees. The state was taken to federal 

court by Colonial Downs and the Virginia HBPA 

last September, and settled in February, in part 

by agreeing to pay $150,000 in back fees in time 

for Colonial Downs opening June 9. The track 

also settled with Virginia harness horsemen on 

purses for their meeting, thus satisfying a contingency 

clause in its contract with thoroughbred 

horsemen, who supported the harness action in a 

rare and happy show of interbreed cooperation. 

NEW POST FOR VIC HARRISON 

Vic Harrison, a veteran of 20 years in racing, 9 

of them with the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel 

Wagering, 10 as director of North American sales 

for United Tote, and the last 10 months as assistant 

GM at Vernon Downs, is the new executive 

secretary of the Virginia Racing Commission. 

Vic, long a close friend of HTA, has been named 

to succeed Stan Bowker, who is retiring from the 

post after 9 years of service. Racing commission 

chairman Peter Burnett said Harrison will begin 

his duties May 30 and officially take over Sept. 2 

after working with Bowker in a transition 

period this summer.





May 23, 2008 

CENTAUR WINS HANDS DOWN 

Centaur’s Valley View Downs won unanimous 

local approval last night from the Mahoning 

Township Zoning Board, which approved all six 

variances needed for the project to move forward. 

Bill Changoway, chairman of the zoning 

board, said, “The requests were done in a very 

systematic fashion and the variances granted 

were in character with the project and the welfare 

in the area.” In an earlier hearing conducted 

a week ago by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control 

Board some 300 local residents turned out, and 

three dozen of them, including a Roman Catholic 

priest, addressed the board and endorsed 

the project. Last night’s Mahoning Valley action 

leaves two final obstacles before construction 

can begin on the $428 million facility. One 

is licensing by the Gaming Control Board, which 

meets June 11, and which is critical to the last 

step, approval of financing. A June 15 deadline 

has been set by investors, so the Board, which 

has been conducting background checks on Centaur 

executives, holds the future of the project in 

its hands. Delay in a decision could endanger the 

project, with credit now tight, but it would seem 

if any project could win credit approval a racino 

three miles from the Ohio border and nine miles 

from industrial Youngstown would qualify. 

HORSEMEN LOBBY RACINOS 

Members of six horsemen’s organizations in Illinois 

gathered in Springfield this week to lobby 

legislators for slots at Illinois tracks. Representing 

all three horse racing breeds -- harness, thoroughbred 

and quarter horse -- those gathered 

told legislators that slots at tracks could provide 

enough revenue to finance a $20 billion capital 

improvement program for state infrastrucure issues 

like roads, schools and other projects affecting 

the general welfare. They also said racinos 

could save the horse industry, one 

of Illinois’ leading agribusinesses. 

SUMMER ARRIVES WITH BOOM 

As if to underscore the Illinois horsemen’s contention 

as to what slots can mean to racing, summer 

arrived with a sonic boom of major stakes 

at harness tracks either already fueled by slots 

or soon to get them. They included: 

In neighboring Indiana, Hoosier Park is presenting 

the $200,000 Dan Patch pace, with a classy 

field of older pacers including Artistic Fella, 

Booze Cruizin, Bono Bests and Artists View. 

At Mohegan Sun at Pocono, the $301,072 Max 

Hempt for 3-year-old pacing colts, with a field 

headed by Badlands Nitro and Blueridge Western. 

At Tioga Downs Sunday, the $270,635 Empire 

Breeders Classic for 3-year-old pacing fillies, 

with First Drew the favorite, and the $242,275 

colt division, headed by Bullville Powerful and 

Riggins. 

At Harrah’s Chester Racetrack and Casino, 

the $250,000 Maxie Lee for older trotters, with 

elimination winners Buck I St. Pat and Before 

He Cheats squaring off. 

AROUND THE CIRCUIT..... 

Rockingham Park kicks off its 102nd season of 

racing tomorrow, with every paid admission receiving 

a free season pass.....Veteran racing official 

John Mooney has returned to Delaware 

Park as executive director of racing.....Australia 

has banned the popular but expensive new Evolution 

carbon-fibre sulky wheels after nine reported 

fractures of the wheels in two weeks...... 

HTA scholarship winner Jo Proctor has graduated 

from the College of Southern Maryland with 

highest honors, receiving an award for academic 

excellence and the school’s Departmental 

Award.





May 27, 2008 

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING 

Events in racing have not escaped notice of the 

House of Representatives, and a subcommittee 

on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection 

of the House Energy and Commerce Committee 

has sent a letter to Racing Commissioners International 

asking for information on trainers’ drug 

violations, breakdowns and breeding, and requesting 

a response by next Monday. Congressman 

Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat, chairs 

the subcommittee. Its ranking Republican is Ed 

Whitfield of Kentucky, the leading Congressional 

proponent for federal intervention in racing. 

A Whitfield spokesperson said that the subcommittee 

may hold hearings on the matters, following 

up hearings held by Mr. Whitfield on jockeys’ 

insurance and steroids. More ominously, Whitfield 

has suggested that legislation to amend the 

Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 might be necessary 

to address the problems of racing. The 

American Horse Council is monitoring developments 

closely. 

MAGNA EXTENDS ITS CREDIT 

Magna Entertainment Corporation has arranged 

the extension of a number of its credit 

arrangements, as it moves toward an announced 

year-end goal of eliminating debt. The company 

extended the maturity date of a $40 million senior 

secured revolving credit facility with a Canadian 

chartered bank from May 23 to July 30; 

extended the maturity date of a bridge loan from 

its parent MI Developments Inc. from May 31 to 

August 31; and extended the due date of a $100 

million repayment requirement under its Gulfstream 

Park project with its MID lender from 

May 31 to August 31. MEC announced the sale 

of assets contemplated under its debt elimination 

plan is taking longer than expected, and said the 

Dec. 31 elimination goal is not assured. 

MEC says it will file a material change 

report as soon as practicable. 

CALIFORNIA STEROID Q AND A 

California Horse Racing Board chairman Richard 

Shapiro has made abundantly clear where 

he stands on steroids, announcing, “This is an 

easy one. Anabolic steroids have no place in 

competition sports, including horse racing. Period! 

End!” Acknowledging the need to convince 

others, primarily horsemen, of that premise, the 

board has issued a lengthy question and answer 

paper pertaining to its new rules bringing it into 

conformity with the Racing Medication and 

Testing Consortium recommendations. Among 

the paper’s interesting answers are these: 

A warning period about the new regulations on 

the four permitted steroids will end, and complaints 

begin, “probably in September.” 

All class 2 and 3 steroid violations will result in 

purse redistributions and a minimum 30-day 

suspension for first time offenders. 

Veterinarians still can have and administer anabolic 

steroids on the track, but they cannot be 

found in post-race tests except at threshold levels 

established by the board. 

In answer to why any anabolic steroids are allowed 

at all, the memorandum said all are totally 

banned except the four allowed under RMTC 

guidelines. Noting that its level for stanolzolol 

(Winstrol), one of the four allowed on race day, 

was below the detection procedures in most racing 

labs around the world, the paper said, “This 

level was not set to be permissive, but rather to 

promote uniform national policies for anabolic 

steroids. Uniform rules do no good without uniform 

reporting levels.” 

Asked what trainers can do to protect themselves 

from a positive, the paper said, “The simplest 

answer is to not use anabolic steroids beyond 

this point.”





May 28, 2008 

C’MON NOW, GET SERIOUS 

We now are 18 days away from New York mayor 

Michael Bloomberg’s deadline for shutting down 

New York City OTB. No one really believes this 

will happen, and -- accustomed to New York 

state’s way of letting crises develop to the last 

possible second before acting -- everyone expects 

accommodation from Albany in the waning moments 

before the deadline. To date nothing of 

significance in negotiations has been reported, 

but the silly season has set in. OTB is advertising 

in New York newspapers today for an auctioneer 

to liquidate its assets, including leases 

on 62 OTB parlors, its warehouse and storage 

depot, a printing operation and a repair facility. 

The mayor, governor, and legislative leaders Joe 

Bruno and Sheldon Silver announced six weeks 

ago that they were committed to saving OTB and 

its 1,500 jobs, but nothing has been announced 

since and one source told the New York Post that 

“They’re not close to consensus.” Another “insider” 

was quoted as saying, “Everybody thinks 

this is going to go to the 11th hour, 59th minute.” 

So what else is new? 

WHITFIELD PLANS HEARINGS 

Congressman Ed Whitfield, the Republican 

ranking member of the House Subcommittee 

on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, 

plans on hearings in mid-June on the state of the 

horse racing industry. Whitfield, who has been 

leading the charge for federal intervention into 

racing, and has suggested amendments may be 

needed to the Interstate Horseracing Act, told the 

Wall Street Journal, “This hearing is being precipitated 

by so many breeders and owners saying 

that this sport is really in trouble and that it 

lacks transparency.” Whitfield sent letters May 

22 to Bob Evans of Churchill Downs, Charles 

Hayward of NYRA, Ed Martin of RCI, Ogden 

Phipps of the Jockey Club, and Frank 

Stronach of Magna Entertainment, asking 

for responses on racing issues by next 

Monday, June 2. 

A FED SUIT ON PURSE CUTS 

The Kentucky HBPA has filed a countersuit 

against Churchill Downs, seeking to halt the 

20% purse cut invoked by Churchill tracks. 

Thoroughbred Times reported yesterday the suit 

was filed in the U.S. court in Louisville, alleging 

the Churchill purse cuts constituted “contractual 

and statutory violations” and asking for injunctive 

relief. Churchill filed an anti-trust action 

April 24, charging violations of the Sherman 

Act and conspiracy. 

EGADS! WE’RE REMEMBERED 

Many journalists today, when writing about 

horse racing, think of it as thoroughbred racing 

alone. It was refreshing and encouraging, therefore, 

to read a most interesting feature on the history 

of racing on Long Island by John Jeansonne 

on Newsday.com, the online service of New York 

Newsday. Jeansonne started at the beginning, in 

1665, when Richard Nicolls, the English governor 

of New York, brought thoroughbred racing 

to America on the Hempstead Plains, now Garden 

City, Long Island. Most writers would skip 

some important intervening Long Island harness 

racing developments between then and the Belmont 

Stakes and Big Brown. Jeansonne did not, 

reporting on both Messenger’s life and death on 

the island and on the doings there of Lady Suffolk, 

trotting’s Old Gray Mare of song and legend. 

Good job, journalistically and historically. 

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED 

The California Horse Racing Board has, letting 

Administrative Law Judge David L. Benjamin 

know what it thought of his decision that the 

board’s 30-day suspension and $5,000 fine of 

trainer Christopher Vienna was “not warranted” 

after a hearing last December. Under law 

existing then the board could not modify that 

decision. Under new law it can, but the board 

went on record by taking the token action 

of declining to accept the judge’s decision.





May 29, 2008 

SHARBAUGH LEAVING USTA 

Eric Sharbaugh, executive vice president of the 

United States Trotting Association, is leaving his 

post at the end of June. Eric has been a cooperative 

partner and good friend of HTA during 

his tenure, and we thank him for his friendship 

and cooperation and wish him well. Now comes 

a new task for the USTA selection committee, 

which has erred before, notably when it was 

deeply impressed with the Washington resume 

of Frank Ready some years ago. While government 

service or business skills might impress, 

there must be candidates who know the sport of 

harness racing and its problems, who are successful 

businessmen, and who don’t need transition 

periods or indoctrination in the current evolving 

issues facing owners, breeders, trainers, drivers 

and tracks. It may be appealing to choose 

an outsider, given that he or she could take over 

without prejudice or preconceived notions from 

within the sport. But there also are strong executive 

type candidates in the sport that the committee 

could consider, and this time it might be 

prudent to do so. 

NEWSWEEK COVERAGE? WOW! 

When was the last time you can recall a harness 

racing story in Newsweek? Neither can we. But 

there one was, a full column and a half, in the 

current June 2 issue. Titled “The NASCAR of 

the Age of Ragtime,” it is Tony Dokouph’s review 

of Crazy Good, Charlie Leerhsen’s true story of 

Dan Patch. Dokouph wrote, in his long review, 

“It was like the NASCAR of the ragtime era: a 

chance to cheer for a faster version of something 

you have at home. Dan Patch in his prime -- he 

raced from 1900 to 1909 -- was the fastest, most 

electrifying form of transportation available. 

With wit and a winking charm, Leerhsen, an executive 

editor at Sports Illustrated, makes 

sure this handsome brown stallion resonates” 

for readers. 

DID HE THINK HE’D ESCAPE? 

We’re not sure how long Michael Iavarone 

thought he would escape detection, but the media 

roof fell on him today revealing the much publicized 

co-owner of Triple Crown candidate Big 

Brown to have what newspapers and television 

and radio love to call “a checkered and dubious 

past.” It turns out that the Keeneland sales in 

Lexington won a half-million dollar judgment 

against him for horses he bought and didn’t pay 

for; that he never went to UCLA, as claimed in a 

story; that he never worked for Goldman Sachs, 

as he also claimed; that he was censured, fined 

and suspended for selling stock without the owners’ 

permission; that his former trainer, Greg 

Martin, was charged with race fixing at Aqueduct 

with a horse Iavarone owned; that “someone 

took out a marker in my name, illegally,” at 

the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, where Iavarone 

reportedly wrote a bad check for $20,000 

and was sued; and that the IRS put a $130,000 

lien against him for unpaid taxes four years ago. 

Iavarone had answers for all this, of course, and 

told Newsday, “I’m just a regular guy from Long 

Island.” 

SUPPORT IN NJ, FROM TWO 

We reported last week, after hearings on keno 

in New Jersey, that no one in sight in Trenton 

was heard from speaking up for harness racing. 

We were talking about legislators, of course, not 

lobbyists, but the SBOA of New Jersey’s lobbyist, 

Leon Zimmerman, took offense, citing his 

speeches to legislative committees on behalf of 

the sport. Now, happily, two legislators have 

turned up, reaffirming support for their racing 

constituents. State senator Jennifer Beck and 

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagranda, who 

represent District 12, which includes many of 

Monmouth county’s horse farms, met with directors 

of the SBOANJ and said they would 

continue their efforts on racing’s behalf.





May 30, 2008 

CHUCKAS MD MAGNA BOSS 

Magna Entertainment made it official yesterday, 

naming former Rosecroft Raceway chief Tom 

Chuckas president and COO of its Laurel Park 

and Pimlico operations. Tom takes over officially 

Sunday from Chris Dragone, who had taken 

over late last year to replace Lou Raffetto. Scott 

Borgemenke, Magna’s executive vice president 

for racing, said Chuckas “has solid relationships 

with horsemen and knows all the players in Annapolis,” 

both important considerations since 

Raffetto’s departure was not well received by the 

former and the latter will be key to the push for 

slots in Maryland. Ted Snell, who comes out of 

retirement to return to Rosecroft Raceway, will 

be carrying the freight for the Cloverleaf operation 

as its point man in Annapolis. 

AN UNHAPPY SANTA ANITA 

The Los Angeles Turf Club, operators of Santa 

Anita Park, has filed a federal lawsuit against 

Cushion Track Footing USA, the builder of its 

synthetic track, according to bloodhorse.com. 

The news service reports the suit charges breach 

of contract, breach of express warranty, breach 

of implied warranty, negligent work and defective 

materials and fraud. Other than that, everything 

is okay. The complaint, as reported by 

writer Ryan Conley, says Cushion Track failed 

to produce a track “identical” to its installation 

at Hollywood Park, and defendants “knew or 

should have known that the formula used for the 

track material...was unsuitable as a synthetic 

surface at Santa Anita race track.” Santa Anita 

lost 11 days of racing and says it spent $5.2 

million during its recent meet in April alone for 

20,000 tons of Cushion Track material, nearly 

$1.4 million on earlier repairs, and an additional 

$1.8 million when it called in Australian track 

builders Pro-Ride in a futile attempt to correct 

the problems. Santa Anita has been 

named as host for the Breeders’ Cups this 

year and next. 

EXCITING TIMES IN INDIANA 

A new era for racing in Indiana gets underway 

Monday morning when Hoosier Park in Anderson 

opens its lavish racino, and Indiana Downs 

in Shelbyville prepares for its racino opening later 

in the month. Both HTA tracks have spared 

no expense in building, and the folks back home 

in Indiana will be shocked to find they have full 

blown Las Vegas style operations right in the 

heart of their state. Hoosier invited 4,000 VIP 

guests, including friends and families of employees, 

for its regulatory test yesterday. Jim 

Brown, the track’s general manager for gaming, 

explained the numbers to the Chicago Tribune, 

saying, “It’s a regulatory imperative that we go 

through a test day, so we thought we’d have some 

fun with it and let some special folks preview the 

facility.” Brown also noted that he thought having 

to operate under battle conditions would be 

helpful, since “we’re in a training mode now, and 

our team members could use the interaction with 

customers, so that gives us a chance to improve 

our products and service.” Indiana Downs will 

open later in the month in a 70,000 square-foot 

temporary structure, but continues work on a 

mammoth 270,000 square-foot permanent racino 

it plans to open next year. 

INVESTIGATION WIDENS IN DE 

You probably have heard the beginning of the 

investigation of the six-month suspension and 

$7,500 fine of trainer Trevor Warwick and disqualification 

of the undefeated $100,000 Delaware 

stakes winner Tug River Princess by the 

Delaware Harness Racing Commission, but you 

haven’t heard the end of it. Warwick was listed 

as trainer of the previously unbeaten filly in her 

Delaware race, but admitted he did not train her 

or even know her whereabouts for two weeks 

before the race. She has been trained in New 

Jersey by Ross Croghan, and the Delaware commission 

plans to continue investigation of 

the matter.





June 2, 2008 

SLOTS ERA OPENS IN INDIANA 

The lines waiting to get in at 9 a.m. wound from 

the entrance around the parking lots, and after 

the ceremonial ribbon cutting those waiting patiently 

got their wish on time. Hoosier Park’s 

92,000 square-foot racino opened this morning, 

with 2,000 gleaming new slots at the ready, a big 

crowd of Hoosiers waiting to use them, and a 

new era getting underway for harness and thoroughbred 

racing in Indiana. When contacted at 

noon eastern time, the crowd was beginning to 

utilize the nine restaurants now located in the racino 

and track for the first day’s lunch break.... 

at least those willing to give up their seats at the 

slots. For Jeff Smith, Hoosier’s managing director 

of gaming, and his colleagues including general 

manager of racing Rick Moore, the opening 

marked the end of 11 years of hard work and 

dedication to reaching this day. Jeff said the new 

facility was extremely well received, with numerous 

compliments. “We started talking about this 

in 1997, when the first proposals to do away with 

the riverboat subsidies surfaced. Things will 

continue as they are for the coming year, but as 

of June 30, 2009, the subsidies will be a thing of 

the past and the slots will take their place.” 

Smith also is deeply involved with Centaur’s 

proposal to build Valley View Downs in far western 

Pennsylvania, near the Ohio border and less 

than nine miles from Youngstown. The Pennsylvania 

Gaming Control board, which has been 

conducting background checks, meets June 11, 

and hopefully might issue Centaur a gaming license 

by then, although its chairwoman has indicated 

a decision may not be reached until fall. 

Indiana Downs, meanwhile, is rushing its big 

temporary racino to completion, and it should 

be operational before the harness meeting 

gets underway July 16. Its huge permanent 

racino will not be ready until 2009. 

$50,000 TROT HANDICAPPING 

The Meadowlands has announced registration is 

open for the 2008 National Harness Handicapping 

Championship, presented by FigIsBig. It is 

billed as the only tournament for harness players 

with a $50,000 guaranteed first prize, and players 

who do not earn entry through a qualifying 

tournament can buy in for $1,000. Six hundred 

dollars of that is the non-refundable entry fee, 

and $400 the required tournament bankroll. The 

buy-in includes an invitation for the player and a 

guest to an NHHC cocktail reception in Pegasus 

at the Meadowlands on deadline day, June 20. 

The registration period ends that day at 5 p.m., 

when all entries -- either personally submitted or 

by mail -- must be in. Contestants must bet 10 

races, two pre-designated mandatory races from 

Cal-Expo in California and Balmoral in Illinois, 

plus eight races of the player’s choosing from 

the Meadowlands. The minimum bet is $40 a 

race, the maximum $100. Qualifying tournaments 

will be held at harness tracks around the 

country. Last year they were held at Balmoral 

Park, Buffalo Raceway, Cal-Expo, Capital OTB, 

Harrington Raceway, Maywood Park, Mohegan 

Sun and its Pocono Downs, Penn National 

OTW, Twin Spires, Western Regional OTB/Batavia 

Downs, and YouBet.com. For additional information, 

contact Amy Silver in Meadowlands 

publicity (asilver@njsea.com) or Rachel Ryan 

(raryan@njsea.com.) 


Gail Cunard, director of the Harness Racing 

Museum and Hall of Fame, has been named 

Lady Pace honoree for this year’s Little Brown 

Jug....Red hot driver George Brennan has been 

sidelined indefinitely with a broken wrist, suffered 

in a four-horse spill at Mohegan Sun at Pocono 

Saturday afternoon. It was Brennan’s only 

mount of the day....A fight arrest in a bar at a 

Kansas City casino turned into a riot, with 

450 fighting each other and the police.





WE’RE EDITORIAL PAGE NOW 

No more mere sports pages for racing. We’ve 

graduated to the editorial pages, or at least we 

did this morning. In New York, the Times told 

readers of its editorials that when they watched 

Big Brown in the Belmont this coming Saturday, 

they would be “watching a horse that is running 

on steroids.” The piece said some veterinarians 

administer steroids to help horses “stand the 

wear and tear of the racing circuit..and keep 

weight on a horse that will not eat.” The Times 

solution: “A horse that won’t eat is trying to tell 

its trainer something, and steroids are not the 

answer.” The editorial mentioned the views of its 

racing feature writer Bill Finley, and concluded 

that “Big Brown’s run for history will look a little 

less inspiring” because of trainer Rick Dutrow’s 

policy of regular steroid use. 

Further west, another editorial, this one in more 

positive tones. It appeared this morning in the 

Anderson, Indiana, Herald Bulletin, commenting 

on yesterday’s rousing opener of Hoosier Park’s 

shiny new racino. “With the combination of slot 

machines and the ability to line up big-name 

performers,” the editorial said, “Hoosier Park 

clearly has the power to draw massive crowds. 

Racino officials promise to use that power to do 

so much more.” They announced that Aretha 

Franklin, Davy Jones and the Monkees, and Joan 

Jett and the Blackhearts will appear as future 

casino attractions. Yesterday, they announced a 

donation of $25,000 to the United Way of Madison 

county and $10,000 to help with tornado relief 

in Indianapolis. The editorial noted that more 

than 500 people have been hired to work in the 

racino, which will operate 24 hours a day, 365 

days a year, and said, “With sound management 

and shrewd marketing, Hoosier Park is 

well positioned to withstand competition 

from riverboats, Indiana Downs (where 

a racino will open later this month) and a 

host of other entertainment venues.” 

June 3, 2008 

‘CRAZY’ GETS GREAT PRESS 

If the reading public shares the enthusiasm of 

book reviewers, author Charlie Leerhsen and 

Simon & Schuster have a winner with Crazy 

Good, The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous 

Horse in America. Reviews have been uniformly 

glowing, the latest being high praise from 

reviewer Deirdre Donahue in yesterday’s USA 

Today. Ms. Donahue wrote a lengthy and highly 

favorable review, calling the book “a terrific look 

at a legendary if now forgotten equine superstar 

named Dan Patch. Leerhsen does for early 20th 

century American harness racing what Laura 

Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit did for depression-era 

thoroughbred racing.” HTA still has supplies of 

the book available to member tracks at a sharply 

discounted price. 

OTB TO CREW: YOU’RE FIRED 

The New York Daily News reported this morning 

that New York City OTB has sent out formal 

layoff notices to 1,200 employees. The letter, 

dated May 30, and signed by NYC OTB president 

Raymond Casey, said in part, “Your employment 

will be terminated as of the close of business on 

June 15, 2008.” Three hundred staffers needed to 

help shut down OTB’s 62 parlors did not receive 

the notice.....at least for the moment. They are 

playing this one to the hilt in New York, with a last 

minute compromise in Albany most likely and 

cancellation of the dismissal notices. Confirming 

that, Assembly sources are quoted as saying 

they are “cautiously optimistic” that Gov. David 

Paterson and legislative powers Joe Bruno and 

Sheldon Silver will reach into the hat and pull out 

a rabbit before June 15 rolls around. 

MEADOWS VET TO BEIJING 

Dr. Heather Stone, a Pennsylvania state vet working 

at The Meadows, has been named to 

the Olympic equine vet team by Chinese 

Olympic authorities.





ISLE SUES TO HALT INDIANS 

Three weeks before the Seminole Indians are 

scheduled to begin blackjack and other card 

games at their Hard Rock Casino near Pompano 

Park, the Isle at Pompano has sued in federal 

court, asking the government to halt the advent 

of the new games. The Isle filed its suit in the 

Northern District of Florida against Gov. Charlie 

Crist and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk 

Kempthorne, saying a compact signed by Crist 

with the Seminoles back in November of 2007 

violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. 

The Isle says that blackjack and other “banked” 

games, in which players play against the house 

and not each other, are illegal in Florida and if 

allowed at Hard Rock they would inflict “irreparable 

injury to the Isle’s business, competitive 

standing and consumer base.” Jill Haynes, an 

Isle spokeswoman, said the Seminoles operate 

six facilities close to Pompano, and noted that if 

the Isle were to offer the same table games the 

Seminoles are planning to introduce, it would 

face a possible fine, imprisonment, and loss of 

its gaming license. The challenge currently is 

before the Florida Supreme Court, in a suit filed 

by House speaker Marco Rubio and heard January 

30, but no decision has been forthcoming. 

A Seminole attorney said the Isle did not sue 

the tribe, only the governor and secretary of the 

Interior, and added that he did not know if the 

case can proceed without the Seminoles involved 

since they are “an indispensable party.” 

THE BISHOP SPEAKS ON SLOTS 

The bishop of the Baltimore-Washington conference 

of the United Methodist Church is asking his 

members to vote against Maryland slots in November 

for Christ’s sake. Bishop John R. Schol 

says he wants his flock to become “extreme 

disciples” of Christ, meaning believers 

who are willing to risk everything for a 

“kingdom adventure,” without slots. 

June 4, 2008 

A 193-YEAR-OLD TRIFECTA 

What this game needs is a few more records. We 

have them, of course, for both gaits, at every distance 

and in between. Now comes HTA’s member 

Northfield Park with a new challenge: try to beat 

our aged trifecta record. Regular readers know 

this corner’s strong objections to calling our older 

horses aged, since the term signifies decrepit and 

feeble in many people’s minds. But aged is the 

right word for a Northfield trifecta on Monday 

night of this week, when drivers Bob Eidens, 

age 47, driving Fortune King, and Ben Miller, 

64, piloting Wesley’s Fortune, were joined in a 

winning tri by Eldon Spearman, driving his own 

3-year-old trotter Boy Meets Grill (not a typo.) 

Mr. Spearman is 82, the oldest driver ever to 

win a race at Northfield, this mile in 2:03.3 for a 

$244.60 payoff, 193 years in the making. 

ANOTHER DELAY FOR CALGARY 

Construction of the $260 million super track 

planned near the Calgary airport in Alberta in 

western Canada has been delayed again. David 

Reid, chairman and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta, 

said delays in obtaining a water license 

and the effect of sub-prime mortgages on North 

American banks were major problems with the 

project. When announced four years ago the 

principal backers of the track, United Horsemen 

of Alberta, said it would cost $80 million 

to build the dual breed harness-thoroughbred 

plant. While that number tripled, money became 

scarce, and long term financing continues to be 

the critical issue. Reid said he was hoping that 

the Calgary Stampede would agree to host another 

thoroughbred meeting next spring, which 

would allow HTA member Northlands Park in 

Edmonton to conduct its harness racing meeting 

at the same time. The new track had hoped to 

race in 2009, but now the earliest projected 

date for a meeting is 2010.





June 5, 2008 

MAJOR CHANGES AT BIG M 

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority 

has announced two major changes in top level 

personnel. Dennis Dowd, Senior Vice President 

of Racing for the Meadowlands and Monmouth 

Park, will assume a new post as Senior Vice President 

of Legal and Governmental Affairs. His 

racing vice presidency will be taken over in August 

by Lennon Register, currently Chief Financial 

Officer for Pennwood Racing, operators of 

Freehold Raceway. Register has been responsible 

for financial, management, profitability, and 

project management and staff development during 

his nine years as Freehold’s and Pennwood’s 

CFO. Register is a Meadowlands graduate, 

having worked with NJSEA president and CEO 

Dennis Robinson during an earlier 13-year stint 

at the Big M which concluded with his serving 

as Assistant Vice President of Financial Operations. 

Robinson said of Register’s appointment, 

“Lennon is one of the most highly respected racing 

and financial management executives in the 

business. He comes back to us at a most critical 

time in the history of Meadowlands Racetrack 

and Monmouth Park.” NJSEA chairman Carl 

Goldbert, commenting on Dennis Dowd’s new 

post, said Dowd’s “unique combination of legal, 

governmental and racing experience make him 

the perfect choice for this important Authority 

post.” He said that Dowd’s highest priorities 

will be selecting sites and opening the remaining 

NJSEA off-track wagering locations. 

A SUGGESTED NAME CHANGE 

Today’s press announcement that Hooters has 

joined United Parcel Service in some sort of sponsorship 

arrangement for the Belmont Stakes and 

that “if Big Brown makes it to the winner’s circle 

he will be greeted by busty Hooter girls in tight 

fitting T-shirts” prompts a new name for t h e 

classic race. How about The UPS Belmont, 

presented by the Hooters Girls. Yum. 

9 MILLIONAIRES AT CHESTER 

The two $50,000 eliminations this coming Sunday 

for the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace at Harrah’s 

Chester Casino and Racetrack have drawn 

17 of harness racing’s brightest older stars. Nine 

of the 17 entered have won a million dollars or 

more, and the entire field, to race in two eliminations, 

has won a combined $19 million. The first 

division includes Mr. Feelgood, Mypanmar, Mister 

Big, Total Truth and Boulder Creek, Palone 

Ranger, Won the West and Spin Rate complete 

the field. The second elimination’s four millionaires 

are Artistic Fella, Southwind Lynx, 

Western Ace and Special Report, racing against 

Ghee’s House, Sharky Osborne, Took Hanover, 

Tivoli Hanover and Radar Installed N. That’s a 

gratifying response to offering a $500,000 race. 

VERNON, TIOGA JOB OFFERS 

Jeff Gural’s Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs are 

looking for two qualified officials with experience 

for major jobs at the combined tracks. They are 

seeking a Racing Marketing Manager, who will 

be responsible for coordinating and managing 

all marketing functions at the two properties, including 

marketing, advertising, promotions and 

press releases, and a Controller, responsible for 

coordinating and managing all functions pertaining 

to general ledger, revenue, payroll, accounts 

receivable and gaming cage operations. 

Applicants with bachelor degrees from four-year 

colleges in their specialties, or four to six years 

experience and/or training are sought. The Marketing 

Manager should possess excellent communication, 

organizational and promotional 

and marketing skills, and strong writing skills. 

The Controller must possess excellent analytical 

skills in all phases of accounting procedure, and 

be extremely numbers oriented and computer 

literate. Send resumes, applications and salary 

requirements to jpalmer@vernondowns. 

com.





June 6, 2008 

RACING WINS BIG IN ILLINOIS 

In what the Chicago Tribune called “a $70 million 

victory,” Illinois tracks and horsemen will 

receive that escrowed amount after the Illinois 

Supreme Court overturned by unanimous vote 

a county court ruling that had declared proceeds 

to racing from taxes on riverboat casinos 

unconstitutional. The victory took two years, 

during which the state’s four richest casinos had 

placed the 3% tax on their adjusted gross revenue 

in escrow while testing the legislation that 

was passed in 2006. That law has now expired, 

and John Johnston, president of Balmoral Park, 

said “circumstances haven’t changed in two 

years” and racing needs the law to be renewed. 

The president of the Illinois Casino and Gaming 

Assn. Tom Swoik, called the Supreme Court’s 

unanimous decision “a sad day for business in 

the state of Illinois.” We surely don’t agree with 

that conclusion, and it certainly is a happy one 

for racing in the state. 

UNHAPPINESS OVER NYCOTB 

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg may 

get a last minute legislative compromise reprise 

on off-track betting, but it is not likely to be 

welcomed by the state’s thoroughbred horsemen. 

Their association is not supporting any 

action that would reduce the amount OTB pays 

to purses, and in a more tangible response the 

city’s OTB workers are rebelling, objecting, one 

source says, to being “used as pawns” in the negotiations. 

The New York Daily News reported 

yesterday that some of the OTB workers are 

considering calling in sick for tomorrow’s Belmont, 

which figures to be the biggest betting day 

of the year in the city. The meeting of Big Brown 

and his royally American-bred, Japanese-owned 

challenger Casino Drive is certain to draw the 

biggest New York crowd of the year, after a 

zillion words of Rick Dutrow and Michael 

Iavarone spouting and being reported as 

gospel. 

HOOTERS PROMO A BIG BUST 

The news reported here yesterday about Hooters 

girls being featured in the winner’s circle if Big 

Brown wins the Belmont gained Hooters the publicity 

it was seeking, but it didn’t gain approval from 

the folks who run the track. The New York Racing 

Association told newsmen, “NYRA has certain 

restrictions that pertain to proper attire and it is 

doubtful that the Hooters uniform or outfit would 

be considered proper attire.” That did not prevent 

a bevy of the busty young ladies from showing up 

in the stable area for a photo shoot with Big Brown, 

with Rick Dutrow chiming in by saying Big Brown 

was “so cool” that he walked right up to the front 

of his stall and stuck his head in the middle of the 

shot and kept it there until the cameras stopped 

clicking. NYRA, however, reminded everyone in 

hearing range, including the Hooters girls, that 

women attending the track on Belmont day are 

encouraged to wear “dresses, skirts or pantsuits, 

with no jeans, shorts or abbreviated wear permitted.” 

Late yesterday, NYRA announced that it had 

denied Hooters’ request to use Big Brown for advertising 

purposes tomorrow. We’ll see. Also check 

to see if Kent Desormeaux wears the Hooters logo 

on his riding pants. 

At least two major racing writers--incidentally 

Dick Jerardi of Philly.com and, perhaps more surprisingly, 

Joe Drape of the New York Times--both 

refused to climb on the Rick Dutrow-Michael Iavarone 

bandwagon, and both picked Casino Drive 

to win and give his dam, Better Than Honour, an 

unprecedented three Belmonts in a row. She produced 

the 2006 winner, Jazil, and last year’s victor, 

the only filly ever to win in 102 years, Rags to 

Riches. One final blurb: Suffolk Downs in Boston 

says it will offer a $5 million purse for the Massachusetts 

Handicap which includes a $1 million participation 

bonus to the connections of Big Brown 

and Curlin if they both start in the race and remain 

unbeaten between now and then. The bonus 

will be reduced to $500,000 if either suffers a 

defeat before the Sept. 20 race.





June 9, 2008 

DON’T FIX IT, JUST TINKER 

That seems to be the sentiment in the New Jersey 

legislature, where everyone agrees racing is in 

trouble but few want to take the step that would 

cure it by allowing slots at the state’s tracks. 

The latest proposal, from Ronnie Dancer of New 

Jersey’s most famous harness racing clan, now 

a state legislator, and his fellow Assemblyman 

John Burzichelli, is to let private enterprise operate 

off-track betting. Their proposal passed 

the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee 

last Thursday, and was called “wildly exciting” 

by Burzichelli, who said it would “introduce a 

whole new group of people to horse racing who 

presently aren’t interested in going to tracks or to 

other facilities that act like tracks.” He charged 

that the tracks have not been aggressive enough 

in building new sites, with only 3 opened of 15 

that are allowed. Dennis Dowd, senior vice president 

of legal & government affairs at the Meadowlands, 

objected to the proposal in testimony to 

the Assembly committee last week, saying those 

not in racing should not profit from “the gravy” 

of the tracks. Don Codey of Freehold also objected, 

saying, “To allow non-permit holders who 

have no investment in racing to open an OTW 

cannot help solve the problems of racing in New 

Jersey.” Don’s brother Richard, former governor 

of the state, currently is president of the Senate. 

Burzichelli called his legislation a search for 

“fresh eyes and fresh ideas,” and an effort to “repackage” 

the racing industry. “We’re interested 

in horse racing flourishing, finding a new audience. 

There’s a generational gap in fans,” Burzichelli 

said. Currently only the state’s licensed 

tracks can operate OTBs, and they have made 

slow progress in finding desirable sites in cities 

and towns that favor the idea. The legislature, 

meanwhile, fearful of offending the casino power 

bloc, has been tinkering and talking of legalizing 

sports betting, currently prohibited 

in New Jersey by federal law. 

RMTC EXPLAINS ITS MISSION 

Annoyed at being depicted as merely an antisteroid 

agency, the Racing Medication and Testing 

Consortium fought back last weekend. Executive 

director Dr. Scot Waterman, the driving 

force of the RMTC, wrote a letter to the sports 

editor of the New York Times, saying two articles 

on horses and steroids, one an editorial, “seemed 

to imply that the Racing Medication and Testing 

Consortium was formed as a response to the 

issue of anabolic steroids and the threat of federal 

intervention. In fact, it was formed in 2001 

with the goal of tackling all issues relating to the 

medication and post-race testing of racehorses, 

five years before any government threats. The 

Consortium helps to strengthen the integrity of 

racing not only through our model rule on steroids, 

which has been adopted by 10 states and 

is in the process of adoption by many others, but 

also through research and educational programs 

aimed to ensure the health and welfare of racehorses 

and participants.” The letter was published 

in yesterday’s editions of the Times. 

$100 MILLION; PLEASE HELP 

The principals who own Big Brown, and who 

have misrepresented themselves in the past as 

Wall Street financiers, recently sold breeding 

rights to the horse for a reported $60 million to 

Robert Clay’s Three Chimney Farms, and are 

chasing a $100 million horse investment fund. 

Those big numbers have not prevented them, 

however, from asking Hempstead, Long Island, 

for a $1 million tax break to help build a new 

equine hospital near Belmont Park, a $17 million 

project. A local Industrial Development 

Agency is considering the request, with a public 

hearing scheduled for June 25. Nassau county 

tax assessor Harvey Levinson says he objects to 

a tax break for owners who are already wealthy, 

saying the proposed three-year moratorium on 

property taxes would provide the investors 

with at least a million in tax breaks.


INDIANA DOWNS CASINO OPENS 

Indiana Downs opened its temporary Indiana 

Live! casino on Monday. The casino 

features 1,900 slot machines and electronic 

gaming devices and will be replaced by a 

permanent 223,000 square foot facility sometime 

in 2009. For now patrons are lining up 

to enjoy the many special events and giveaways 

scheduled for opening week. 

EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE 

For openers, the word big is a good example. 

Folks around Belmont Park are excited 

about a $1,186,625 carryover for tomorrow’s 

Pick Six. In Sweden, the national V75 bet 

had no payout last Saturday for 5 correct because 

the payout did not meet the minimum 

threshold imposed by the government. As 

a result, this week’s carryover for the jackpot 

pool will be $15,800,000. Advance betting 

begins tomorrow for Saturday’s weekly 

V75 races, and remains open until the close 

of business Friday. Winning the jackpot requires 

selecting the winners of seven races 

-- a Pick Seven -- with consolation payouts 

to those who pick six or five winners. The 

government sets a minimum payout, and if 

the V75 fails to reach it, the entire pool is carried 

over. V75 accounts for 40% of total betting 

in Sweden, and the pool has grown at an 

annual rate of 10% in the last five years. It 

can be bet in the U.S. at the Meadowlands, 

Monmouth Park and Freehold in New Jersey, 

at Delaware Park in Delaware, and at 

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in Saratoga 

Springs, New York. In Sweden, the bet is 

administered by ATG, which operates 

the country’s 37 tracks, and it can be 

bet not only at the tracks, but at 2,030 




June 10, 2008 

OTB shops, through 3,800 cash register terminals 

in supermarkets, via the ATG Web 

site and it is bet throughout Scandinavia and 

Europe Total handle last year exceeded $1.8 

billion U.S. 

MARY MIDKIFF SPEAKS UP 

With all the garrulous guys speaking up during 

the run up to Big Brown’s downfall, New 

York’s Newsday asked author Mary Midkiff 

to tell the woman’s side of the story. Never 

shy to talk racing, Mary wrote a very long 

story, which Newsday headlined, “Sport of 

kings needs some queens.” It should be of 

interest to track management everywhere. 

Ms. Midkiff, author of She Flies Without 

Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman’s Soul, 

wrote, in part, “One observation seems very 

timely. The boardrooms, executive suites and 

grandstands of the sport remain persistently 

and conspicuously lacking in women. Racing 

would do well to embrace and promote 

women’s influence throughout its structure, 

as virtually all other equestrian sports have 

in recent years. While such a huge imbalance 

between men and women almost always 

signals big trouble wherever it is found, racing’s 

gender gap -- so powerfully counter to 

the trend in other horse sports -- is an alarm 

bell that can no longer be ignored.” Penny 

Chenery, owner of Secretariat, delivered this 

same message at an HTA meeting some years 

ago, but it was not heeded. Hopefully Ms. 

Midkiff’s plea will result in more positive action 

toward marketing toward women. Ms. 

Midkiff, incidentally, may be better known to 

those in racing as Mrs. Tom Aronson, wife of 

the former HTA executive and now a vice 

president of Churchill Downs.





June 11, 2008 

LEADERS “WORKING ON” OTB 

In his strongest statement yet on closing down 

New York City OTB this coming Sunday, Mayor 

Michael Bloomberg said that while it’s sad that 

jobs will be lost, OTB does not really support the 

city and the state. Asked if a temporary agreement 

could keep OTB alive, Bloomberg bristled 

and replied, “No. What letter in the word ‘no’ 

do you not understand? It is a permanent solution. 

We’re closing it down. New York City is 

not going to lay off one cop, one firefighter, or 

one teacher, so that we can support a bookie operation. 

Period. End of story.” Bloomberg did 

add that if the state wants to take over the OTB 

he would not object, and that if the state changes 

the formula for revenue sharing (translate that 

to mean “more for OTB, less for the tracks”) the 

city then might consider continuing operation. 

i nsteadinstea 

So the stage now is set for Republican Senate Majority 

Leader Joe Bruno and Democratic House 

Speaker Sheldon Silver to come out of their offices 

in the next three days and announce they 

have resolved the situation in a bipartisan effort, 

and give Bloomberg what he wants. If they do 

not, OTB indeed may be gone, but don’t bet on 

it. It’s time for histrionics again, and both Bruno 

and Silver said yesterday they were “working 

towards a solution.” 

MASS GOVERNOR’S END RUN 

The governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, 

is not a novice. Defeated by House Speaker Sal 

DiMasi in trying to run off tackle with his threecasino 

proposal, he has tried an end-around instead, 

saying he is beginning negotiations with 

the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe on a compact 

for a huge casino in Middleboro, MA. “We are 

prepared to negotiate within the parameters we 

have under existing law,” Patrick says. DiMasi 

points out that the governor could do it, 

but will have to first get U.S. approval to 

declare Middleboro a reservation. 

A MAJOR LEAGUE SWINDLE 

Tyner and Hartman, the tough pair that run Hazel 

Park Harness, two other tracks and 33 apartment 

complexes in the Detroit area, have charged 

an accounts payable supervisor with embezzling 

$4.6 million by “signing, initiating, or approving 

phony work orders or altered legitimate purchase 

orders and invoices for services never performed.” 

If the lady did it, she was pretty good 

at it, getting away with it for seven years, from 

late 2000 until August of 2007, when anonymous 

letters tipped off Tyner and Hartman to the possible 

embezzlement. It must be great to have so 

much dough that you don’t notice $4.6 million 

missing for seven years. 

USTA SELECTION COMMITTEE 

United States Trotting Association president Phil 

Langley has appointed his selection committee 

to make recommendations to the USTA executive 

committee for a new executive vice president. 

The members are, in addition to Langley, 

USTA chairman Ivan Axelrod, former chairman 

Joe Faraldo and Paul Fontaine, Richard Brandt, 

Peter Koch, Sam Beegle, Alan Leavitt, Pat Quaglietta, 

Jeff Gregory, John Campbell and Ebby 

Gerry. 

A “MATRIX BET” AT CHURCHILL 

Churchill Downs vice president Tom Aronson has 

announced a new bet, making its debut today on 

a limited test basis by the Louisville track. Called 

the Matrix, it allows patrons to select three horses 

for a minimum $9 bet that will pay off if one 

of the three wins, two form an exacta, or three 

constitute a trifecta. According to Daily Racing 

Form’s Matt Hegarty, the bet in effect provides 

a 60-cent win bet on each of the three choices, 

a 60-cent exacta box and a 60-cent trifecta box, 

for a total of 15 combinations. Standard takeout 

rates will apply, and payoffs will be based on 

the fractional price of the bet. The current 

minimum for boxed exotics is $1.


LOTS OF NEWS, NOT ALL GOOD 

The bad news first: 

CLARENCE WALTERS, an employee in the 

Dave Palone stable at The Meadows, was killed 

yesterday when kicked in the chest by a horse he 

was working on. Walters, a popular figure at the 

track, has two sons who are trainers, was working 

at the stable, where he was kicked around 

7:30 a.m. and died at 9:05 in Washington Hospital. 

DELAWARE LEGISLATORS are now clamoring 

for a larger share of slots money. They are 

seeking a 50% split of slots revenues from Dover 

Downs, Harrington Raceway and Delaware 

Park, and Rep. Deborah Hudson, a Wilmington 

Republican, called for the legislature to “go to 

our business partners, the three racinos, and split 

the revenue with them.” The specific proposal 

is to phase in a new revenue sharing plan over 

three years, with the state of Delaware likely to 

receive an additional $12.7 million the first year, 

$25.7 million the second, and $38.1 million annually 

after that, based on fiscal 2007 revenues. 

Ed Sutor, the Dover Downs’ president and CEO, 

said such a change could affect the racinos’ ability 

to compete with Pennsylvania and, presumably, 

Maryland next year. 

A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING on racing has 

been called for June 19 in Washington, and racing, 

which could avoid all this stuff if it had the 

backbone to ban all steroids in racing, will again 

have to play dodge and duck. The usual suspects 

are being invited by the House Subcommittee on 

Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, 

with the subject, “Breeding, Drugs, and Breakdowns: 

the State of Thoroughbred Horseracing 

and the Welfare of the Thoroughbred Racehorse.” 

Rep. Bobby Rush, the Illinois Democrat 

who chairs the subcommittee, is joined by 

Kentucky Republican Ed Whitfield in 

leading the charge for federal oversight. 




June 12, 2008 

And now for the good news, such as it is: 

SNOW WHITE, on whom the hopes and fears of 

all the years fall for harness racing publicity this 

year, returned from her spring throat surgery 

in powerful fashion, winning a qualifier at the 

Meadowlands this morning in 1:56.3. 

The drumbeat of publicity against trainer RICK 

DUTROW and the IEAH MAJOR OWNERS 

OF BIG BROWN continues. The fiery Sally 

Jenkins, writing in the Washington Post, called 

Dutrow “a graceless loudmouth and chronic 

doper.” She called the IEAH crowd “irretrievably 

crummy.” Why not tell us how you really 

feel, Sally? 

Longtime racing columnist PAUL MORAN, 

writing on Big Brown, said in his blog a few 

days ago that “a knowledgeable source in Lexington 

claims that Three Chimneys Farm, where 

Big Brown will stand at stud, purchased a 10% 

interest in the horse for $5 million, which may 

have technically established his total worth of 

$50 million, but like all things IEAH, is not what 

it seems.” 

And news either good or bad; take your pick: 

GOV. DAVID PATERSON of New York yesterday 

suggested that the state may take over New 

York City OTB, rather than let its 1,500 employees 

become unemployed Monday. Asked if that 

were a possibility after 37 years of city operation, 

Paterson said, “Because of the urgency of the situation, 

there is no option that I won’t explore at 

this point. That’s how difficult it is.” NYCOTB 

employees, finally taking Mayor Bloomberg at 

his word, staged a noisy but very late protest 

yesterday. Leonard Allen, their union president, 

criticized Bloomberg for calling OTB “a bookie 

operation.” We wrote here months ago New 

York City OTB would not close, and we feel certain 

of it now, three days before D-Day. Or 

should we say B-Day, for Bloomberg.


The $1.5 million North America Cup at Mohawk 

for 3-year-olds in Ontario, the richest pacing 

event of all, with unbeaten Somebeachsomewhere 

the favorite. 

The $733,031 Fan Hanover for 3-year-old pacing 

fillies, at Mohawk, with unbeaten Tug River 

Princess and A & G’s Confusion heading the 

field. 

The $588,706 Elegantimage for 3-year-old trotting 

fillies at Mohawk, with the European-bred 

Lantern Kronos the favorite. 

The $500,000 Ben Franklin for older pacers at 

Harrah’s Chester Downs in Pennsylvania, with 

a truly all-star field headed by Artistic Fella, Mr. 

Feelgood, Special Report and Mister Big. 

The $279,786 Goodtimes for 3-year-old trotting 

colts at Mohawk, with Moon Dreamer the morning 

line choice and Windsong Espoit the major 

challenger. 

The $250,792 Jim Lynch for 3-year-old filly pacers 

at Mohegan Sun at Pocono, with Ideal Newton 

and Native Bride the ones to beat. 

The $250,000 Lady Liberty for pacing mares at 

the Meadowlands, another exceptionally outstanding 

field, with Southwind Tempo, Darlin’s 

Delight, and Moving Pictures the top choices. 

The $175,000 Western Canada Pacing 

Derby, with Bigmzndrstanding the even 

money favorite. 




June 13, 2008 

MONEY, MONEY EVERYWHERE Maywood hosts the $100,000 Maywood Pace and 

For a sport that racing journalists and non-racing 

journalists keep referring to as “dying,” har- 

the $70,000 Alberta Rose and $70,000 Prairie 

Maywood Filly Pace for 3-year-olds tonight, and 

ness racing seems pretty vital and healthy this Gold finals also are at Northlands this weekend, 

weekend. On the menu are: 

as is the $50,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes 

Final at Rockingham and four $75,000 Prix de 

Quebec finals at Hippodrome de Montreal. 

The dying patient is holding his own. 

THE GOV HOLDS HIS HEAD 

A picture of Gov. David Paterson of New York 

burying his face in his hands in frustration at political 

gridlock, while Joe Bruno smiles broadly, 

tells you all you need to know about New York 

state politics. But they know how to make deadlines. 

With 48 hours to go, the pols in Albany 

have reached an agreement for the state to take 

over New York City OTB, which will give Mayor 

Michael Bloomberg his wish to get out from 

under it, save 1,500 jobs, and solve another political 

problem by naming Sen. John Sabini as 

chairman of the New York Racing and Wagering 

Board or as senior advisor to Gov. Paterson 

on racing matters (reports differ, but it could be 

both) thus saving him from a possible election 

defeat in an upcoming tough primary. 

A LOOK AT THE FUTURE 

Microsoft and Harrah’s Entertainment have 

joined hands to give the public a look at the face 

of the future. Harrah’s introduced six rectangular 

tables with built-in 30-inch screens using 

Microsoft Surface technology in a lounge at its 

Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The 

tables are high-tech interactive bar tables, where 

customers can play touch screen games built into 

the devices, watch YouTube videos, or flirt with 

one another at different tables. Tim Stanley, 

chief information officer of Harrah’s, said, “Of 

all the goodies up our sleeves lately, this is one 

of the most dramatic.” Microsoft said the 

tables sold for a base price of $10,000.





June 16, 2008 

WELL, OF COURSE THEY DID 

You didn’t think any self-respecting politician 

would let 1,500 jobs go down the drain, did you? 

After two months of yakking about it, the governor 

of New York, David Paterson, and his cogovernors 

Joe Bruno, Majority Leader of the 

Senate, and Sheldon Silver, Speaker of the Assembly, 

got off their duffs and announced the 

state of New York would take over New York 

City OTB. They made the announcement Friday 

without consulting Mayor Michael Bloomberg 

of New York, who said, in effect on hearing their 

plan, “Like hell you will, not on those terms.” 

So the Albany Big Three went back to the drawing 

board and announced yesterday that the city 

would keep surcharges amounting to some $4.5 

million a year, and the legislature would pass 

legislation, probably today, making everything 

legal by creating a new state entity to run New 

York City OTB. Bloomberg thanked the Albany 

boys, congratulated OTB president Ray Casey 

for doing a good job, and stepped away from 

the “bookie operation” he refused to support 

any longer. Putting the best possible light on the 

way things turned out, Bloomberg said, utilizing 

despised racing terms, “Although the negotiations 

went down to the wire, they produced an 

agreement that truly belongs in the winner’s 

circle.” The New York Post, unable to stomach 

the platitudes, ran an “exclusive” claiming the 

governor said Bloomberg “appears to be selfdestructing,” 

and said of his city administration, 

“There’s some kind of destabilization over 

there.” The paper also reported that Paterson 

said Bloomberg misrepresented the facts and was 

untrustworthy, and quoted him as saying, “He 

has the same kind of anger that reminds you of 

Spitzer,” the disgraced former governor forced 

out in a call girl scandal. “I think he’s starting 

to be concerned that he can’t get anything 

done,” Paterson said. Maybe, but he got 

the OTB done, basically on his terms.” 

NJ SHOWS GUTS AND RESOLVE 

Armed with its newfound powers of out-of-competition 

testing, the state of New Jersey took bold 

action last week in fining two alleged chemists 

$68,000, banning them from racing in the state 

for 13 1/2 years, and barring six of their horses 

from competing until September, when they will 

have to pass testing. The objects of their wrath 

were trainer Ernest Adam and California veterinarian 

Stephen C. Slender, owner of the horses 

trained by Adams. The antics of both had been 

the subject of much discussion among horsemen 

in New Jersey and elsewhere. Acting on a 

tip and using their recently legalized powers to 

test off-track, the state searched Adams’ stable 

at Winner’s International Farm in Chesterfield, 

NJ, and found six horses that tested positive for 

EPO. Howard Taylor, a Philadelphia lawyer 

and harness horse owner who has represented 

a number of offenders in the game, is representing 

Slender and is seeking a stay of the penalties 

in advance of an appeal. The pair was fined 

$56,000 each, plus $12,000 each for state testing 

fees. Slender earlier had been asked to leave 

Cal-Expo in Sacramento, California, where his 

entries were refused. 

RACING HYSTERIA IN CANADA 

No, not Big Brown. Somebeachsomewhere, harness 

racing’s new undefeated idol of the masses. 

The 3-year-old pacer, unbeaten in six starts last 

year, ran his unbeaten string to nine Saturday 

night as he humbled a field of the best of the division 

in harness racing’s richest pace, the $1.5 

million North America Cup at Mohawk Raceway. 

One of his five owners called him, with 

considerable justification, “Canada’s horse,” after 

a wildly cheering crowd of 10,000 at Mohawk 

roared as he sailed down the stretch, and gave 

him a standing ovation when he returned to the 

winner’s circle. He will start next on July 12 in 

his first U.S. appearance, eliminations for 

the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.





June 17, 2008 

TEAGUE, PECK; WHO’S NEXT? 

The news that Total Truth and Palone Ranger, two 

stalwarts of the top pacing ranks, tested positive 

for steroids at Harrah’s Chester Downs should 

surprise no one. Total Truth was scratched out 

of the $500,000 Ben Franklin as a result. What 

was more surprising was Teague’s voluntary 

scratching of three other horses from his stable 

-- Meadowlands Pace winner Southwind Lynx, 

2006 runner-up Mr. Apples, and the pacer Allamerican 

Karnak. That action would indicate 

they too were racing on steroids. Teague did 

not deny that Total Truth was positive for high 

levels of stanozolol (Winstrol) which is bothersome 

given the fact the horse has won almost $2 

million presumably racing on them and aided by 

them -- but he complained bitterly that he and 

his veterinarian “misinterpreted” the rules. He 

charged that “I do not race there often enough 

to get the warning and did not understand the 

terminology. Certain people were privileged to 

get a verbal conversation about this test and I 

wasn’t in that conversation.” This is an argument 

ill becoming a trainer who in four short 

years vaulted from relative obscurity to the top 

ranks of the sport, sending out hordes of low to 

mid-priced horses to become major stakes winners. 

He is not alone in that category, of course, 

and there is only one satisfactory answer, which 

the recently appointed Thoroughbred Safety 

Committee recommended in a press conference 

today. It is to eliminate steroids in training and 

racing. If American racing of all breeds is not 

ready to face this daunting prospect, it deserves 

whatever bad press it receives. The latest was 

a story in The Guardian in England, headlined 

“Poisonous steroids should be flushed from our 

system,” with a subhead, “Zero tolerance may 

not be easy, but it’s the only way to protect innocent 

trainers being tarred along with the 

guilty.” It called the problem American 

racing’s “desperate situation.” 

WHEN IN DOUBT, GO FOR PR 

The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority found itself 

in a not unusual position of uncomfortable 

yesterday, facing a crime that was not a crime, 

but was a broken rule for which it could find no 

one individual responsible. What to do? For 

one thing, fine Churchill Downs $15,000 while 

announcing “no evidence of inappropriate behavior.” 

Churchill, for its part, seemed happy to 

pay the fine to escape further proceedings on the 

matter, and the Authority accepted its pleas of no 

wrongdoing. The bizarre events involved trainer 

Steve Asmussen, no stranger to controversy, 

who apparently asked for, and received, the services 

of assistant starter Clinton Beck in loading 

Pyro into the gate for the Kentucky Derby. This 

breach of the rules admittedly is a tempest in a 

teapot, but the Authority said piously that it is 

“charged with maintaining the integrity of horse 

racing in Kentucky,” and Churchill said, “We 

believe this agreement is an acceptable resolution 

for both the KHRA and Churchill Downs.” 

Mrs. Ed Whitfield, speaking for the Authority, 

and explaining that normally no one knows who 

is assigned to load what horse until the last minute, 

said, “We’re trying to have the sport look 

as clean as possible.” Now for a bigger try at 

that, getting Kentucky to stand up to its thoroughbred 

horsemen and adopt the rules of the 

Kentucky-based Racing Medication and Testing 

Consortium. Not doing so is hardly making the 

sport look as clean as possible, Mrs. Whitfield. 

SPEAKING OF PR 

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday declined to 

hear an appeal from Cavel International concerning 

the closing of its horse slaughtering plant 

in Illinois, which killed 40,000 to 60,000 horses a 

year for foreign meat consumption. Apparently 

even Supreme Court justices react with nausea 

to disgusting events, and the decision 

should end U.S. horse slaughter.





June 18, 2008 

POCONO OPENING JULY 17 

HTA member Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs 

has set July 17 for the opening of its 300,000 

square-foot, $200 million racino expansion, adding 

restaurants, retail outlets and more than 

1,300 slot machines to its operation. The new 

facility comes at an appropriate time, countering 

inroads from competition at the nearby 

Mount Airy Casino Resort. A Ruth’s Chris 

Steak House, Rustic Kitchen Bistro and Bar, Bar 

Louie and Pearl Sushi Bar, pubs Sunburst Bar 

and Breakers, and Brookstone, Marshall Rousso 

and Misura shops will open with the new addition 

next month. Mohegan Sun announced that 

if interest warrants, a hotel, spa, convention and 

meeting space could be added at the track. 

CASINO $$ BOOST CHI PURSES 

Purses at Chicago’s Maywood Park and Balmoral 

Park have jumped 23% across the board, 

thanks to the Illinois Supreme Court decision 

freeing monies held in escrow while the court 

deliberated a lower court decision saying the 

state’s riverboat casinos did not have to make 

payments to the tracks mandated by law. The 

Supreme Court overruled the lower court decision 

and freed the $70 million for distribution, 

and the tracks began paying the monies in increased 

purses June 10. 

DOGS COULD FACE NOV. VOTE 

Opponents of dog racing in Massachusetts again 

have collected enough petition signatures to get 

a ban on dog racing on the November statewide 

ballot. It is not the first time they have done 

this, and the last effort was shot down by dog 

track lawyers on grounds that it was aimed at 

the state’s two dog tracks. The legal challenge 

will resume, and it is by no means certain that 

the issue will reach a public vote. They 

did get a statewide vote in 2000, which 

resulted in a narrow track victory. 

DANGER CALLS FOR ACTION 

The New York Times headline writer had it right 

this morning, with a major story carrying the 

banner, “Horsemen Make Move to Stay Ahead of 

Congress.” That was the motivation, of course, 

for a public announcement that the newly formed 

Thoroughbred Safety Committee’s first action 

was to recommend the banning of steroids, as already 

recommended by the Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium. The announcement 

received wide press coverage, and hopefully will 

dampen some of the fire and brimstone certain 

to surface in Thursday’s Congressional hearing 

led by the bipartisan efforts of Democrat Bobby 

Rush of Illinois and Republican Ed Whitfield of 

Kentucky. Proposals of federal control are likely 

to be issued, but the biggest danger by far is 

reopening of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 

1978. If that law, the linchpin of racing’s present 

legal status on Internet betting, is opened for politicizing 

in Washington, the entire structure of 

simulcasting could be endangered. The hearing 

of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and 

Consumer Protection deserves the full attention 

it is receiving. 

FAIR WARNING ON VEGAS AIR 

Major airlines have announced their intentions 

of sharply cutting service to Las Vegas in the fall. 

We suggest that you not wait into the winter to 

make reservations for the fifth Racing Congress 

at Bellagio. No need to do so now, since cuts 

could eliminate current flights, but don’t wait 

until the last minute next winter. 

A LOVELY LADY LEAVES US 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the 

death of Norma Campbell, who for years was 

the leading lady in the executive offices of the 

Meadowlands. She died early yesterday after 

numerous hospitalizations. Lovely, gracious and 

hugely efficient, we grieve her passing, as 

will the thousands who knew her.





June 19, 2008 

THE STAR COPS OUT 

The Congressional hearing on the problems of 

thoroughbred racing got underway in Washington 

today, but the star was a no-show. Whether 

he opted out on his own or responded to suggestions 

from a higher authority is not known, but 

Rick Dutrow cancelled, saying, “I would go in 

a minute, but I just don’t feel well. To go down 

there when I’m not on top of my game would not 

be right.” Ed Whitfield, ranking member of the 

House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and 

Consumer Protection was deeply disappointed 

with the defection of his star witness, always 

good for black type headlines. “I’m sorry he’s 

not here,” Whitfield said, “We had a lot of questions 

for him.” I guess. Whitfield said racing “is 

more than pretty hats and horses on a sunny day. 

It has a huge economic impact on the country, 

and it has a bad side to it. I think it’s important 

we get it out on the table.” One thing Whitfield 

would like to get on the table is the Interstate 

Horseracing Act, which he wants to reopen. 

Whatever else he is told today, he should be told 

in the strongest terms that is an idea racing will 

not support. It could be disastrous for American 

racing, regulating as it does a finely tuned balance 

that has worked for 30 years, and being 

the enabling provision that has given horseracing 

its exemption from the ban on Internet betting. 

Whitfield acknowledged the suggestions of 

the Thoroughbred Safety Committee to ban steroids 

and modify shoeing and whip regulations, 

but tempered his satisfaction by calling the move 

“encouraging that they have come up with these 

regulations, but sadly, the (sponsoring) Jockey 

Club doesn’t have the authority to do anything.” 

One group that does is the Kentucky Racing Authority, 

on which Whitfield’s wife is a key member. 

The Authority has not yet been able to bring 

itself to support the recommendations of 

the Kentucky based Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium. 

WANTED: FACILITIES CHIEF 

Tioga Downs is looking for a Regional Senior 

Director of Facilities. The candidate would be 

responsible for ensuring that all maintenance 

and EVS systems are in place and operating efficiently. 

The position calls for interaction with 

project departments, city, county and state agencies, 

and selection, training and supervision of 

maintenance/EVS employees. A four-year degree 

or four to six years experience is desired, 

along with oral, written and organizational skills. 

Send cover letter, resumes and inquiries to HR@ 

tiogadowns.com, or fax 607-699-0497. 


PHIL TERRY has been named interim manager 

of the Delaware County Fair, effective July1. 

He will continue to serve as marketing director 

for the Fair and the Little Brown Jug......PAM 

FROSTAD has been appointed by the government 

of Ontario to the Ontario Racing Commission, 

and DR. BERNARD BRENNAN, DVM, 

has been reappointed to the commission for a 

one year term.....A hearing before the Kentucky 

Racing Authority for thoroughbred trainer PAT- 

RICK BIANCONE, set for two days ago to determine 

if he violated terms of his one-year suspension, 

has quietly been postponed indefinitely..... 

CAN ANYONE OUT THERE BEAT THIS? Guy 

Gets Girl, a trotter in the Bruce Ranger stable, 

won its 45th career victory at Pompano Park in 

a $12,000 featured trot. The 9-year-old gelding 

won in 1:58 to send its lifetime earnings to 

$370,000.....SCIOTO DOWNS, bolstered by a 

new simulcasting schedule that included betting 

on thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, was up 

117.2% over last year’s figures after a month of 

racing.....The new MENANGLE PARK in Sydney, 

Australia, has been named as the site of the 

inaugural racing of the $1 million World Cup of 

pacing. The event is scheduled for April 19, 

2009, and North American horses will be 

invited.





June 20, 2008 

ROUGH GOING FOR JC, NTRA 

The witness list was carefully selected, of course, 

with the views of those chosen known, and the 

questioning produced no surprises at yesterday’s 

Congressional subcommittee hearing on thoroughbred 

racing. Some of the answers did, however. 

When the witnesses were asked if they believed 

in a national body, yes or no, all answered 

“yes” except for Alex Marzelli, president of the 

Jockey Club, who said he believed racing could 

clean itself up without federal assistance. Asked 

why he believed that, Marzelli said, “For starters, 

I’m an optimist,” to which Rep. Jan Schakowsky, 

an Illinois Democrat and former thoroughbred 

owner who played a surprise leading 

role in the proceedings, immediately shot back, 

“Based on what?” Jess Jackson, owner of Horse 

of the Year Curlin, added to the fire, calling the 

Jockey Club “a fiefdom.” Breeder Arthur Hancock 

complained, “No one is in charge. We’re a 

rudderless ship,” and when Marzelli was asked 

by Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, “What can 

you do?” Marzelli said, “We have the power of 

persuasion and consensus building.” Whitfield 

replied, “I don’t think you even have that.” 

Alex Waldrop, president of the National Thoroughbred 

Racing Association, also invoked the 

role of the NTRA as “a consensus builder,” but 

Whitfield later told reporters he thought it was 

apparent that neither Marzelli nor Waldrop 

“has the authority to do anything.” And then he 

dropped the hammer, saying, “I think we can use 

the Interstate Horseracing Act” to put together 

legislation to set out minimum standards for racing. 

This was after Richard Shapiro, chairman 

of the California Horse Racing Board, declared 

that, “Over the years, we’ve traded the timetested 

regimen of hay, oats and water for a virtual 

phamacopoeia....we have created a chemical 

horse.” Shapiro said, “Our structure 

is dysfunctional. I submit we need a national 

racing commission.” 

JUG HONORS OUR BIG BROWN 

Harness racing has its own Big Brown, and I 

don’t mean Somebeachsomewhere. Our Big 

Brown is Dr. Glen Brown, 6 feet 4 or whatever, 

big and burly and smart, and a longtime major 

figure in our game, formerly as farm manager 

and veterinarian for Armstrong Brothers, 

breeders of Jug winners Armbro Omaha and 

Armstrong Operative and two winners of the 

Jugette, Armbro Feather and Armbro Romance. 

Dr. Brown also owned Fan Hanover, the only filly 

ever to win the Jug and Harness Horse of the 

Year in 1981. Yesterday the Little Brown Jug 

announced Dr. Brown is its honoree for 2008, 

and will be recognized at the annual Mayor’s 

Breakfast on Sept. 17 in the Hospitality Pavilion 

at the Jug fairgrounds. Dr. Brown is the sixth 

Canadian to receive the Jug Honoree award. He 

already is a member of the U. S. and Canadian 

harness racing halls of fame. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: MOXIE 

Just what New York state needs: another new 

video betting game as competition for its ailing 

horse racing industry. The chief lawyer for 

the state’s Liquor Authority recently approved 

Moxie, an arcade game with worse odds than 

Las Vegas slots, and the Atlanta manufactures of 

the game, Pace-O-Matic, already have been hustling 

it as “Moxie Mania” to potential bar and 

tavern customers in the Empire State. The game 

had a three-year run in Ohio before being outlawed 

there as a game of chance. The company 

says Moxie is a game of skill, similar to the number 

puzzle game Sudoku, and that “if a player 

is really good, of which there are very few, he 

will never lose.” Pace-O-Matic says it is working 

with Betson Enterprises of Carlstadt, NJ, in 

marketing the game. Oh, we almost forgot. Park 

Strategies, the lobbying firm run by former New 

York Senator Alphonse D’Amato, is associated 

with Pace-O-Matic. Any questions?





June 23, 2008 

FRANK BILL MOVES FORWARD 

Congressman Barney Frank’s effort to open 

the way to Internet wagering for all reaches the 

markup stage tomorrow or Wednesday, according 

to the American Horse Council. The bill, 

HR 5767, the Payments System Protection Act, 

is designed to prohibit the Treasury Department 

and Federal Reserve Board from implementing 

regulations that were proposed last fall in the 

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. 

Those regulations are now being reviewed by the 

agencies mandated to impose them, Frank and 

Ron Paul introduced the bill in April, claiming 

“it is clear...the regulations are unworkable for 

the financial services industry, and this bill would 

therefore prohibit their implementation.” The 

Horse Council says the markup is scheduled for 

tomorrow in the House Financial Services Committee, 

but could be held over until Wednesday 

because there are six bills before it for consideration, 

several of which are complex. The AHC 

notes that the bill “is another effort by Mr. Frank 

to roll back the passage of the Unlawful Internet 

Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which effectively 

prohibits ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ by 

requiring the U.S. financial services to block financial 

transactions used to effectuate unlawful 

Internet gambling.” The AHC points out that the 

definition of ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ in the 

UIGEA specifically excludes “any activity that is 

allowed under the Interstate Horseracing Act.” 

This is the key provision that enables Internet 

betting on horse races, and it also is endangered 

by the House Subcommittee on commerce, trade 

and consumer protection’s determination to reopen 

the Horseracing Act to provide for uniform 

regulations on steroids and other illicit medications. 

That possibility was stressed by Reps. Ed 

Whitfield of Kentucky, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, 

and other subcommittee members in 

last week’s hearing on drugs and breakdowns 

in thoroughbreds. 

SEARCH FOR RESPECTABILITY 

The principal owner of Big Brown, winner of the 

Kentucky Derby and Preakness but humbled in 

the Belmont Stakes, has gotten religion where 

steroids are concerned. Michael Iavarone got 

heavy ink this morning announcing none of the 

50 or so horses in his International Equine Acquisitions 

Holdings “need this stuff to win,” and 

the entire stable would be drug free by Oct. 1. 

Iavarone says he will pay for tests administered 

by state or track veterinarians before and after 

each start by an IEAH horse to prove they are 

drug free. The stable will not give up Lasix, however, 

another scourge of the sport. Iavarone said 

he was “moved by the (Congressional) hearing 

last week and I saw one witness after another say 

they wanted zero tolerance on drugs. Someone 

has to take the first step. We want other owners 

to join us immediately. Racing can’t wait for 

state laws or House rules or Congress. What we 

have to do to get this done is the integrity of the 

people involved in the sport.” So now, with a 

new leader, let us march ahead. Go forth, Big 

Brown, steroid free. 

‘SUPER TRACK’ CHRISTENED 

Australia’s new ‘super track,’ Menangle Park 

in Sydney, was christened in highly publicized 

ceremonies. The first race, a 2,300 meter test 

for 2-year-olds, is called “The Menangle Park, 

Where Horses Fly Pace.” Brian Hancock, a 

legendary figure Down Under and a multiple 

winner of the Interdominions, Australia’s most 

important harness race, told the Sydney Daily 

Telegraph the track was “the greatest thing to 

happen to harness racing” in his 40 years in the 

sport. Hancock has driven all over the world, 

and he called Menangle “the best track I have 

seen.” John Dumesny, CEO of the track, called 

it “a new beginning for our sport. It’s a revolution. 

Harness people can’t stop talking about 

it and are walking a little bit higher.”





June 24, 2008 

BRUNO LEAVING NY SENATE 

The story of the day, stunning the New York legislature 

and the entire infrastructure of government 

in the Empire State, was that the emperor 

was quitting after 32 years, and would not run 

for re-election. Joe Bruno has been perhaps 

the most powerful state legislator in America, 

and nothing happened in New York without his 

stamp of approval. Even his strong counterpart 

in the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, did not know 

the majority leader of the Senate was stepping 

down, and he told reporters, “I didn’t see it coming.” 

He said Bruno had called him last night 

to let him know, and Silver said, “An era ends 

with Joe Bruno leaving.” It surely does, and his 

oars as helmsman will be heavy cargo for anyone 

to pick up. Bruno had battled former governor 

Elliot Spitzer and a federal investigation of his 

many business interests, and at 79 obviously had 

wearied of the fights. “Politics is a tough ballgame,” 

he said, “tougher now than it has ever 

been.” At least four senators with aspirations to 

succeed Bruno already have surfaced, but none 

has much chance of commanding the powerful 

presence that he leaves behind. Governor David 

Paterson said Bruno’s departure was “a sad day 

for Albany, and for me.” If there was any joy at 

the news, it was on the opposite side of the political 

aisle, where Democrats realized that Bruno 

may take some senior legislators with him into 

retirement. If he does, the slender Senate Republican 

majority of 32-30 is in jeopardy, with 

Democrats already holding the governorship and 

comfortable control of the Assembly, where they 

outnumber Republicans 106 to 42. State Democratic 

chairwoman June O’Neill said, “There is 

no better gambler in this business than Joe Bruno...and 

he looked across the table and saw we 

had a royal flush.” She said “We’ll be curious 

to see who else decides to join him in the 

retired legislators section at the Saratoga 

racetrack.” 

HOW SWEET IT IS 

One constituent who will grieve Bruno’s departure, 

but will do so in deep clover, is developer 

Louis Capelli. Bruno announced that the 

Paterson administration and the governor had 

worked out a three-way deal, and the Senate 

passed it yesterday, clearing the way for Capelli 

to move Monticello Raceway 2.5 miles to the 

town of Thompson, complete with its racino, 

where Capelli will build a $1 billion resort including 

a new Concord hotel. Bruno said the 

deal, as reported by the Albany Times Union, 

will result in the employment of 2,000, a reasonable 

estimate for a complex the size of the new 

project. The Assembly is expected to give quick 

approval to the package, which will give Empire 

Resorts, owners of Monticello with Capelli holding 

a major stake, a boost in VLT revenues from 

the present 42% to 75%. The state will get 25% 

or a guaranteed $38 million a year, whichever is 

larger. In return Capelli must prove, by audited 

financial statements, that he has invested $1 billion 

in resort improvements, including the track 

and its racino, the hotel and convention center, 

and golf course and other amenities. If he does 

he has a 40-year deal; if he does not, and does 

not employee 2,000, the deal will be scaled back 

in proportion. 

ROCK POKER ACES TO VEGAS 

Team Rockingham -- five poker players who 

earned $10,000 seats into the World Series of 

Poker -- will head for Las Vegas and the World 

Series of Poker at the Rio hotel on the weekend of 

July 4. Awaiting them, or someone, is a jackpot 

that last year was $8.5 million, but to get it the 

New Hampshire aces, or someone, will have to 

outplay thousands of others entered in the multimillion 

dollar tournament. Most of the Rockingham 

team have announced they will retire 

from their current jobs if they win. A word of 

advice, from the current pacer of the same 

name: Dontquityourdayjob.


SADINSKY REPORT SURFACES 

The Ontario government yesterday released the 

Industry Review Panel report, commissioned 

last summer and prepared by a three-man team 

headed by former Ontario Racing Commission 

chairman and law professor Stanley Sadinsky. 

The 80-page report will be posted on HTA’s Web 

site in its entirety, but here are the summarized 

recommendations, in abbreviated and slightly 

edited form: 

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive 

gaming strategy for the province, including 

horse racing and breeding. 

2. Reconstitute the Ontario Horse Racing Industry 

Association (OHRIA) into Horse Racing 

Ontario, HRO, an all-encompassing board that 

would decide all economic issues and disputes 

among stakes holders. 

3. That the horse racing and breeding industry 

fund HRO immediately. 

4. That the Ontario Racing Commission consult 

with HRO on issues of integrity, including promulgation 

of rules and regulations, and participate 

in any horse racing and breeding advisory 

committee that the Gaming Secretariat may establish. 

5. That the HRO undertake the annual collection 

and analysis of data and reporting of results 

against standard benchmarks, which would 

not require collection of confidential data. This 

would include a wide statistical base, including 

live wagering and total wagering by tracks. 

6. An alternative to introducing the new program, 

leading to full implementing by Jan. 1, 

2012. 

7. Whenever the new program comes into effect, 

all funds payable to the industry from slot machines 

be pooled, with the total amount payable 

to the Slot Funding Pool in the first three years 

to be 20% of all slot revenue generated at 

all tracks. The amount payable would be 

reviewed after three years. 




June 25, 2008 

Out of the pooled fund, 25% would be paid to 

tracks and 25% to horsemen for purses, the remainder 

to the HRO for administrative operating 

costs and research and marketing. 

8. HRO set an aggressive timeline for the development 

and implementation of innovative wagering 

products, new and improved methods of 

delivery, races and partnerships, and engage the 

Gaming Secretariat in considering the legalization 

and regulation of Internet betting on horse 

racing. 

9. That HRO initially establish a budget for 

research and education of at least $2 million a 

year, with that amount increasing as slot funds 

become available. 

10. That HRO support organizations that arrange 

for adoption of racehorses after their careers 

have ended. 

11. That HRO work with the Gaming Secretariat 

to insure proper problem gambling programs 

are developed and made available. 

Concerning recommendation 5, we proudly 

point to Brody Johnson’s May HTA report for 

directors, “Purse Distribution Analysis at HTA 

Tracks, 2006.” It analyzes 40,000 races with detailed 

charts and graphs, and is not only fascinating 

reading but another example of HTA services 

not available elsewhere. 

O’BRIEN AWARD REVOKED 

Standardbred Canada reported today that its 

Board of Directors has voted to revoke the 2007 

O’Brien award, emblematic of divisional championships, 

that had been presented to owner Jeffrey 

Snyder of New York for Michelles Power as 

3-year-old pacing filly of the year. She turned up 

with a positive and Standardbred Canada, like 

HTA, has a policy that horses failing drug tests 

are not eligible for rewards. SC’s rule specifies 

that any horse testing positive for a class 1, 2 or 3 

drug is not eligible for an award, outstanding 

appeals and/or stays notwithstanding.





June 26, 2008 

WEG DOES NOT LIKE REPORT 

It took 80 pages to wade through the Sadinsky 

report on Leadership Strategic Vision and Direction 

for the Ontario Horse Racing and Breeding 

Industry, but it took Woodbine Entertainment 

Group only three strong paragraphs to tell what 

it thinks of it, which is little. Here are the three 

in full, and they speak volumes: 

A healthy horse racing industry is dependent, 

first and foremost, on the financial viability of 

racetracks which provide the venue for the racing 

product. With respect to the report, Woodbine 

Entertainment Group believes that while 

there are some interesting and thought-provoking 

suggestions, its recommendations are entirely 

impractical, unrealistic and unworkable from a 

financial perspective. Racetracks simply would 

not be able to internally finance their operations 

or obtain bank financing. 

“The report recognized WEG’s flagship role in 

the Ontario horse racing industry,” stated David 

Willmot, chair and CEO. “Ironically, if the recommendations 

were implemented, WEG would 

immediately lapse into a substantial loss position. 

As a not-for-profit company financed entirely 

by debt, WEG would breach its banking 

covenants and would not be able to obtain future 

financing. Notwithstanding that the report 

is well intentioned in attempting to provide a 

strategic direction for the Ontario Horse Racing 

and Breeding Industry, the effect of its recommendations 

would devastate the second largest 

agricultural sector in the Province, which generates 

55,000 jobs. 

“WEG trusts that the Province will recognize the 

shortcomings of the report and looks forward to 

working with the government on strategies 

which will ensure the long-term viability 

of this significant industry.” 

FRANK BILL FAILS THIS TIME 

The House of Representatives Financial Services 

Committee voted down Rep. Barney Frank’s 

attempt to scuttle the Unlawful Internet Gambling 

Enforcement Act yesterday afternoon, on 

sharply divided party lines. Interactive Gaming 

News quoted Steven W. Adamske, a spokesman 

for Frank’s office, as saying, “The traditional 

‘family-values’ Republicans defeated a common 

sense measure that had nothing to do with the 

underlying issue of whether American adults 

should be allowed to freely gamble with their 

own money.” The bill would have prevented 

the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve 

Board from finalizing the proposed regulations 

for the Internet betting ban, from which horse 

racing is exempt under the Interstate Horseracing 

Act. Interactive Gaming News reported that 

“It’s a bit early to speculate on prospects for this 

legislation moving forward, but the display of 

partisanship might suggest that the bill would 

stand a better chance if Democrats strengthen 

their majority in Congress.” 

AROUND THE CIRCUIT..... 

The Albion Park track in Brisbane, Queensland, 

where Australia’s biggest harness racing event, 

the Inter Dominion, will be held next March, 

has been closed indefinitely because of safety 

concerns over its main grandstand after an engineering 

study. The harness and greyhound 

track had planned rebuilding next year....Rod 

Pollack, the progressive chief executive officer of 

Harness Racing Australia, plans to retire at the 

end of August.....Mary Lib Miller, widow of Delvin 

Miller, who suffered a broken hip in a home 

fall recently, has had the hip replaced and will 

be moved in a few days to a recuperation center. 

She presently is in Room 749, Orlando Regional 

Medical Center, 1414 Kuhl Avenue, Orlando, 

Florida, 32806, but her new hospital address 

will be Lucerne Hospital, 818 Main Lane, 

Orlando, Florida, 32801.





June 27, 2008 

HOW SMART IS RACING? 

Not too smart, judging from its stumbling steps 

to end illegal medication, improve public perception, 

and severely penalize the misdeeds of 

leading figures in the sport. The main stories of 

the day are not about the horses, but about the 

people who train and own them. The new suspensions 

of Rick Dutrow and Steve Asmussen in 

thoroughbred racing and the 10 year suspension 

and $40,000 fine handed to well-known harness 

racing trainer Bill Elliott in Ontario, and the stupid 

injuring of a horse by jockey Jeremy Rose in 

damaging the eye of a mount with his whip not 

only provide fuel for the foes of racing, but add 

to the din of negative publicity, certain to receive 

far more coverage than racing’s halting efforts 

to face the issue squarely and ban all race day 

medications and impose meaningful penalties. 

Ontario has led the way, but even that progressive 

commission has backed away from a real solution: 

discouraging owners from using known 

offenders to train their horses. That aspect also 

made headlines today, as Michael Iavarone and 

his IEAH group, desperately seeking better PR, 

hinted they may take their 50 or so horses, including 

Big Brown, away from Dutrow. In view 

of their pious pronouncement of having their 

stable “drug free by October 1,” they face new 

tests of their sincerity now. And why not July 

1? In Ontario, Woodbine Entertainment is challenging 

the Ontario Racing Commission decision 

not to allow it to bar the horses of owners using 

Elliott’s services. Veteran racing writer Paul 

Moran put the issue in perspective today with a 

column that began, “Have we had enough yet?” 

and ended, “The current malaise will not lighten 

until there is an imposition of accountability, 

proper and reasonable punishment, a ban on all 

race-day medication and a zero tolerance policy 

enforced vigorously in every jurisdiction 

by a central -- or if necessary, federal authority. 

You asked for it.” 

AT LEAST SOME GOOD NEWS 

It is not all dark. The Meadows near Pittsburgh 

put out a casting call this week for trainers, drivers 

and horses for the upcoming filming there 

of Shannons Rainbow, a full length theatrical 

film about a grieving teen estranged from her 

mother who learns valuable life lessons by caring 

for an injured trotter. Shooting has begun in 

western Pennsylvania and will take place at the 

track July 16 and again from July 23 through 26. 

Daryl Hannah leads the list of known Hollywood 

names, which include cinematographer Dean 

Cundey, whose credits include Jurassic Park, 

Apollo 13, and all three Back to the Future features. 

The story was conceived some years ago 

by actor/writer John Mowod after watching his 

brother, former trainer Joe Mowod, nurse a harness 

horse back to the races. Producers Summit 

Works Films and Supernova Media hope for a 

2009 release and Meadows vice president of racing 

John Marshall feels there will be excellent 

tie-in promotional opportunities for the industry. 

BANGOR SLOTS TO NEW HOME 

It opened almost three years ago in a converted 

restaurant, but after a highly successful run in 

those temporary quarters, the Hollywood Slots 

Hotel and Raceway will open for business next 

Tuesday in a $132 million new home just up the 

street. Now owned by Penn National, the old 

operation will shut down Sunday, hold an invitation-only 

grand opening celebration Monday 

night, and then open its doors the next morning 

on an eight-acre plot that was the site of a Holiday 

Inn, with 1,000 of its potential 1,500 slots 

ready for business. The new edition includes a 

250-seat restaurant, a snack bar, a gift shop and a 

stage with live entertainment on weekends, with 

a 1920s and 1930s Hollywood theme. It could 

offer prizes for customers who can identify the 

blowups of Charles Boyer, Norma Shearer, 

Doug Fairbanks Jr. and Ann Sheridan.





June 30, 2008 

CRISES IN THE NORTH 

How and if harness horsemen in the province of 

Alberta and the city of Montreal will survive is a 

question today, following the double body blows 

of last week in the west and east of Canada. In 

Edmonton, Alberta, Northlands Park announced 

it was going to become an exclusively thoroughbred 

race track, abandoning the harness sport. 

In Montreal, Hippodrome de Montreal was 

closed as its owner, Paul Massicotte, sought and 

received court protection from creditors. 

With a new super track at least two years and 

perhaps more away in Calgary, Alberta horsemen 

are left without a viable pari-mutuel option. 

The same is true in Montreal, although the geography 

problem is not quite as severe. Massicotte, 

who had glowing plans for his Attractions 

Hippiques two short years ago, reported losses of 

$750,000 a month, and has been having difficulty 

finding a site north of Montreal to relocate Hippodrome 

de Montreal, his flagship track of four 

under the Attractions Hippiques banner. It estimates 

a revenue loss of $20 million a year, and 

under the terms of its deal with the government 

of Quebec that granted it the sole racing rights, 

it was supposed to pay purses of $24 million this 

year. Attractions Hippiques is seeking compensation 

and redress from the government, saying 

Loto-Quebec, which runs Quebec’s racinos, has 

created the problem with the absence of a gaming 

hall at the new racetrack that Massicotte was 

hoping to build. He says the 22% commission on 

1,100 video lottery terminals that Loto-Quebec 

would have operated there could have averted 

the financial disaster. Horsemen, meanwhile, 

call the situation drastic, asking that someone 

live up to contractual obligations to save the 

livelihoods of hundreds. Rick Karper, a former 

head of the horsemen’s association, says 

he hopes somebody will continue the racing, 

but no savior is in sight. 

HAPPY DAYS AT BIG M WEST 

It wasn’t exactly like the Meadowlands opening 

32 years ago, for those who can remember, 

but it was a very good imitation. The opening 

of Australia’s new 1,400-meter super track, 

Menangle Park, in Sydney, yesterday, drew an 

excited crowd of 15,764 and backed up traffic 

for miles. It was, one racegoer said, “like rush 

hour traffic only worse,” but he added, “I didn’t 

mind waiting.” New records went into the book 

with almost every race on the all-star card, and 

American trackman Dan Coon, who designed the 

racing strip, pronounced it “the best of its kind 

in the world.” So did the horsemen who were 

ecstatic in their praise. Australia’s champion 

woman driver Natalie Rasmussen, who won one 

of the features on the card, called Coon’s work 

“a touch of genius.” John Dumesny, CEO of the 

New South Wales Racing Club, summed it all 

up, saying, “Everything was magic; the crowd 

enjoyed it, we had no problems with catering, 

and everyone went away happy.” It’s nice to see 

someone happy in racing’s tumultuous world. 

PATIENCE IS ITS OWN REWARD 

Another feel-good story in the news. The trotter 

You’re Next, a winner of 13 straight races 

at Pompano Park in 2006 and 2007, went lame 

last year. His owner, Andrew Sassen of Coral 

Springs, took trainer Fred Cohen’s advice and 

turned the horse out to pasture. Last Wednesday 

night -- one year to the day from when he 

was scratched lame -- he returned and won for 

driver Wally Hennessey in a 1:56.2 mile. Owner 

Sassen’s grandmother, 91-year-old Ruth Dunay, 

was trackside for You’re Next’s victory. “I have 

never missed one of his races,” she said proudly, 

“I’m his good luck charm.” 

CORRECTION 

Friday’s Executive News reported thoroughbred 

trainer Steve Asmussen being suspended... 

again. Not yet. His hearing is July 18.





July 1, 2008 

HOW ‘BRUNO BONUS’ WORKS 

In an interesting interview in the Middletown, 

NY, Times Herald Record, developer Louis Cappelli 

told reporter Victor Whitman how he will 

move Monticello Raceway and build a new billion 

dollar entertainment complex, thanks to remarkable 

legislation that cleared the New York 

Senate with the final blessing of Majority Leader 

Joe Bruno, who is retiring. No billion dollar bill 

could have passed without Bruno’s benediction, 

since it raised revenues from the video slots from 

42% to 75% for the new management. Billed as 

an economic boon for the Catskill area, which 

it undoubtedly will be, the legislation requires 

Cappelli to show proof he created 2,000 jobs and 

returns 38 million a year to the state. Cappelli 

says he will open the new facility two years from 

now, and will finance it with $300 million of equity 

in “mezzanine financing” and $750 million 

in actual bank debt. He says he has term sheets 

for that bank financing, and hopes to close on 

the deal in 60 days. Demolition has begun on 

the old Concord, and new foundations will be 

laid as each section of the demolition progresses. 

Cappelli says phase one of the project calls for 

a new 750-room hotel, a convention center and 

casino, with a new track to be built in two years. 

Cappelli is planning a casino, not a racino, and 

also will build a golf clubhouse and begin construction 

of 487 estate homes for an additional 

$150 million. Asked if Donald Trump will be 

involved, Cappelli told Whitman, “Not yet. He 

is a good friend and business partner. We are 

going to talk to Donald.” Cappelli said demolition 

is on schedule for completion the end of this 

month, with steel coming in October. 

V75 AT $16.5 MILLION 

Sweden’s V75 wager had no payout last week, 

and this week’s prize is a carry-over jackpot 

pool of $16.5 million U.S. on this coming 

Saturday’s races. 

NEW ERA AT RUNNING ACES 

HTA member Running Aces in Minnesota 

reached its 50-day trigger date for card room operation 

last night, and opened the 425-seat facility 

with every seat filled and its largest Monday 

night crowd of the meeting. At 1:30 this morning 

a large crowd was still on hand in the gaming 

facility, which includes 25 poker tables and 

25 table games including black jack, 3 & 4 card 

poker, Pai Gow and Ultimate Texas Hold-em. 

General Manager Bob Farinella said the opening 

went “smooth as butter” and called the event “a 

great night for harness racing in Minnesota and 

an overall even greater night of entertainment 

value providing jobs and free time options for 

our community.” The card room opened after 

the eighth race on the card and the 9,000 squarefoot 

facility, which was packed with new fans, 

many of whom took in the racing card first, will 

remain open 24 hours a day with simulcasting 

after the live meeting closes this weekend. The 

opening marked an exciting time for the Running 

Aces team and the track ownership group 

at Southwest Casino Corporation and Mountaineer. 

SPILLOVER IN INDIANA, TOO 

Rick Moore and Jon Schuster, HTA’s directors 

at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs, reported to 

the state yesterday on initial gaming operations, 

and both indicated positive spillover to their harness 

racing operations from their racinos. Moore 

reported Hoosier was “right where we expected 

to be,” and Schuster said Indiana Downs’ 1,911 

machines produced $252 a day during opening 

week. 

RISING YOUNG DRIVING STAR 

Jordan Stratton, Monticello Raceway’s leading 

driver, celebrated his 21st birthday at the track 

last night by winning six consecutive races. He 

is seventh in U.S. wins in North American 

standings in races won with 269.





July 2, 2008 

NO VOTE ON SPORTS BETTING 

Sports betting in Delaware, approved by the 

House of Representatives in May, failed to make 

it in the Senate last night, the final night of the 

legislative session. The Senate did not vote on 

the issue, in part presumably because of a report 

issued last month by two University of Delaware 

economics professors who challenged estimates 

on state revenue and said it could be at most $3.3 

million and perhaps as low as $1 million. A Governor’s 

Task Force report had said sports betting 

could add between $22.5 million and $30.6 

million annually to state revenue, badly needed 

as Delaware tries to balance a $217 million budget 

deficit. A separate report, released by Delaware’s 

gaming industry, claimed sports betting 

could produce as much as $71 million for the 

state. The task force report’s projections included 

“crossover effect,” monies that would be bet at 

racinos at HTA’s Dover Downs and Harrington 

Raceway and Delaware Park by players betting 

on sports. The two professors, James Butkiewicz 

and Bill Latham, took their lead from University 

of Nevada-Reno professor Bill Eadington, who 

reported that sports betting in that state amounted 

to just 1.3% of total betting of $12.8 billion bet 

last year. The Delaware professors contend that 

sports bettors have little in common with slots 

players and the crossover effects would be negligible. 

Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who has promised 

to veto any sports betting bill, leaves office at the 

end of the year, opening the possibility of a new 

look at the issue next year. 

BIG BANG IN BANGOR 

They lined up at 7:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. opening 

yesterday at Penn National’s new $132 million 

Hollywood Slots facility in Bangor, Maine, 

and by 10 there were an estimated 1,100 in line. 

They came early and stayed late to play the 1,000 

slots. A 152-room hotel, part of the complex, 

will open this month or next. 

ILLINOIS CASINOS APPEAL 

The four Illinois riverboat casinos affected by 

a state mandate to pay some $76 million to the 

state’s tracks to offset damaging impact are asking 

the state Supreme Court, which upheld the 

measure June 5, to reconsider it. The 2006 law 

requires the four top-grossing riverboats in Aurora, 

Elgin and two in Joliet, all on the Fox River 

west of Chicago, to pay 3% of their revenues to 

horse racing. If the Illinois high court refuses to 

reconsider, the riverboats either can seek a reversal 

of the legislation, up for renewal later this 

year, or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

IDLED HORSEMEN DESPERATE 

Harness horsemen in Montreal are desperately 

seeking a savior. Quebec is home for thousands 

of horsemen and supporting businesses, and 

suddenly, after 101 years, its biggest city has no 

live racing. Not only no racing, but the trustee 

for Hippodrome de Montreal says the stable 

area will be closed as well as the shuttered track. 

Jacques Hebert, one of the best known of the 

Montreal horsemen, told Paul Delean of The 

Gazette that three of his grooms, one with the 

stable for 33 years and two others with him for 

20 years, had nowhere to turn. “What’s going to 

happen to these people,” and others like them, 

he asked. Top horses have been sent to Mohawk 

in Ontario, and it takes $150 for gasoline to ship 

to Rideau Carleton in Ottawa, with grooms getting 

back at 3 o’clock in the morning and due 

to report for work at 6:30. Feed sellers, blacksmiths, 

veterinarians and farms all are feeling 

immediate impact. Some will move, but others, 

like 66-year-old Hebert and 61-year old Marcel 

Barrieau, said they are too old for that option. 

Hebert, a Hall of Fame horseman based at Hippodrome 

-- and Blue Bonnets before it -- for virtually 

his entire career, says he may disperse his 

13-horse stable and quit. “These are the 

worst few days of my life,” he said.





July 3, 2008 

ONTARIO EYES SPORTS BETS 

The Toronto Star reports this morning that the 

Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments 

are moving toward allowing Las Vegas 

style sports betting in provincial casinos. The 

story says high gas prices and sagging revenues 

have plagued Windsor and Niagara Falls casinos, 

and the high Canadian dollar and increased 

border security also have diminished the number 

of American bettors. Ontario already has a 

sports betting parlay combining results of three 

or more games, but the new proposal, the paper 

says, would allow bets on individual football, 

baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer and other 

games as well. Any legal changes made, the Star 

says, would have to allow such betting at Woodbine 

as well as Windsor and Niagara Falls. The 

plan requires changes in the Canadian criminal 

code that could face strong political opposition. 

PENN NATIONAL SALE NO GO 

Penn National Gaming announced this morning 

that its sales agreement with PNG Acquisition 

Company for purchase at $67 a share is being 

terminated, with highly favorable results for 

Penn National. The company will receive a $225 

million cash termination fee, and the purchase 

of $1.25 billion of Penn National’s redeemable 

preferred equity due in 2015, by affiliates of Fortress 

Investment Group and Centerbridge Partners, 

with Wachovia and Deutsche Banks, which 

had originally agreed to make indirect minority 

co-investments if the measure had closed, to purchase 

$45 million of that amount. The preferred 

equity carries no voting rights, and the interest 

free investment can be repaid in cash or company 

stock. Penn National says it will use the 

settlement to pursue a wide array of strategic 

opportunities, to repay debt, or for stock repurchases. 

It said one “strategic opportunity” 

might be purchase of land for a possible 

casino site in Maryland, and support of 

slots legislation in November there. 

OWNER SHUTS DOWN ELLIS PK 

Ellis Park in Henderson, KY, has been closed 

down by its owner, Ron Geary, after a federal 

judge denied his request for an injunction 

against thoroughbred horsemen’s refusal to offer 

the track’s signals to national account wagering 

services. Geary said his decision to close the 

86-year-old track, which was to open its 2008 

meeting tomorrow, was permanent. “I don’t 

have any plans on opening it again as a racetrack. 

That’s for sure,” he told the Louisville 

Courier Journal. The horsemen were seeking a 

larger share of simulcast betting revenue, and 

Rick Hiles, president of the Kentucky HBPA, 

called Geary’s decision “rash.” He said Geary 

was planning to close the track even without the 

dispute. Lisa Underwood, executive secretary 

of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, said 

Geary had notified her yesterday that he would 

not open the meeting, and that it was “sad for 

the industry, but I am not surprised.” Geary 

said in a prepared statement that the HBPA “has 

an ongoing dispute with ADWs and Ellis Park 

is caught in the crossfire. It is shocking to think 

that the KHBPA would choose to close down Ellis 

Park rather than take advantage of the additional 

revenue already negotiated with the 

ADWs for 2008. They know it and they don’t 

care. I have invested millions...and it was going 

to be a spectacular year. I love this track and I 

love racing. I am not, however, in the business to 

continue to spend millions per year keeping her 

going to have the Kentucky HBPA pull the rug 

out from underneath us. It is a tragedy.” 

SPEAKING OF TRAGEDIES 

Reports from Montreal, where horsemen are left 

without a racetrack with the closing of Hippodrome 

de Montreal, say Lucien Remillard, who 

lost his bid two years ago to Paul Massicotte to 

take over racing in Quebec, is discussing 

options with the bankruptcy referee.





July 7, 2008 

GOVERNOR LOSES IN FLORIDA 

The Florida Supreme Court last Thursday 

overturned the compact Gov. Charlie Crist 

signed with the Seminole Tribe to expand 

gambling at its casinos, holding that Crist 

had no right to allow forms of gambling that 

are illegal elsewhere in the state. The opinion, 

which is available on the HTA Web site 

at www.harnesstracks.com, didn’t take issue 

with the slot machines approved of in the 

deal, and which are also legal at Broward and 

Miami-Dade county pari-mutuel venues, but 

rather with card games such as blackjack 

and baccarat. The opinion clearly stated the 

Court’s assessment of Crist’s authority, saying, 

“The governor does not have the authority 

to legalize in some parts of the state, or 

for some persons, conduct that is otherwise 

illegal throughout the state.... What is legal 

in Florida is legal on tribal lands, and what 

is illegal in Florida is illegal there. Absent 

a compact, any gambling prohibited in the 

state is prohibited on tribal land.” Crist’s 

now-discredited compact with the tribe gave 

the Seminoles exclusive rights to offer card 

games such as blackjack in exchange for an 

up-front fee of $50 million, as well as subsequent 

payments of at least $100 million a year 

for the 25 years of the compact term. The 

suit against Crist was filed by the Speaker of 

the Florida House, who asserted the governor 

exceeded his authority. The result is not unexpected, 

as five other state supreme courts, 

Kansas, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island 

and Wisconsin, have held their governors 

needed legislative approval to finalize 

gaming agreements with Indians. It is 

unclear whether Crist or the tribe will 

appeal the Court’s ruling. 

KY AUTHORITY NOW COMMISSION 

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has signed an 

executive order reorganizing the Kentucky 

Racing Authority and renaming it the Kentucky 

Racing Commission. Beshear’s predecessor, 

Ernie Fletcher, replaced the “Commission” 

with the “Authority” in 2004. The 

governor named as new Commission members 

Robert Beck, chair; Tracy Farmer, vice 

chair; Ned Bonnie; Francis Thomas Conway; 

John Ward; Frank Jones, Jr.; Burr Travis II; 

Michael Pitino; Jerry Yon; Thomas Gaines; 

Elizabeth Lavin; Foster Northrop; Tom Ludt; 

Alan Leavitt; and Wade Houston. Prominent 

among those not named to the reconstituted 

Commission was Connie Whitfield, wife of 

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield. In the press release 

announcing the restructuring, Beshear said, 

“Kentucky’s signature industry is in crisis 

and immediate, aggressive action is necessary 

to preserve its integrity.... The actions I 

have taken today reflect my continued commitment 

to strengthening horseracing in the 

Commonwealth.” 

MAGNA REVERSE SPLIT SET 

Magna Entertainment announced late last 

week that its board approved a reverse 

stock split that will give shareholders of 

the racetrack operator one share for every 

20 shares they currently own. A company 

release said the reverse split will be effective 

on or about July 22 and affects all shares of 

common stock, stock options and convertible 

securities of the company, and that the board 

of directors had approved the split “to allow 

the Company to regain compliance with the 

NASDAQ $1.00 minimum bid price 

continued listing requirement.”


CALDER & HBPA REACH ACCORD 

Officials of Churchill Downs, owner of Calder 

Race Course, and representatives of the Florida 

HBPA have come to agreements on a 2008 purse 

contract and on a contract for the distribution 

of slot machine revenue, according to a release 

by Churchill, but failed to reach an agreement 

on distribution of the Calder signal to national 

account wagering platforms. The agreements 

pave the way for Calder to resume sending its 

signal to other racetracks and OTB facilities 

beginning Thursday, July 10. Under the terms 

of the slots agreement, horsemen are guaranteed 

$14.375 million for purses in the first three full 

years of the slots operation and 6.75 percent of 

slots revenue for the remainder of the 10-year 

term of the contract. Churchill officials also 

announced that the company has agreed to 

dismiss without prejudice the lawsuit filed 

against the Florida HBPA and its officers in April 

alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act; 

the lawsuit will continue against the remaining 

parties to the action. 

POSSIBLE PAST-POSTING PROBLEM 

Ray Paulick, the former editor in chief of The 

Blood-Horse who has returned to daily coverage 

of the racing industry with a Web site called the 

Paulick Report (www.paulickreport.com) yesterday 

reported another incident of late betting 

(http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/free-money-past-post-betting/). 

It seems that one or more 

players at Tampa Bay Downs made several thousand 

dollars worth of winning bets on the fourth 

race at Philadelphia Park on June 28 after the 

horses had crossed the finish line. Paulick quoted 

Curtis Linnell, director of wagering analysis 

for the Thoroughbred Racing and Protective 

Bureau as saying that they were “aware of the 

situation,” that it looked like the incident 

“may have been isolated to Tampa” and 

“didn’t look like it was widespread.” 




July 8, 2008 

Linnell told Paulick that the circumstances are 

under review. The Pennsylvania Horse Racing 

Commission said it was investigating as well. 

THREAT IN NM TO MOVE TRACK 

R.D. Hubbard, owner of Ruidoso Downs in New 

Mexico, is threatening to move the race meet 

away from the world-famous quarter horse venue 

in the mountains because of the failure of a 

tax break Hubbard wanted from the New Mexico 

legislature. Ruidoso Downs President and General 

Manager Ann McGovern told the Las Cruces 

Sun-News that the racino is losing money and 

the moving it is “one of the options on the table.” 

The track currently faces competition from two 

tribal casinos in the area. The legislation Hubbard 

asked for would make Ruidoso Downs racino 

more competitive with tribal operations, according 

to track officials, by reducing the tax rate 

on the first $10 million of net casino win from 26 

to 10 percent; the track would continue to pay 26 

percent on net win above the $10 million level. 

The bill passed in the New Mexico house of representatives 

but died in the state senate. McGovern 

said Hubbard has looked at property in Las 

Cruces, about 115 miles southwest of Ruidoso. 

Any proposed move would have to be approved 

by the state racing commission, which recently 

approved the relocation of the Downs at Albuquerque 

to the town of Moriarty. 

AND SPEAKING OF RACINOS... 

Merriam-Webster has added more than 100 

new entries to the latest edition of its famous 

Collegiate Dictionary, including one familiar to 

those in the racing industry. The term “racino” 

now can be found in the dictionary, defined as a 

“racetrack at which slot machines are available 

for gamblers.” Other words that made the cut 

in the new edition include “dirty bomb,” “Texas 

Hold’em,” “mental health day,” and “Webinar.”





July 9, 2008 

A ROONEY FAMILY SPLIT? 

Following a Wall Street Journal story Monday, 

the New York Times this morning reports the 

storied Rooney sports family sired by the late 

and legendary Art Rooney is experiencing some 

wrenching times. According to the story, the five 

brothers -- Art Jr. and Dan, who run the Pittsburgh 

Steelers, and Tim, Pat and John, who run 

the family’s racing interests, including Yonkers 

Raceway and the Palm Beach Kennel Club -- are 

in deep disagreement over an edict handed down 

by commissioner Roger Goodell of the National 

Football League. The NFL, on whose teams millions 

are bet each year, has piously decided to 

enforce its rules against team owners with gambling 

interests. That hypocrisy aside, the NFL 

stand reportedly has created a cleft between the 

Steelers side of the family, which includes Dan 

Rooney and his son Art II, and Art Jr., and the 

racing side, involving the other three brothers and 

their extended families. Tim and twins Pat and 

John do not want to sell their profitable racing 

empire, which includes salaries for other family 

members, and the Times, quoting three unnamed 

sources “familiar with the inner workings of the 

club’s ownership,” said today that there was a 

dispute over the value of certain properties, particularly 

the Palm Beach dog track, and “it became 

apparent that the other Rooneys did not 

have the capital to buy out their three brothers.” 

According to the story, the brothers asked two 

investment banks to appraise the Steelers, which 

was valued at $929 million by Forbes magazine 

last year. Tim, Pat and John reportedly were not 

interested in selling on the installment plan, with 

payouts spread over several years. Dan Rooney 

is reported as relying on hugely wealthy Pittsburgh 

banker, Stanley Druckenmiller, chairman 

of Duquesne Capital Management, to either buy 

the team or buy a large share and let Dan, 

his son, and brother Art Jr. continue to 

run it. 

NOT TOO SHABBY A MONTH 

The Indiana Gaming Commission reports that 

HTA’s two members in the state, Hoosier Park 

and Indiana Downs, handled almost $311 million 

on slots and racino gambling in their first full 

month of operation, with almost 200,000 people 

visiting Hoosier Park for gaming and harness 

racing. On the gaming side, low denomination 

machines proved popular. Hoosier has 500 penny 

machines, and it collected almost $32.5 million 

on three and a quarter billion single-cent bets. 

Their 503 quarter machines averaged $90,286 in 

bets, good for $3,215 every day of the month. 

BIG QUESTIONS IN BUFFALO 

A federal judge in Buffalo, NY, has ruled that the 

Seneca Indians do not have the right to build a 

$333 million casino in downtown Buffalo -- one 

that already is under construction while a temporary 

one operates -- but the Senecas say they 

are not about to close down either project until 

Washington weighs in. The judge, William Skretny, 

said in a 127-page decision, that the land may 

be “Indian country,” but allowing gaming on it 

was “arbitrary, capricious and not in accordance 

with the law.” The Senecas’ chairman says the 

tribe will continue to operate the temporary casino 

and also will continue building the permanent 

one, but opposing lawyers said if they do 

they will be doing so illegally and the lawyers will 

file for a federal injunction. One lawyer said the 

Senecas can build the casino, but cannot operate 

gambling in it. The casino is the largest private 

development in Buffalo history, and represents a 

major threat to the welfare of Buffalo Raceway. 

The Senecas won National Indian Gaming Commission 

approval for the project a year ago, and 

the tribal president says, “As ‘Indian country’ 

recognized by the United States, the nation has 

wide latitude over how it uses those lands now 

and long into the future.”





July 10, 2008 

ANOTHER HTA WINNER 

At last year’s HTA annual Board of Directors 

meeting, the Board unanimously approved a 

motion regarding collection of wagering data. 

The resolution provided that in order for HTA 

members to be aware of and be able to compare/ 

analyze wagering trends on member tracks’ live 

harness races, the tracks agree to provide information 

on a quarterly basis, no later than 30 

days following each calendar quarter-end. HTA 

will gather and share this data among member 

tracks, without individual track attribution. 

Trends then would be discussed at the next annual 

board meeting. 

This, of course, is part and parcel of what a good 

trade association does, and it was extremely 

gratifying that all but one member of HTA provided 

the requested information. HTA’s Executive 

Assistant and report compiler, Brody Johnson, 

then produced a superb Quarterly Handle 

at HTA Tracks, 2004-2007, with select Advanced 

Deposit Wagering handle included for comparative 

purposes. It is being distributed today to 

HTA directors only. The June report, which 

includes data for nine ADWs, was compiled in 

typical Brody Johnson style, comprehensive and 

accompanied by colorful graphs and charts. We 

are proud of the report and of Brody, and will 

continue working on similar reports of value to 

our directors. 

MANZI AT 13K AND COUNTING 

Catello (Cat) Manzi, still tearing up tracks at 

57, won his 13,000th career driving victory last 

night at the Meadowlands. The indestructible 

Manzi, who recently won his 20th driving title at 

Freehold Raceway, has been driving for 40 years, 

and now trails only Herve Filion in number 

of winning drives. Filion has won 15,174 

races and plans to retire next year. Happily, 

Cat has announced no such plans. 

THE ROONEY REPORT 

Four of the five Rooney brothers who manage the 

sports empire left by their father Art have hired 

New York’s famed investment firm Goldman, 

Sachs & company to assist them in establishing 

a pricetag on their Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, 

which was bought in 1933 by Art for $3,500 and 

now is valued at somewhere between $800 million 

and $1.2 billion. The four brothers -- Tim 

of Yonkers Raceway fame, twins John and Pat of 

the Palm Beach Kennel Club, and Art Jr. -- each 

own a reported 16% share in the Steelers, and 

their brother Dan, who runs the team, is trying 

to find a way to buy them out. So far his efforts 

have failed, but the Rooneys, presenting a solid 

front, issued a statement on their 80% ownership 

interest in the Steelers, saying, “These family 

discussions will not have any impact on the 

team this season or in seasons to come, and we 

look forward to the Rooney family’s continued 

involvement in the franchise.” 

IT PAYS TO HAVE FRIENDS 

The embattled greyhound tracks of Massachusetts, 

facing extinction at the ballot box in November, 

have found a powerful political friend. 

State Rep. David Flynn says he is drafting a proposal 

to save them, even if voters turn them out, 

by providing them carte blanche on simulcasting. 

Under Flynn’s proposals, both of the tracks 

-- Wonderland in Revere and Raynham Taunton 

-- would be allowed to have unlimited and unrestricted 

ability to simulcast whatever signals they 

want, from wherever they want, whenever they 

want. “I think we have to work out something 

with some sort of unlimited simulcasting,” Flynn 

told the Boston Herald, adding that it was no 

cinch that voters, who came close to banning dog 

racing in 2000, would not succeed this time. “I 

can’t tell you,” Flynn said, “that the dogs won’t 

lose at the ballot box. They most certainly 

may.”





July 11, 2008 

CENTAUR SUFFERS SETBACK 

The refusal of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control 

Board to license Centaur Gaming’s Valley View 

Downs has dealt a body blow to the huge track 

and entertainment project. Facing a Tuesday, 

July 15 licensing deadline, Centaur is fighting 

to hold on to its $955 million loan from Credit 

Suisse and other banks, with $455 million of 

that money set aside for construction of Valley 

View. The Gaming Control Board voted 7-0 not 

to grant approval, saying its investigation is not 

complete. Centaur attorneys said four months 

ago that “Since obtaining financing, financial 

markets have further deteriorated, and the likelihood 

of obtaining relief is very, very low, and 

there is no prospect of obtaining financing on 

the same, or possibly any, terms.” The Control 

Board members, claiming they had not had time 

(how much time is enough?) to complete their investigation, 

said they “regretfully” could not approve 

the project even though they understand 

the projected economic impact on the area, where 

there is a 5.7% unemployment rate, a half point 

higher than Pennsylvania as a whole. The racino 

was expected to add 2,000 construction jobs 

and 1,000 permanent positions, which would 

make Valley View the second largest employer 

in Lawrence county. A Centaur spokesperson, 

Susan Kilkenny, said Centaur was disappointed 

but encouraged that the Control Board said its 

investigation “was almost done,” and added that 

Centaur now “is focusing all our energy toward 

working with our lenders.” Gaming Board members 

said their decision does not mean the proposed 

track and casino is dead, it simply means 

the board was not yet prepared to make a decision, 

and had no choice but to deny Centaur’s 

license request until its investigation is complete, 

even though Centaur has passed investigations 

in two other states. Centaur’s deal with a 

consortium of banks calls for it to receive 

the $50 million license to move forward. 

ILLINOIS HOUSE SAYS NO 

On another battlefront, the bitter political struggle 

between Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich 

and House Speaker Michael Madigan continues, 

with Madigan gaining a victory in a 55-47 vote 

to turn down a $34 billion statewide construction 

program. The governor proposes a capital 

program to rebuild roads and bridges, update 

schools and make other needed infrastructure repairs, 

but Madigan called it “a dead issue” after 

the vote. He told reporters, “Under the current 

conditions that exist in Illinois -- the difficulty in 

all the parties working together -- my view is that 

the proposal for the expansion of gaming [which 

the governor proposes to pay for the rebuilding] 

is a dead issue” after this vote. Racing interests 

had hoped the state’s need for money to pay for 

the work would lead to legislative approval of 

the gaming expansion bill, but Madigan closed 

that door in the House. The Senate already had 

approved the measure, which needed 71 votes in 

the House and fell 24 votes short. 

SCI GAMES, CAL IN ACCORD 

Scientific Games Racing and the California 

Horse Racing Board have reached agreement on 

resolving the Quick-Pick software glitch. The 

company has disabled such betting “until such 

time, if ever, Quick-Pick betting is allowed by the 

CHRB.” Sci Games will pay $150,000 to racing 

charities and $50,000 to the CHRB for investigating 

expenses, and will issue refunds to bettors 

who placed Quick-Pick bets at the company’s 

BetJet terminals in California between July 1, 

2007 and May 17, 2008, on submission of legitimate 

ticket or other proof, from now until June 

2, 2009. CHRB chairman Richard Shapiro announced 

that the board “had found no evidence 

of intentional misconduct in the programming 

glitch nor do we find any effort to conceal the error 

from the public,” and was pleased with 

SGR’s cooperation in ending the matter.


FUTURE BETS AGAIN ON JUG 

Three separate four-day future betting sessions 

have been scheduled for this year’s Little Brown 

Jug classic for 3-year-old pacers. The Jug itself 

will be raced Sept. 18 at the Delaware County 

fairgrounds in Ohio, but handicappers can try 

their hand at outsmarting the odds starting late 

next week. The first future bets will be taken 

from noon Thursday, July 24, through 11:30 

p.m. July 27, the weekend following the million 

dollar Meadowlands Pace. A second four-day 

future book opportunity will come a month later, 

from Aug. 21 thru Aug. 24, the weekend after the 

Battle of Brandywine at Harrah’s Chester and 

the week before the Cane Pace at Freehold. The 

final opportunity comes Sept. 14, four days before 

the Jug, after the post position draw on Saturday 

morning Sept. 13. Last year Tell All, the 

ultimate Jug winner, paid $18 in the first pool, 

$28.20 in the second, and $8.60 in the third. A $2 

bet the colt on Jug Day last year produced a $6 

winner. To increase chances for owners of Jug 

hopefuls, the winner of the Cane Pace final at 

Freehold can be supplemented to the Jug, which 

will be the second leg of the Triple Crown in this 

year’s configuration. 

KENO ‘COCAINE’ SET IN OHIO 

Ohio bars, bowling alleys, social clubs and, yes, 

tracks are preparing to welcome “the crack cocaine 

of gambling” to Ohio. Keno, supported 

by a governor who did not want slots at racetracks, 

gets underway three weeks from today, 

with games every four minutes. Commissions to 

bar owners are projected to average more than 

$13,000 a year, based on a 6.2% retention for 

the businesses that will handle them. GTech, the 

primary vendor, has sold $18 million worth of 

monitors and other keno equipment to the Ohio 

state lottery, which will operate the games. 

Not everyone is thrilled, and not all bars 

and taverns are jumping in initially, but 

the numbers game is expected to spread. 




July 14, 2008 

Some big chains, like T.G.I. Friday’s and Applebee’s, 

will not install keno, citing corporate 

policy, and Wal-Mart and Target do not sell lottery 

tickets at all, their corporate philosophy not 

sending them in that direction. 

PRAISE, THANKS FOR THE SUN 

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, lauded with 

lavish praise as a solid community neighbor 

and driver of the local economy, opens an even 

bigger and brighter era this week. The eastern 

Pennsylvania track unveils its Project Sunrise, a 

$208 million expansion project that offers 2,500 

slot machines, 16 restaurants and food stations, 

retail shops and boutiques, all housed in a sparkling 

new 409 thousand square-foot facility. Local 

residents, appreciative of the track and racino’s 

weekly payroll for 1,200, realize 700 new 

hires have been added this year, chosen from 

5,000 who attended a job fair that was held in a 

Wachovia Arena in the Wilkes-Barre area. Mohegan 

Sun CEO and HTA director Bobby Soper, 

discussing the economic impact of the track, told 

reporters, “With 1,200 employees, that’s a lot of 

wages and disposable income. Our goal is to really 

make Northeast Pennsylvania successful in 

the long term, and whatever we can do to help 

the local businesses and local vendors, we’ll certainly 

strive to do that.” Merchants in the immediate 

track area and its access highways report 

an 8 to 10% increase in business. A hotel 

room tax of 5% produced $1.66 million last year, 

and through May of this year has added another 

$617,891. One hotel operations director, who 

offers package deals including shuttle busses to 

the track, said of the track and racino, “We love 

them.” When was the last time you heard that 

kind of talk? The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber 

of Business and Industry president Todd 

Vonderheid says, “Mohegan Sun is making a significant 

contribution to the growth and future 

of this entire region.” Total slot play in the 

state now has passed $1 billion.





July 15, 2008 

BOUMA SLAMS ONTARIO PLAN 

Jerry Bouma, the forceful leader of Northlands 

Park in Edmonton who lowered the boom on 

harness racing in the province recently, yesterday 

became the second major figure in Canadian 

racing to speak out strongly against proposals for 

an Ontario “racing secretariat” and a governing 

body to be called Harness Racing Ontario. David 

Willmot, Bouma’s counterpart at Woodbine 

Entertainment, slammed the idea immediately 

when it was introduced last month. One of the 

proposals suggested in the plan is to cut racetracks 

revenues from slot machines by half, and 

Bouma told the Toronto Globe and Mail’s Beverley 

Smith that doing that could have “devastating 

consequences.” Bouma called it “odd” that 

the Ontario government apparently was following 

the lead of the private Horse Racing Alberta, 

saying that body was “not all goodness and 

light” and the model is not working. Bouma’s 

grievance is that the group usurps decisions that 

he feels are management prerogatives, and says 

HRA has no business accountability and suffers 

no direct consequences of its decisions. 

Horse Racing Alberta chairman David Reid did 

not take Bouma’s remarks lightly. He called 

them “rhetoric” and told Ms. Smith, “ While they 

[track operators] are busy criticizing the model 

and the operation, they were part of the operation 

and the model. They’ve been part of every 

decision.” Also heard from in Ms. Smith’s story 

was George Brookman, president and chairman 

of Stampede Park in Calgary, a city where plans 

for construction of a huge new racing complex 

have stalled. Speaking of the hard realities of 

the game and of backers of that project, he said, 

“Their dream is that thousands of people will 

come to the track and watch horses race. The 

reality is that a huge percentage of them don’t 

come to the track. They sit in betting parlors 

to watch a horse race.” Brookman 

says racing needs a new business model. 

ye gads! ANOTHER TETRICK! 

Ye gads! One has torn the sport apart, winning 

races at an unprecedented record rate. 

Now comes another, roaring out of nowhere-- 

or more accurately out of Geff, Illinois, which 

is right next door to nowhere. Driver Tim Tetrick 

rewrote harness racing’s record books last 

year, driving the winners of 1,188 races. He has 

stormed back again this year, winning 542 races 

to date and standing second in national standings 

behind Tony Morgan’s 555. Now his 21-year-old 

brother Trace has become the youngest driver 

or jockey ever to win a championship in Hoosier 

Park’s 15-year-history. The youngest of three 

Tetrick driving brothers, Trace started with 

family horses, switched to catch driving, and enjoyed 

his first full season of driving at 18 three 

years ago. He moved to Chicago, then Bluegrass 

Downs in Kentucky, then back to the county 

fairs in Illinois, then to Colonial Downs in Virginia. 

He followed Tim’s path through Hoosier 

Park and Indiana Downs, first winning 26 races 

at Hoosier in 2006, then 65 last year, and he won 

the driving title this year with 116 victories. He 

wrapped up the 2008 Hoosier meeting winning 

four on closing night, including both $23,000 invitationals 

on trot and pace, and setting a track 

record for 2-year-olds of 1:52.1. His 2008 total 

of 212 winning drives puts him 22d in the nation. 

He was Indiana Downs’ leading driver last year 

and is at that track now defending his title. 

CENTAUR’S $$$ CRISIS TODAY 

Today is dollar day for Centaur Gaming, the 

deadline set by New York banks for financing the 

huge project to build a harness track, racino and 

entertainment complex in far western Pennsylvania. 

The state Gaming Control Board says it 

hasn’t had enough time to make a decision, but 

a Centaur lawyer told the Pittsburgh Tribune- 

Review, “This whole project could go up in 

smoke.”





July 16, 2008 

ROSECROFT ENDS LIVE RACES 

More bad news for harness racing. With Hippodrome 

de Montreal now closed by bankruptcy 

and Northlands Park abandoning harness, 

Rosecroft Raceway told the Maryland Racing 

Commission yesterday it could not continue presenting 

live racing. The commission granted a 

request by Kelley Rogers, president of Cloverleaf 

Enterprises that operates the track, to end 

live racing but continue to offer harness and 

thoroughbred simulcasting at the Washington 

area track. Rosecroft had been racing only two 

nights a week since February 1, and Rogers said 

it could no longer continue even that schedule. 

“Nobody wants live racing to end in the state 

of Maryland, but our economics leave us no 

choice,” Rogers told the commission. “With Delaware, 

West Virginia and Pennsylvania having 

slots, we were getting killed.” The track plans 

to hold some Maryland sire stakes and breeding 

fund events in November and December, and its 

fate will be determined at the polls in November, 

when Maryland voters cast their ballots on 

the racino issue. Rosecroft was not named as a 

site for one, but under the Maryland proposal 

before voters it would share in slots proceeds if 

they are voted in. Racing commission chairman 

John Franzone, presiding at yesterday’s meeting, 

said, “If the referendum doesn’t pass, Rosecroft 

is done. If the referendum fails, Rosecroft 

could be an apartment complex.” 

William E. Miller, an old line Maryland harness 

horseman, founded Rosecroft 59 years ago, 

and first he and then his son John and grandson 

Bill ran it for three generations. The track, always 

an HTA stalwart, went through a number 

of ownership changes after Bill Miller sold his 

interest, the most recent being a unique arrangement 

in which the horsemen members of 

Cloverleaf Enterprises owned and operated 

the track. 

NEW ERA AT PENN NATIONAL 

Concerned about the health and welfare of its 

widespread horse colony, Penn National Gaming 

announced yesterday that it was implementing 

proactive new initiatives on equipment and 

steroids. The company, second largest owner of 

pari-mutuel racing facilities in North America, 

said it was introducing new rules on riding crops 

used by thoroughbred jockeys and on toe grabs 

worn by runners on their front feet. The moves 

follow recommendations for the changes by the 

Thoroughbred Safety Committee of The Jockey 

Club. Penn National vice president of racing 

Chris McErlean said the company “endorses and 

embraces The Jockey Club recommendations as 

sound steps toward ensuring the health and welfare 

of our equine participants.” McErlean said 

that in addition to the limiting of toe grabs and 

whip restrictions, Penn National would actively 

promote the adoption of permanent rules and 

regulations for those items with regulators in all 

jurisdictions where its tracks are located. He 

said Penn National had identified several other 

areas where information, uniformity and cooperation 

are needed to achieve additional results 

to benefit the industry, and it expects that other 

responsible pari-mutuel facility owners and industry 

leaders will follow Penn National’s actions. 

The leadership move is meaningful and 

significant, since Penn National owns and operates 

19 facilities in 15 jurisdictions, including 

Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, 

Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, 

New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia 

and Ontario. Its tracks conduct over 1,000 days 

of racing a year, and total wagering at its parimutuel 

facilities exceeded $850 million last year. 

Its growth has been a huge success story, starting 

with its flagship track near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 

14 years ago and now offering all major 

forms of racing in America -- harness, thoroughbred, 

quarter horse and greyhounds.





July 17, 2008 

THE SUN ALSO RISES 

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs opened its $208 

million racino expansion at 10 o’clock this morning, 

and officials think the opening will mark a 

new era in entertainment and gambling in the 

northeast Pennsylvania resort area. The new facility 

contains restaurants, retail shops and slot 

machines -- 2,000 of them -- and CEO and HTA 

director Bobby Soper says he expects Mohegan 

Sun’s attendance, which has been averaging 

roughly 6,000 a day, to build to 10,000 as word 

of mouth spreads. 

Across the state, meanwhile, officials of Centaur’s 

Valley View Downs are keeping their fingers 

crossed for a quick and favorable end to the 

background check that has threatened financing 

of the company’s proposed $455 million harness 

track and racino near the Ohio-Pennsylvania 

state line. Although the deadline for financing 

by Credit Suisse and other banks expired yesterday, 

Centaur announced this morning that 

discussions with the lenders continue, and “additional 

details will be available when we have 

a resolution.” The Gaming Control Board said 

it needed more information than it has to issue 

a gaming license to Centaur, even though the 

company is licensed in Indiana and other states, 

and its chairwoman made clear that the rejection 

at a hearing last Monday did not mean the 

board would not ultimately license Valley View 

Downs. Whether it does so soon enough to save 

the financing remains to be seen. No mention has 

been made of any temporary license while the 

board’s investigators wrap up their work, but 

that would seem a logical job-saving approach 

and economic stimulant in the depressed area of 

western Pennsylvania. In Detroit, meanwhile, 

Jerry Campbell plans to open his unfinished Pinnacle 

Race Course for thoroughbred racing next 

to the city’s Metropolitan Airport tomorrow. 

A Corporate Pavilion seating 500 is 

the only permanent structure completed. 

IN MARYLAND, TOO 

The Maryland Racing Commission, taking a 

pragmatic approach, told Rosecroft Raceway 

this week that it can operate full time simulcasting 

for up to two years without conducting live 

racing at the suburban Washington, DC, track. 

Officials of Cloverleaf Enterprises say they 

think their chances of finishing the year in the 

black are good, given a half-million dollar saving 

in not paying purses and a million more in 

cutbacks in staff and operating costs. CEO Ted 

Snell told the racing commission that it was not 

economically feasible to structure a meaningful 

purse schedule and still meet operating expenses. 

The board agreed and granted Rosecroft the 

2-year moratorium on live racing. If slots pass 

in the November election, and economic conditions 

seem to indicate they have a good chance to 

do so, Rosecroft would receive a large infusion 

of cash under a revenue-sharing provision even 

though it is not the site of a proposed racino. 

THEN THERE’S CALIFORNIA 

Ah, the whirl of it all. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger 

turned the stage giddy yesterday by naming 

actress Bo Derek and television producer 

and former sports columnist David Israel to the 

California Horse Racing Board. Ms. Derek is a 

longtime animal activist and lobbyist for worthy 

causes, and also becomes the first former Playboy 

model to become a racing commissioner. 

The lady has a mind, having authored a book, 

operated an upscale pet supply business, and 

having been a special envoy to the U.S. Secretary 

of State. Elsewhere in California, TVG has 

ended the noble experiment of free-for-all simulcasting 

signals, failing to agree to terms with Del 

Mar and refusing to relinquish exclusivity rights. 

Del Mar made it clear its TVG contract will not 

be renewed next year. The Los Angeles Times, 

meanwhile, which earlier let star racing writer 

Bill Christine go, now has cut racing writers 

Larry Stewart and Bob Mieszerski.





July 18, 2008 

NJSEA: WE’LL TAKE THE DEAL 

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority 

voted unanimously yesterday to accept the 

Atlantic City casinos’ 3-year, $90 million support 

package in return for foregoing slots at the 

state’s tracks. The agreement maintains the status 

quo in the state, and allows the Meadowlands 

to maintain its stature as the sport’s anchor track 

worldwide. 

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL IN KY 

The governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, soundly 

beaten by his legislature on the issue of slots at 

tracks a few months ago, said yesterday he does 

not think the issue is dead. “I think we will be 

talking about it a lot more,” he told constituents 

in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky in the first 

of 13 town hall meetings he is holding around 

the state. The governor still thinks 12 racinos 

and casinos could reap $600 million a year for 

the state, and says he does not expect to find serious 

opposition to the idea in his statewide tour. 

“We’re going to listen to people as we go around 

the state,” Beshear said. “Certainly, if we find 

out there’s no support for it, there won’t be any 

reason to bring it up. I don’t think that’s what 

we’ll find. I think a whole lot of people want 

a chance to vote on it if nothing else.” As for 

the legislature in Frankfort, the governor said, 

“People are so interested in fighting each other 

that they can’t get together and do what’s right. 

It’s just been bickering back and forth, arguing 

back and forth, and getting nothing done.” One 

opponent of gambling in Virgie, the town where 

the governor opened his town hall tour, was the 

Rev. John Doug Hays, a former state senator who 

now, interestingly enough, is pastor of Jack’s 

Creek Baptist Church. He likened the governor’s 

proposal to the legalization of prostitution 

in Nevada, and said Kentuckians need 

“to draw a moral line in the sand.” He 

spoke as a minister, we presume, and not 

in his former role as a politician. 

GAS PRICES ARE NOT ALONE 

With the government apparently unable to stem 

the meteoric rise in gasoline prices, expect to see 

more stories about gas station thefts. And while 

you’re at it, keep an eye on your horse statues as 

well. Thieves cut off and hauled away a 12-foot 

high, one-ton horse statue on the site of the old 

Garden State racetrack last week, one of a pair 

that was left as a memento of the glitzy track 

that used to occupy what now is a major development. 

Police are checking on scrap metal dealers 

in the Cherry Hill, NJ - South Philadelphia 

area, where bronze currently is selling for $1.95 

a pound, making the stolen statue worth $4,000 

or more. 

OUELLETTE HURT, SIDELINED 

Luc Ouellette, one of harness racing’s leading 

drivers, will be out of action longer than expected 

from the broken arm he suffered in a driving 

accident at Flamboro Downs a week ago. A bone 

specialist told Ouellette he will need surgery to 

repair the arm, and that it will require him to 

be sidelined for a month or more. Luc is hoping 

to return in time for eliminations for the Metro 

pace, Canada’s richest event for 2-year-old pacers, 

late in August. 

RICH PRIZES THIS WEEKEND 

The Meadowlands Pace is America’s richest 

horse race this weekend with the hottest harness 

horse in the world, Somebeachsomewhere, oddson 

to win it and remain undefeated. Drivers 

also have a shot at big money, however, as Tioga 

Downs presents its second Drivers’ Championship, 

carrying a first prize of $25,000 and $15,000 

more for placings. The field includes the world’s 

leading single season winner, Tim Tetrick; Brian 

Sears; 4-time HTA driving champion Tony Morgan; 

Ron Pierce; Andy Miller; Canada’s Jody 

Jamieson; Yannick Gingras; Eric Goodall; 

and Tioga champion Howard Parker.





July 21, 2008 

CAL BOARD CLAMPS DOWN 

While others talk and discuss and debate, the 

California Horse Racing Board last week made 

good on its promise to outlaw all steroids in the 

state. By moving up the “holy four” -- testosterone, 

boldenone, nandrolone and stanozolol -- that 

are allowed in most jurisdictions, into a higher 

category that provides disqualification and automatic 

suspension, the board moved the dialogue 

to a new level. With guidelines developed by the 

board’s equine medical director Dr. Rick Arthur 

and Dr. Scott Stanley of the Ken Maddy Laboratory 

at the University of California Davis, 

the board sends to the Office of Administrative 

Law for approval a program with very big teeth. 

When it becomes effective, this plan provides 

for disqualification of the horse and a minimum 

30-day suspension for its trainer. Until approval, 

warnings will be issued, but once approved Dr. 

Arthur told horsemen, “We are prepared to take 

the next step. It’s going to be a different ballgame 

in the future.” The board also outlawed 

heel nerving in horses, and no heel-nerved horse 

will be allowed to race in California. It was interesting 

that the Thoroughbred Owners of California 

opposed this rule, arguing that California 

should wait for a national policy. Chairman 

Shapiro said California had waited long enough 

and it was time to act, and vice chairman Harris 

agreed, saying, “It’s time to get this behind us 

and move on.” The board, continuing its crusading 

ways, indicated it plans to allow horses 

to race unshod with proper public notice, since 

some runners seem to perform better that way 

on the synthetic surfaces mandated at California’s 

major tracks. The board also took time 

to welcome its latest members, actress-activist 

Bo Derek and television producer and former 

sports writer David Israel. Their appointment 

by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week 

brought the board to its full complement 

of seven members. 

BETFAIR REARS HEAD AGAIN 

Guess who came to dinner at the HBPA’s summer 

meeting in Hershey, PA? Betfair, still seeking 

the crack in the American market door. Tom 

Lamarra, reporting on the appearance in Blood- 

Horse, says Betfair claims it is actively negotiating 

with the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group. 

THG president Bob Reeves told Lamarra there 

has been “ongoing dialogue,” but acknowledges 

that the HBPA “hasn’t been together on it 

because there is a lack of understanding of how 

Betfair operates.” Peter Probert, Betfair’s security 

chief, massaged the horsemen, telling them, 

“The company recognizes you guys put on the 

event. The opportunity is there. It’s down to 

negotiations between the company and the authorities.” 

No mention of where the race tracks 

that present the show fit into Betfair’s plans, 

other than mention that “a proposal on the table 

would compensate the U.S. racing industry for 

wagers made on its races in other countries.” 

Until Betfair offers a meaningful reimbursement 

plan, it is in racing’s best interest to keep it a 

continent or two away, preferably on the other 

side of the world. 

Don Clippinger, reporting on the HBPA meeting, 

wrote that its board voted yesterday to create a 

model rules working group “to engage in dialogue” 

with the Association of Racing Commissioners 

rulesmaking committee “to craft regulations 

that meet the needs of horse owners and 

trainers.” If it liked the way rulesmaking was 

going, it would help to win approval at the state 

level. If it did not, presumably it would oppose 

the rules. 

DOVER SEEKS RACING SECY 

Dover Downs is seeking applicants for its Racing 

Secretary’s job for the 40th anniversary season 

opening Oct. 26. It is a seasonal job stretching 

133 days until April 9, 2009. Contact John 

Hensley, Sr. Director of Horse Racing, 

at 302-857-3234, jhensley@doverdowns.





July 22, 2008 

A $12 MILLION DIFFERENCE 

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs opened its sparkling 

new racino last Thursday, and basked in 

the glow of nearly 2,500 slots and shopping amenities. 

Play for the Friday-Sunday weekend was 

$32 million, up $12 million over each of the two 

previous weekends. CEO Bobby Soper was cautionary 

in his approach to the windfall. “It’s a 

very good start,” he said. “Of course, any time 

you open a new property there’s a curiosity factor.” 

Of course there is, but if the curious like 

what they see -- and Mohegan Sun’s weekend 

patrons were lavish in their praise for the facility 

-- they are likely to be back. One woman happily 

playing the new slots summed it up, saying, of 

the 300,000 square-foot permanent racino with 

its restaurants and shops, “This place adds a lot 

of class to this valley.” One new restaurant, the 

Tuscany themed Rustic Kitchen, averaged 500 

meals served on the first three days, and it and 

other businesses in the racino quickly convened 

a job fair for Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. to hire 

additional help. Other slots are being moved 

from the temporary casino, which will remain 

open with some 350 slots. 

The new facility has impacted the nearby Mount 

Airy Casino Resort, which experienced a $3 million 

weekend drop in play, down to $25 million 

from $28 million the week before and $33 million 

on Fourth of July weekend. It also has had an 

impact on the Pennsylvania lottery, whose revenues 

have been declining, down to $928 million 

last year from a high of $968 million. One House 

Republican, Steve Miskin, called the continued 

drop “a huge concern,” noting that only seven 

casinos currently are open in the state, but 14 are 

permitted by law and most likely will be open 

in two or three years. Play habits are changing 

too, from terminal-based games such as 

Powerball to instant games, which have 

slightly lower profit margin for the state. 

A NEW SLOTS BILL FOR KY 

A Democratic state representative, Tom Burch, 

has told the Louisville Courier-Journal that he 

plans to file a bill in the state legislature next 

year that would allow up to 18,000 slot machines 

in the state, including racinos at Kentucky’s 

eight licensed racetracks. Although he has introduced 

VLT legislation previously, this effort 

will not seek an amendment of the state constitution, 

in part because the earliest that could be 

done would be November of 2010. Burch says 

he will present the new bill without that provision, 

enabling a vote by the state legislature and 

governor Steve Beshear. Any county that wished 

to have slots could do so if voters in that county 

approved. Burch says 6,000 of the 18,000 slots 

he proposes would be available to tracks, with a 

minimum of 500 each and more based on number 

of racing days. “Everyone gets a piece of the 

pie, and if this doesn’t pull the industry together, 

then there’s something wrong,” Burch said. 

Another influential legislator, Democrat Greg 

Stumbo, announced earlier that he would introduce 

legislation proposing slot-like machines to 

be introduced on a test basis at tracks to explore 

their long-term feasibility without amending the 

state constitution. 

HEADS YOU LOSE; TAILS TOO 

It didn’t take long for police in Cherry Hill, NJ, 

to round up four men they accused of stealing a 

one-ton equine statue from the grounds of what 

once was Garden State Park and now is a major 

residential complex. The four used a backhoe 

parked by complex employees to demolish and 

haul off the equestrian statue, and police correctly 

figured there were limited outlets for the 

scrap bronze. They checked, and arrested four 

suspects, and are looking for various parts of the 

bronze that have been scattered -- some buried -- 

in the south Philadelphia area. An officer said, 

“Some people have no regard for anything 

except the dollar sign and decimal point.”


HTA ART CATALOGUE ONLINE 

Harness Tracks of America’s 31st annual art 

catalogue, featuring 200 oil paintings, watercolors, 

bronzes, and woodcarvings, will be posted 

later today on the home page of the HTA Web 

site, www.harnesstracks.com. The print version, 

40 pages in full color, will be available the second 

week in August, and 25,000 copies will be distributed, 

including those bound into the September 

issue of Hoof Beats magazine. 

This project has supported the funding of the 

HTA College Scholarship program for three decades. 

If each member track were to buy one 

piece of art, it would be hugely helpful to that 

worthy cause. Look over the catalogue and select 

something that you would like for your office, 

home or stable. The price range is from $250 to 

$25,000, and there are some real art treasures in 

this year’s show and auction. They include: 

A magnificent oil painting by the noted James 

McAuliffe of Dexter under saddle, circa 1867, 

the painting accompanied by a whip presented 

by Dexter’s owner New York publisher Robert 

Bonner to rider John Murphy with a sterling silver 

inlay. 

A companion oil on canvas by McAuliffe of the 

legendary Goldsmith Maid, regarded by historian 

John Hervey as “the most extraordinary of 

all trotting champions.” 

Superb bronzes, one of Ethan Allen, the first 2:30 

trotter, and his driver Dan Mace, the first “Wizard 

of the Reins,” the work of the gifted Kansas 

sculptor Maretta Kennedy, and an international 

first prize winning bronze of the early 1900s by 

Walter Winans called The American Trotter, ordered 

recast as a commissioned work by 

Delvin Miller for his collection of trotting 

art. 




July 23, 2008 

An incredible carved hobbled pacer, of beautiful 

mahogany, perfect in detail. 

More than 50 Currier & Ives and Haskell & 

Allen prints of famous horses of the 1800s, and 

some real rarities: American Winter Scene; A Disputed 

Heat; Ready for the Trot; the four seasons 

of An American Homestead, selling as a set; half 

a dozen of the best comic pairs ever published 

by Currier & Ives; paired prints of both Currier 

& Ives and Haskell & Allen’s Going to the Trot 

and Coming from the Trot; and the hard-to-find 

The Last War Whoop, a western theme Currier & 

Ives that sells for $7,000 on the New York market, 

when it can be found. 

Mementos, trophies and photos from the estate 

of the legendary Stanley Dancer, including two 

magnificent oil paintings of Albatross and Keystone 

Ore, both commissioned from famous 

equine artist Richard Stone Reeves. 

A large oil painting by internationally known 

New England artist Rita Guzzi, titled Dan Patch 

Days: An Afternoon in the Park with Dan. 

Work by HTA favorites like Zenon Aniszewski, 

the Polish cavalry officer-artist; Russian architect-painter 

Svetlana Gadjieva; Ohio star David 

Pavlak; miniaturist Jo Hodos; Joan MacIntyre; 

woodcarver Paul Naslund; and the final works 

of retired master woodcarver John Kittelson, a 

perennial leader in HTA auctions for 20 years. 

Two original works by the great George Ford 

Morris, one a large charcoal of Man O’ War. 

A stunning feature of the show is one of the most 

unique equine art works ever done in America. 

It is a large horse’s head, welded together of fabricated 

steel, spectacular in scope and creative 

vision, by Lea Ann Cogswell. It deserves the catalogue 

front cover that HTA bestowed.





July 24, 2008 

THE PAIN AND STRAIN SHOWS 

The reality of the end of live racing at Rosecroft in 

Maryland, Hippodrome in Montreal, and Northlands 

in Edmonton, Alberta, now is descending 

on the people affected most: the horsemen who 

have raced at those tracks. Stories are surfacing 

in all three locations outlining the travails of 

horsemen who are either cutting back, moving 

to new locations, or getting out of the business. 

The Gazette, part of the Maryland Community 

Newspapers Online service, featured a story of 

the financial troubles of William (Bib) Roberts, 

one of the area’s best known trainers, and John 

Wagner, a perennial leader on the Maryland circuit. 

Roberts, 59, told the news service, “I guess, 

like a lot of people, I’ll have to move and sell most 

of my horses. I’m not sure what will happen to 

my place [a 21-acre farm in Brandywine that he 

has been trying to sell for a year in a sluggish 

market] although I’m sure it will be subdivided 

into seven or eight lots.” Wagner, who has 75 

or 80 horses in training at various tracks in the 

Mid-Atlantic area, said he planned to cut back 

to 30 or so and sell the rest. “They can’t make 

any money now,” he said. “It’s really tough for 

the small owners and trainers. Most of them will 

move or just get out of the business.” 

In Montreal, racing writer Paul Delean wrote a 

scathing article suggesting the experts at Loto- 

Quebec, who set up new equipment and regulations 

next to Attraction Hippiques tracks in 

Quebec City and Trois Rivieres that gamblers 

scorned and that returned only 30% of projections, 

might install that system in Montreal. “If 

it leaves bar operators and Loto-Quebec several 

million dollars short at the end of the year, so 

be it,” he wrote tongue in cheek. “Maybe somebody 

else can share the racing industry’s pain, 

for the greater good.” 

In Kansas City, Kansas, The Woodlands 

cancelled its fall thoroughbred meeting. 

BUT HARRINGTON IS HAPPY 

All racing clouds are not dark. In Delaware, 

where the slots clang ceaselessly, Harrington 

Raceway holds its biggest day today, offering 

four $100,000 Delaware Breeders Fund stakes 

and the $40,000 Governor’s Cup and $30,000 

Legislator’s Cup. Juanita, a trotting filly with 14 

wins in 16 starts, is one of the stars of the day. 

HEY, EASY ON BAD TRAINERS 

A New York state Supreme Court justice has 

overruled the state Racing and Wagering Board 

in a decision that rewards rather than punishes 

illegal behavior. The court ruled for owners 

who complained about alleged due process violations 

because their horses, drug free but trained 

by trainers with multiple drug infractions, had 

been subject to pre-race detention. The court 

said that was unconstitutional, and the racing 

board was wrong in mandating that such horses 

could be subject to pre-race detention. The case 

was brought by Sandy Goldfarb, Bob Sumner, 

Frank Canzone, Troy Stables, Tarek Kazal and 

Donna Kemming. 

ADIOS AT POCONO, GUYS 

A reminder to horsemen that the Adios moves for 

this year from The Meadows to Mohegan Sun at 

Pocono, and declarations for Adios 42 will close 

this Saturday morning, July 26, at 10 a.m. EDT. 

The race office will be open from 8 to 10 a.m. 

Saturday. If eliminations are necessary, they 

will be drawn on Tuesday, July 29, with eliminations 

on Friday, August 1. The Adios final goes 

Saturday, Aug. 9. 

ON THE PERSONNEL FRONT 

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway announced promotions 

this week. Rita Cox moves to Senior VP 

of Marketing; Don Braim to Senior VP Racing 

Operations; Alex Tucker to Senior VP gaming 

and Finance; and Skip Carlson to VP of 

External Affairs and customer services.





BIG M MILLION IN CLASSICS 

The Meadowlands will be paying a cool one million 

dollars in purses tomorrow night, and that’s 

just for four races. The rich quartet are the four 

$250,000 finals of the Classic Series for older 

horses, and as expected, fulfilling the purpose of 

the series, they have attracted the sport’s best 

free-for-allers. The Pacing Classic, seventh race 

on the card, features Artistic Fella, last week’s 

third leg winner Eagle Luck, and Mr. Feelgood. 

The Classic Oaks for trotting mares, 10th race 

on the card, has drawn new millionairess Falls 

for You, a winner in the third leg in a blistering 

1:52.2 record mile, her stablemate Godiva Hall, 

and Up Front Hotsy leading the cast. The Classic 

Distaff, providing $250,000 for pacing mares, 

is race eleven, and the favorite is My Little 

Dragon, a winner of two preliminary legs, and 

her arch rival Darlins’ Delight and Enhance the 

Night. The $250,000 finale, for older male trotters, 

brings out the best in the country, led by 

last week’s winner, Sam Bowie’s Before He 

Cheats, with Arch Madness, Corleone Kosmos 

and Vivid Photo returning to action after three 

months on the sidelines with injuries. All four Classic 

finals will be raced at a mile and a sixteenth. 

Also on Saturday’s card are eliminations for the 

Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks for 3-yearolds, 

the first bringing out the undefeated 

Deweycheatumnhowe and the Oaks field led by 

last year’s dominant juvenile champion Snow 

White. Total purses for the Saturday night Meadowlands 

program are $1,386,500. 

TIOGA OFFERS $40K TO DRIVERS 

Tioga Downs’ second annual Drivers’ Championship 

will be contested in six nine-horse races Sunday, 

with Tim Tetrick, Brian Sears, Yannick 

Gingras, Andy Miller, Ron Pierce, Howard 

Parker and Jody Jamieson competing. 

The winner will receive a first prize of 

$25,000. 

July 25, 2008 

AN EXTENSION IN MONTREAL 

Attractions Hippiques, battling for its corporate 

life in Montreal where it has ended live racing at 

Hippodrome de Montreal, has been granted a 75- 

day extension by a Quebec court in its creditor 

protection plan to give it additional time to reorganize. 

The creditor protection program that became 

effective earlier this month was referred to 

earlier here in Executive Newsletter erroneously 

as bankruptcy. The company is not bankrupt, but 

has been granted protection under Canada’s Companies’ 

Creditors Arrangement Act, similar to 

Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Attractions 

Hippiques has suspended live racing at Hippodrome, 

but continues racing at its three tracks in 

Aylmer, Quebec City and Three Rivers and all 

simulcast operations, including those at Hippodrome 

de Montreal. We wish them well in their 

reorganization efforts. 

IMMORTAL QUEST: RIGHT NAME 

Harrington Raceway celebrated Governor’s Day 

yesterday with a $620,000 purse program, with 

Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and Lt. Gov. John Carney 

on hand as usual for the presentation. Four 

$100,000 Delaware Breeders Fund Stakes were 

featured in the program, with the 2-year-old trotting 

filly Juanita a highlight, winning her 15th race 

in 17 starts. The Governor’s Cup was won by 

Immortal Quest N, an iron-sided 9-year-old New 

Zealand gelding who was capturing his ninth victory 

of the year, with earnings over $200,000. 

THAT SINKING FEELING 

The Horseshoe Casino had better get a new one 

for good luck. Its $500 million new riverboat in 

Hammond, Indiana, was only 8 feet from its final 

mooring this week when a ramp supporting the 

100-ton riverboat came loose and swung into 

Lake Michigan. Seven construction workers 

on a barge jumped into the lake, and 

only one suffered minor injuries.





July 28, 2008 

GINGRAS WINS 2ND $25K PRIZE AUSSIES GET NEW LEADER 

If things get tough elsewhere, driver Yannick Gingras 

always can make a living at Tioga Downs. tinues its talent search for a new executive vice 

While the United States Trotting Association con- 

He won the track’s second Drivers’ Championship 

yesterday, capturing the last three races in its man. Chairman Geoff Want announced the 

president, Harness Racing Australia has found 

the 9-race competition to turn back HTA Driver appointment today of Andrew Kelly, chief executive 

of Queensland Harness Racing for the last 

of the Year Tim Tetrick, 32 points to 23. Gingras 

was awarded the track’s $25,000 first prize, with two years, as the new Chief Executive Officer of 

$15,000 more spread among the all-star field that the nation’s top governing body. Kelly succeeds 

trailed him. Tetrick won $5,000 for finishing second, 

Andy Miller and Tioga’s top driver How- 

after more than 11 years as CEO. Kelly, 36, was 

the highly effective Rod Pollock, who is retiring 

ard Parker tied for third, each getting $2,500; general manager-commercial of Harness Racing 

and Brian Sears, Jody Jamieson, Ron Pierce, Victoria and general manager of the big Moonee 

Eric Goodell and Tony Morgan received $1,000 Valley track in Melbourne and at the Geelong 

each. Generous sponsorship helped Tioga present 

the classy field and rich prize money. or to that he held senior marketing roles with 

harness club before moving to Queensland. Pri- 

both the Victoria Cricket Association and the 

Geelong Football Club. 

BATAVIA OPENS 62ND SEASON 

HTA member Batavia Downs, which bills itself 

as the nations oldest lighted harness track, opens 

its 62nd season tonight, beginning a 60-date 

stand that will extend throughout the summer 

and fall until December 6. President and 

CEO Marty Basinait has scheduled racing on 

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 

through Labor Day, after which Mondays will 

be dropped. Nightly post time is 7:05, with the 

$40,000 Robert J. Kane pace on Oct. 4 the highlight 

race. 

MEGA CASINO FOR NYCOTB? 

David Cornstein, back in charge of HTA associate 

member New York City OTB as chairman, 

has told the New York Post he would like to see 

legislation passed to legalize casinos in the corporation’s 

three teletheaters in New York City. 

He said he would like to “build a very unique 

entertainment center, with a cineplex in it, that 

would have retail shops and possibly a hotel with 

it.” Cornstein says he thinks the city could get an 

upfront fee of between $500 million and a 

billion dollars in development rights for 

the complex. 

NOVEL AUCTION AT SARATOGA 

A unique auction at HTA member Saratoga 

Gaming and Raceway produced a $10,100 windfall 

for the Saratoga Hospital Foundation at its 

summer benefit auction. Saratoga Springs’ former 

City Public Works Commissioner Tom Mc- 

Tygue, a longtime harness horse owner, offered 

a 25% share in the handsome 2-year-old pacing 

colt Classical Art. McTygue said he wanted to 

make sure he was offering a good prospect, and 

after the colt scored his first victory in 1:58.4 and 

won a $37,000 New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga, 

bidding was brisk. A son of the red hot young sire 

Art Major, a winner of $2.7 million and already 

sire of the winners of $5.1 million, including the 

Meadowlands Pace winner Art Official that upset 

Somebeachsomewhere in world record time 

of 1:47, Classical Art is eligible to multiple stakes 

at 2 and 3. He drew a winning bid of $10,100 for 

one-quarter interest, and McTygue said, “Offering 

partial ownership is something I knew was 

within my means, and something I could do to 

give back to the community.”





July 29, 2008 

IMPACT OF SLOTS IN PA 

Kevin Kile, Gaming Operations Liaison in 

Pennsylvania, has prepared a 39-page report 

on The Economic Impact of Slot Machines on 

Pennsylvania’s Pari-Mutuel Wagering Industry. 

Done for Melinda M. Tucker, the state Director 

of Racetrack Gaming, the report -- posted 

in full on HTA’s home page Web site, www. 

harnesstracks.com -- reveals no surprises, but 

underlines the huge growth of purses at Pennsylvania’s 

six tracks, three harness and three 

thoroughbred. Also not surprisingly, the Philadelphia 

area, the state’s most populous, posted 

the largest numbers. Philadelphia Park, with 

$295 million, led the way with 28% of gross terminal 

revenue, with Harrah’s Chester close behind 

at $286 million, or 27%. Mohegan Sun at 

Pocono accounted for $197 million, or 18%, and 

The Meadows, still building, added $125 million, 

or 12%. Total purses earned from the PA Race 

Horse Development Fund increased 162.3%, up 

from $55 million in 2006 to $144.3 million last 

year, an increase of $89.3 million. Purses paid 

during the period jumped from $62.3 million in 

2006 to $117.2 million in 2007, up 88.2%. Ontrack 

live handle appeared relatively firm, down 

.91% from $41.3 million in 2006 to $40.9 million 

last year, but actually was down substantially 

more because of 82 more days of racing. Telephone 

account betting was up 6.57%, off-track 

handle was down 12.15%. In-state export of 

signals increased by .68%, inter-state export by 

10.44%, up $47.6 million. Total thoroughbred 

handle decreased by 4.58%, total harness handle 

by 3.64%, with overall total handle down 4.39%. 

Most dramatic was the drop in percentage of 

purses from pari-mutuel handle. In 2006, 96.2% 

came from that source, in 2007 only 36%, with 

64% of purses generated by slots revenue. The 

report is intended to provide a benchmark 

against which to measure progress. 

AT LAST, RACING TALKS WHIPS 

Horse racing, harness and thoroughbred, has 

long danced on the head of a pin when it came to 

talking about whipping. Rules on excessive whipping 

are on the books almost everywhere, but 

are also ignored by judges almost everywhere, 

Indiana being a prime exception under presiding 

judge Tim Schmitz, a longtime foe of excessive 

use of the whip who keeps the practice to a minimum 

at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs. A recent 

thoroughbred case in which a jockey slashed 

a horse across the face, injuring an eye, brought 

the case back to public attention, and thoroughbred 

racing’s safety committee, responding to 

the furor, is talking about whips and their use. 

Now comes the Ontario Racing Commission, “in 

response to calls from the horse racing community,” 

calling for an industry initiative to explore 

use of the whip in the province. Executive director 

John Blakney is asking representatives of the 

industry, including current and retired drivers 

and jockeys, association executives, track officials, 

animal welfare agencies and veterinarians 

to provide input, with the commission reviewing 

it to determine “appropriate and inappropriate 

use” of whips. Blakney says close examination 

“may lead to changes, including new rules and 

levels of enforcement.” The industry can only 

hope so, and also hope Ontario again proves to 

be a leading edge for the rest of racing. 

BACK HOME TO INDIANA 

Art Official, conqueror of previously invincible 

Somebeachsomewhere in the million dollar 

Meadowlands Pace, is foregoing further action 

in the east, returning to Indiana, scene of his first 

major triumph. The colt will race next in Saturday’s 

$150,000 estimated Monument Circle at 

Indiana Downs. Art Official won the $500,000 

Hoosier Cup at Hoosier Park to first gain national 

notice last month. Driver Ron Pierce will 

jet from the Meadowlands to Indiana late 

Saturday, hoping to make it for the drive.


DEWEY TAKES THE RAIL 

Not that he needs it, but undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe 

chose the rail for his Hambletonian 

quest on Saturday, and promptly was installed 

as the odds-on favorite for the $1.5 million classic. 

Part owner and trainer-driver Ray Schnittker 

pointed out at yesterday’s press conference 

that the rail “still is the shortest way around the 

racetrack,” and he grabbed it after Frank Antonacci 

Jr., trainer of the blazingly fast Crazed, 

took post 2 as his first pick selection. Antonacci 

said he chose 2 because it was the preference of 

record-setting driver Tim Tetrick, who will drive 

the most likely upsetter, if there is one. So far 

Deweycheatumnhowe has won every start at two 

and three on cruise control, but Crazed posted 

a tick faster elimination win last week, 1:52.2 

against Dewey’s 1:52.3. The fastest Hambletonian 

ever is likely if Dewey is challenged along 

the way. The race is the culmination of three 

days of championship racing, and will be telecast 

on NBC in a one-hour special with Gary Seibel 

and Kenny Rice, two veteran harness racing 

commentators, hosting the show, with NBC regulars 

Donna Barton Brothers handling interviews 

from horseback, her usual role, and Mike Battaglia 

also on the NBC first team. The $750,000 

Hambletonian Oaks, with the Swedish-owned, 

Italian-bred and American-mothered Lantern 

Kronos favored to win her 9th outing in 10 starts 

this year, also will be shown on the telecast. 

JOHNSON ON HAMBO PANEL 

HTA’s executive assistant, Brody Johnson, will 

represent us at the Hambletonian, and will appear 

on one panel of a four-panel discussion 

group being sponsored by the Hambletonian Society 

at the Sheraton Meadowlands tomorrow. 

Brody’s panel, to be moderated by Gary Seibel, 

will discuss what the industry is doing to 

attract a new audience, and is scheduled 

for 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday. 




July 30, 2008 


The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled 

to markup up HR-2140, the Internet Gambling 

Study Act, this morning, but was listed tenth on 

a schedule that leads off with a resolution to hold 

Karl Rove in contempt of Congress. That should 

take care of the day, and any markup of the Internet 

study act, which calls for the National Research 

Council of the National Academy of Sciences 

to conduct a study on Internet gambling 

and report to Congress within a year. 

A Gettysburg, PA, businessman and promoter 

named David LeVan, who tried unsuccessfully 

to get a slots parlor in Pennsylvania’s Adams 

county two years ago, is back, invoking the name 

of Hanover Shoe Farm as “a perfect partner” 

without any apparent support or endorsement 

of Hanover Shoe, which had no comment. For 

one thing, no license currently is available, with 

Centaur Gaming still striving to have the state’s 

Gaming Control Board render a decision on its 

pending license. Scratch this as a non-starter. 

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff 

and the state lottery director were busy denying 

that the administration was trying to return 

keno to the state’s gambling menu. The numbers 

game was banned 12 years ago by the state 

Supreme Court for violating state gambling 

laws, but Indian interests claim Schwarzenegger 

would propose a constitutional amendment that 

the tribes claim could override that decision. A 

Schwarzenegger spokesman said, “Whatever the 

final version (of a draft bill) will say, unequivocally 

the state will not allow keno.” 

The Toronto Star reports the Ontario and Canadian 

federal government are toying with the idea 

of sports betting in response to falling casino 

play by Americans, who are being discouraged 

by border security and a strong Canadian 

dollar.


CRACKING WHIPS ON WHIPS 

Ontario Racing Commission judges are off to a 

flying start on the commission’s initiative to do 

something about excessive whipping. They have 

suspended Trevor Henry, the leading driver in 

Ontario Sires Stakes standings, for six months, 

effectively putting him out of action for the rest 

of the year, and fined him $5,000, for misconduct 

not in the best interest of racing at Grand River 

Raceway. Henry allegedly cut the pacer Lord 

Luck with his whip in a July 11 race. Henry has 

won 226 races and driven the winners of $1.7 

million this year. His lifetime stats show 2,983 

wins and $19 million in earnings. The action 

of the judges at Grand River hopefully will embolden 

others around North America to greater 

vigilance and discourage the overlooking of savage 

whipping that is displayed nightly for public 

consumption on racing telecasts across North 

America. Either the cameras are distorting the 

action or judges are distorting the intention of 

the excessive whipping rules. 

ALSO IN THE ORCHID PATCH 

While handing out bouquets, we’ll order one for 

Scott P. Brown, a Republican state senator in 

Massachusetts who was quick to answer critics 

yesterday who were eager to charge conflict of 

interest because Brown’s 17-year-old daughter is 

a partner in a low price claimer with Plainridge 

Racetrack president Gary Piontkowski. The 

young lady bought the horse with her own money 

in April with Piontkowski for $3,300 and the 

horse earned $1,400 last week winning at Plainridge. 

Brown joined a majority of senators last 

night backing extension of the Massachusetts 

simulcasting provisions that allow unlimited simulcasting 

at Plainridge and other state tracks. 

The measure passed 33 to 5, and when his daughter’s 

ownership was raised Brown did 

not run for cover. He pointed out that 

he had worked on behalf of Plainridge 




July 31, 2008 

long before his daughter owned a horse, that she 

worked at the track, and that she hoped to be a 

veterinarian. In a response that was eloquent in 

its simplicity and logic, he told his tormentors, 

“She just loves horses. This is what she does and 

this is who she is.” 

ANOTHER VOICE IN KENTUCKY 

And an important one. State representative Greg 

Stumbo, a Democrat who was House majority 

leader before serving as Kentucky’s attorney 

general, circulated a draft of a slots bill he said he 

will prefile after receiving public comment over 

the next few weeks. The measure would provide 

for slot-like video lottery terminals at the state’s 

race tracks as part of the Kentucky lottery, and 

thus not requiring amendment of the state constitution, 

which could be done at the earliest in 

2110. The draft calls for between 87% and 95% 

to be redistributed to players, with 40% of the remaining 

money designated for purses and 5% for 

harness and quarter horse breed development. 

Kevin Flanery, speaking for Churchill Downs, 

said the draft is being reviewed by track officials, 

but that, “We’re happy that legislators are still 

considering alternative forms of gambling that 

would be located at racetracks and ultimately 

help the horse industry.” Another Democratic 

representative, Tom Burch, said earlier he would 

prefile a bill calling for 18,000 slots at the state’s 

eight licensed racetracks. 

FOUR BAN ROCK HORSES 

Pompano Park, Tioga and Vernon Downs, and 

the Delaware Harness Racing Commission all 

have banned horses that have raced or been 

stabled at Rockingham Park. An outbreak of 

strangles, a highly contagious and potentially fatal 

disease, has been reported at the Rock. On 

a happier note, the track is adding roulette and 

craps to its charity gaming menu, starting 

tomorrow.





August 1, 2008 

SPORT HAS TWO NEW STARS 

It is August, and two new major juveniles established 

themselves as the best of the 2008 crop 

last night at the Meadowlands. Muscle Hill, a 

$55,000 yearling purchase last year, stamped 

himself as the sport’s best colt trotter, romping 

by six lengths in the $500,000 Peter Haughton 

Memorial to win in 1:55. Jerry Silva and the TLP 

Stable own the Muscles Yankee colt, trained by 

Greg Peck and driven by Brian Sears. The mile 

equaled the track and stakes record for 2-yearolds 

set two years ago by Donato Hanover. The 

sport’s top 2-year-old trotting filly emerged in 

Honorable Daughter, a $32,000 Malabar Man 

yearling last fall, who remained undefeated in 

five starts winning the $523,600 Merrie Annabelle 

in 1:55.4. Paolo Rosanelli and John Siena 

of Middletown, NY, own the filly, trained by Larry 

Remmen and driven by John Campbell. 

Tonight 2-year-old pacers take over, with Girls 

Nite Out and Pedigree Snob top choices in the 

$431,500 Sweetheart for fillies and Mysticism 

and Vertigo Hanover pre-race favorites in the 

$350,000 Woodrow Wilson for colts. 

Tomorrow’s all-star card features the $1.5 million 

Hambletonian (NBC 2 p.m. EDT) with 

Deweycheatumnhowe the odds-on favorite and 

Crazed the prime challenger, and the $750,000 

Hambletonian Oaks, with Lantern Kronos the 

top choice. Also on the card are the $407,400 

Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old pacing fillies, 

with one of the most competitive fields of fillies 

ever assembled; the $332,000 United States Pacing 

Championship for older male pacers, with 

Artistic Fella favored; the $300,000 Nat Ray for 

older trotters, wide open; the $232,000 Golden 

Girls for pacing mares, with My Little Dragon 

and Tidewater Dragonfly the top choices; and 

the $210,000 Oliver Wendell Holmes for 

3-year-old pacing colts wide open with no 

standouts. 

NEW BANS ON ROCK HORSES 

New tracks and jurisdictions have joined the 

ban on ship-ins from Rockingham Park, where a 

lone horse was stricken with equine streptococcus, 

or strangles. The state of Pennsylvania and 

the Meadowlands have joined Delaware, Tioga 

Downs, Vernon Downs, Pompano Park, reportedly 

Plainridge Racetrack, and possibly others 

that have not reported such bans, in refusing entry 

to horses shipping from Rockingham. The 

disease, affecting horses’ ability to breathe, is 

highly contagious and can be fatal. 

LEDFORD AT OCEAN DOWNS 

Eric Ledford, whose bright career was interrupted 

two years ago for use of banned substances in 

New Jersey, is tearing up the track again with his 

driving skills, this time at HTA member Ocean 

Downs, where he is the leading driver. GM Peter 

Szymanski said he and other officials were impressed 

by Ledford after interviews, and added 

that he believes in giving people second chances. 

A LEAD I WISH I HAD WRITTEN 

Every so often, but never often enough, a news 

story starts with a lead, or first line, that sparkles 

off the page. Today brought one of them, in 

a Las Vegas Review story on 9 of the 10 publicly 

traded gaming companies in Las Vegas suffering 

double digit declines in July. Howard Stutz, who 

wrote the story, led with, “If this were a fight, it 

would be stopped on cuts.” 

NEW YORK’S SMARTEST MAN? 

Louis Capelli, who recently got the state of New 

York to give him 75% of future profits from his 

huge Concord Hotel redevelopment complex 

that includes slots and moving Monticello Raceway 

to the site, now is asking Sullivan county to 

give him an estimated $40.3 million in sales and 

mortgage tax relief, and chances are good he will 

get it. “It’s the way to build today,” Capelli 

says. You got that right, Lou.






KENO KICKS IN TODAY IN OHIO 

More than 700 outlets, including the state’s seven 

racetracks, began keno operations in Ohio 

today. The introduction of the ubiquitous electronic 

betting machines marks the introduction 

of electronic gambling in a state that prohibits 

slots at racetracks. The tracks, however, were 

quick to avail themselves of this gaming alternative, 

with John Carlo of Lebanon Raceway calling 

them “a step in the right direction” to offset 

the impact of Indiana riverboats and Michigan 

casinos. Eleven other states permit keno, and 

Ohio governor Ted Strickland, who killed slots 

at tracks, expects the every-four-minute plays 

will provide $73 million toward solving Ohio’s 

serious budget shortage. Marie Kilhane Secker, 

an Ohio lottery spokeswoman, took a more cautious 

view, saying, “Projections can come back 

to bite you.” Ohio vendors will get 6.2% of terminal 

sales plus bonuses that could provide them 

with $18 million in the first year if projections of 

sales of $292 million hold up. 

IRS SPOILS ANOTHER PARTY 

This time it rained on JBL and Zip, two payment 

processors for Internet gambling sites. The boys 

from Foggy Bottom seized $14.2 million from 

JBL bank accounts and $9.87 million from Zip 

deposited in Wachovia, Regions, Sun Trust and 

Nevada State banks. Still operating, however, is 

Bodog, now under the name of Bodoglife, from 

its headquarters in Costa Rico. Calvin Ayre, the 

billionaire Canadian owner, claims he sold his 

interests to the Mohawk Indians, but the IRS remains 

unconvinced. 

HORSEMEN SEEK SPORT BETS 

New Jersey thoroughbred horsemen are asking 

others to join them and state senators Raymond 

Lesniak and Jeff Van Drew in seeking repeal of 

the federal ban on sports betting. Horsemen’s 

president Dennis Drazin says it 

would create new horseplayers. 

CHECK THESE PROPOSALS 

They could affect you. The American Horse 

Council reports that the Department of Justice 

is proposing new amendments to the 1990 

Americans with Disabilities Act. Among the 

proposals are requirements for disabled seating 

in public stadiums or gathering places, ticketing 

arrangements for disabled persons, captioning 

and video interpreting services, an expansion 

of the definition of wheelchairs and mobility 

devices and their accessibility at all levels, and 

the exclusion of horses as “service animals,” although 

we doubt our member tracks have many 

patrons who ride in. Any facilities with more 

than 5,000 seats would be required to have at 

least five wheelchair spaces and three accompanying 

companion seats for each of the five. 

The proposals also would require safety notices 

on tote boards or other means in facilities with 

a capacity of 25,000 or more, and captioning of 

game related information, which could include 

race calls, regardless of capacity size. The Horse 

Council cautions that the rules are “quite complex,” 

and suggests strongly that someone with 

knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities 

Act look them over to see what applicability they 

might have to your own operations. It also invites 

comments and concerns. The full text of 

the proposals can be reviewed at: http://www. 

ada.gov/NPRM2008/13NPRM_federalreg.pdf. 

AT LEAST AS GOOD AS BOXING 

The state of Arizona has boxed an unusual daily 

double. It recently advertised, in a salary range 

of $85,000 to $95,000, for a Director of the Department 

of Racing and Boxing. Five years experience 

in business/administration was specified 

and no financial interest in a racetrack or in the 

racing industry in Arizona while serving. The 

application deadline has passed, but just in case 

the address was Paul Ulan, Chairman, Arizona 

Racing Commission, 1110 W. Washington, 

Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85007.






STATES ACT ON OFFSHORES 

The Association of Racing Commissioners International 

has announced that most of the nation’s 

major racing states -- California, New York, New 

Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, 

Kentucky, Delaware, Virginia, Oklahoma and 

New Hampshire included -- say they will begin 

the process of requiring that offshore wagering 

companies and secondary pari-mutuel wagering 

organizations (SPMOs) obtain certification from 

the ARCI as a pre-condition to approval of allowing 

those entities to wager into pools under 

the participating states’ jurisdiction. Under the 

Interstate Horse Racing Act, host state racing 

commissions must approve any SPMO betting, 

and officials are seeking a uniform date -- January, 

2010 -- for a collective implementation of the 

policy. That provides time for state rule promulgations 

where necessary and for the conduct 

of thorough background investigations of the entities, 

their owners, staff and operations by the 

ARCI. California Horse Racing Board chairman 

Richard Shapiro, noting that 90% of money bet 

on horse racing now occurs away from the track, 

and frequently out of the country, calls it “critical 

that the states regulating the sport know exactly 

who they are doing business with and that 

the integrity of the game is not jeopardized.” He 

calls the ARCI initiative “long overdue.” Frank 

Zanzuccki, executive director of the New Jersey 

Racing Commission, echoed those views, saying 

the certification “is a necessary and vital component 

to ensuring the integrity of the pari-mutuel 

system.” He said he will recommend adoption 

of the proposed regulation the New Jersey Racing 

Commission “later this fall.” Joe Gorajec 

of Indiana, chairman of the RCI board of directors, 

said the board unanimously approved moving 

ahead with the certification program. RCI 

president Ed Martin said commissioner 

Shapiro reported positive reactions from 

both Magna and Churchill Downs. 

ROCK’S HORSES ARE CLEARED 

New Hampshire Racing Commission veterinarian 

Matthew Gerard Levesque, after consultation 

with the state veterinarian Stephen Crawford 

and commission representative Dale Childs 

concerning a series of negative tests, has released 

isolated horses back into the general racing and 

stabling community at Rockingham Park. The 

reaction was immediate, with Delaware’s Harness 

Racing Commission removing all prohibitions 

it had issued earlier. Other states and 

tracks that had posted bans on Rockingham 

horses were expected to follow suit quickly. 

WHICH PAPER DO YOU READ? 

Keno got underway in Ohio yesterday, but exactly 

how things went depends on which newspaper 

you read, or which Lottery commission 

spokesperson you ask. The Columbus Dispatch 

reported, in a story headline, “Keno flawless, 

state says,” that 773 bars, restaurants, bowling 

alleys and horse tracks began operations without 

a hitch, quoting lottery spokeswoman Jeannie 

Roberts. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, however, 

headlined its story, “Keno starts with some hiccups,” 

and reported it got underway “on wobbly 

legs” at 717 venues, with 51 calls to the lottery 

commission help line by midday. It quoted lottery 

commission spokeswoman Marie Kilbane 

as saying most of the venues had no problems, 

but a few were unable to get the game online. 

One bar manager told the paper, “I heard a lot 

of places were having trouble.” Bettors can wager 

up to $20 on each game every four minutes, 

and spokesman Roberts said Ohioans had placed 

16,221 bets, spending $70,617, with 4,561 winners 

of $36,603, by 3:30 yesterday afternoon after 

the late morning start. She said she expected 

a surge of play in late afternoon and early evening 

when workers left their jobs. We will have 

a more complete report on what actually happened 

in tomorrow’s Executive News.


In Connecticut, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, 

for the first time ever, reported year-to-year declines 

in slot revenues, down a combined $ 7 6 

million. Soaring gasoline prices and a 

weak economy were blamed for the unprecedented 

declines. 





CASINOS FOR OHIO? 

In Nevada, MGM Mirage reported a 69% drop 

The Columbus Dispatch reports that it appears in net income and a 2% decline in revenue in the 

that Ohio voters will get another chance in this second quarter, but gave investors a sunny report. 

They pointed out their Strip casinos again 

fall’s elections to decide if they want casino gambling 

in the state. Backers of a proposed $600 outperformed competitors, and received word 

million casino resort in southwest Ohio say they that banks have agreed to loan half the money 

have submitted 800,000 signatures to the secretary 

of state, almost twice the 402,275 needed to billion City Center complex. They received a 

they are seeking to develop their mammoth $11.2 

get the issue on the November ballot. They also $1.65 billion commitment from Bank of America 

claim they have exceeded the required threshold 

in 81 counties, again almost twice the 44 re- 

similar loan as they and their partner, Dubai 

and four other banks, and expect to get another 

quired. The signatures still must be certified as World, seeks a total of $3 billion from the banks. 

valid by local county boards, but the supporters 

say they have done preliminary checks and complete the gargantuan City Center complex, 

The Kirk Kerkorian-owned company hopes to 

are confident they have a healthy cushion. The which will include hotels, casinos and condominiums, 

by late 2009. MGM and Dubai World 

issue has appeared on ballots in Ohio in 1990, 

1996 and 2006, going down to defeat each time. each will pay a billion dollars in addition to the 

If they approve the proposal this time, a private loans, with revenues from condominium sales 

company, MyOhioNow, and its partners Lakes expected to cover part of that outlay. CEO Terry 

Entertainment of Minnesota, say they will have Lanni, addressing the investors, was bullish, saying, 

“Our numbers have been rather good. Las 

a huge entertainment complex with a hotel, casino, 

golf and restaurants ready to open by early Vegas didn’t fall of the end of the earth into the 

2011. Anti-gambling groups and gaming companies 

from neighboring states reportedly already its properties fell 4%, and room revenues fell 

abyss.” MGM Mirage casino revenue across 

are preparing strong opposition campaigns. 6%, but Bellagio, the company’s highest-end 

property and site of the 2009 Racing Congress 

sponsored by HTA, TRA, USTA, HHI and other 

ELSEWHERE ON CASINO BEAT 

groups, generated operating earnings 39% higher 

than Wynn Las Vegas and 7% higher than Ve- 

In Pennsylvania, slots revenues reached their 

second highest level since they were legalized two 

netian and the newly opened Palazzo combined. 

years ago. The seven slots facilities currently licensed 

produced $35 million in gross terminal 

Its Mandalay Bay property reported its second 

highest second quarter operating earnings on record. 

Lanni, in his report, admitted that Steve 

revenues last week, on $445 million in play. The 

highest week occurred over the Fourth of July 

Wynn had “cleaned our clock” and congratulated 

Wynn, saying, “We want to emulate Wynn 

weekend, when gross revenues reached $38 million 

on $469 million in play. 

Macau and use it as our target.” 

In Indiana, the renamed Ameristar Casino East 

Chicago, formerly Resorts, laid off 41 workers 

and another 203 nationwide at its seven other locations. 

In its first month as Ameristar, the East 

Chicago property collected $25.8 million in 

revenue compared to $24.9 million in ’07.





SANTA ANITA FOR SALE? 

In what had to be a painful admission, Frank 

Stronach told investors and analysts yesterday 

that Magna Entertainment would not be able to 

retire its debt as planned by the end of this year, 

and said that if Magna cannot find buyers for 

its smaller properties like shuttered Great Lakes 

Downs, it may have to sell “50%, or 60%” of 

storied Santa Anita and that all of its properties 

could be offered for sale. If that were to happen, 

along with the possible sale of Hollywood 

Park and the final 10 days of thoroughbred racing 

at Bay Meadows, the entire west coast racing 

picture would change. MEC announced it lost 

$21.25 million in the second quarter of this year, 

$2.19 million less than it lost in the same quarter 

last year, but that still brought 2008 losses to 

$67.7 million and total losses since inception to 

$543.9 million. Daily Racing Form’s Matt Hegarty 

reported that Magna’s accountants continue 

to prepare the company’s financial statements 

under a “going-concern” warning, an acknowledgment 

that the company cannot continue to 

operate unless is can make significant improvements 

in its financial condition. MEC recently 

authorized a 1-to-20 reverse stock split to meet 

the $1 a share requirements of Nasdaq, where 

it would face delisting if that trigger point were 

not reached. 

RACING CUTBACKS IN MD 

One of Magna Entertainment’s major holdings, 

the Maryland Jockey Club, announced 

yesterday it is closing Pimlico for training 

and stabling at the end of this month, cutting 

back live racing at Laurel by 11 days, from 76 

to 65, this fall, and eliminating 20 to 25 jobs. 

MJC president Tom Chuckas said shuttering 

Pimlico until spring would save $180,000 a 

month. The Laurel meeting will eliminate the 

$300,000 Frank DeFrancis, the Laurel 

Futurity, Selima and other stakes. 


AROUND THE TRACKS..... 

Freehold Raceway opens its fall meeting today, 

running until Dec. 31. Features of the long session 

include the $300,000 est. Cane Pace on Labor 

Day, the $271,000 James B. Dancer Memorial, 

the $145,000 Shady Daisy, the $140,000 Lou 

Babic Memorial, the $130,000 Battle of Monmouth, 

and the $100,000 Charles Smith Trot. 

Batavia Downs and Western Regional OTB president 

Marty Basinait told Batavia’s Rotary Club 

members that Genesee county has received $2.3 

million from OTB on its original loan to help 

OTB get started, a 230% return on its investment. 

The track recently underwent a $20 million 

facelift, with 600 VLTs now in place and another 

150 planned for a new gaming room. 

Mohawk Racetrack will celebrate Somebeachsomewhere’s 

return Sunday night with posters, 

autographs by driver Paul MacDonnell and coowner 

trainer Brent McGrath and a trip giveaway 

to some beach somewhere. 

Veteran track photographer Jack Coady Sr. who 

with his sons Jack Jr. and Jeff and grandsons 

worked as Coady Photo at 19 harness, thoroughbred 

and quarter horse tracks around the 

country, has died of cancer at 80. HTA sends 

its sympathy to Prairie Meadows Racing Communications 

director Mary Lou Coady, Jack’s 

daughter-in-law, and the entire family. 

Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park, as part 

of its closing festivities last Saturday night, gave 

$25,140 to four local and national charity groups. 

The recipients were the Boys & Girls Club of 

Broward county, Ft. Lauderdale’s Cooperative 

Feeding program, Horse and the Handicapped 

of South Florida, and the Harness Horse Youth 

Foundation. 

Action Officers, please return your group sales 

surveys to the HTA office or to RTIP Student 

Steve May.






CAL REGS GET LAW APPROVAL 

California’s new steroid regulations, moving 

both the classification and the penalties for violations 

into stiffer categories, have been reviewed 

and approved by the California Office of Administrative 

law and given final state approval. The 

California Horse Racing Board immediately announced 

the new regulations and penalty schedule 

will go into effect September 4. Under the 

new rules, the Holy Four of stanozolol, boldenone, 

nandrolone and testosterone will move 

from class 4 to class 3 violations, and the penalties 

will move from class D to class B. What 

this means in practical terms is that any of these 

anabolic steroids in the post-race level samples 

from competing horses will result in automatic 

disqualification of the horse and redistribution 

of the purse, a minimum 30-day suspension of 

the trainer, and a fine of up to $10,000. 

ART GETS ITS DAY IN GOSHEN 

The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame 

in Goshen has announced its 2008 Immortal Honorees, 

and Scott Leighton, the celebrated Currier 

& Ives artist, will be one of six individuals immortalized 

at next July’s induction ceremonies. 

Leighton was not alone among artists honored, 

however, with the famed painter Edward Troye 

and celebrated Philadelphia horse photographer 

George Francis Schreiber also named to the 

sport’s list of immortals, along with driver Lew 

Williams, 19th century Kentucky breeder Col. 

Richard West, owner of the famed sire Almont, 

and Gen. William Temple Withers, another early 

Kentucky breeder who owned Fairlawn Stock 

Farm. Pacer Big Towner, a racing star and sire of 

five millionaires, and trotter Nan’s Catch, dam of 

the great Moni Maker, also will be inducted into 

the gallery of immortals. Scott Leighton’s work 

for Currier & Ives is well represented in 

this year’s HTA Art show and Auction. 

The color catalog is online at HTA, and 

print catalogs will be mailed shortly. 

DECLINE “A PERFECT STORM” 

That is how Bill Westerman, CEO of Riviera 

Holdings that owns Riviera casinos in Las Vegas 

and Colorado, described events that led to a 15% 

decline in revenue and 33% decline in operating 

earnings in year-to-year comparisons after the 

second quarter. Westerman said the events represented 

“a perfect storm” of economic troubles 

for his company, blaming high gas prices, an accelerating 

consumer downturn and a decrease in 

walk-in traffic at Vegas casinos, for the tumult. 

Riviera was not alone. Pinnacle Entertainment 

also reported “a sluggish economic environment” 

affecting all gaming companies, and its 

second quarter losses led to an 8.6% drop in the 

value of its shares. Trump Entertainment Resorts 

reported a continuing drop in continuing 

operations, with revenue down 4.8%. 

FOR GAMBLING, NOT RACING 

That summarizes the position of the Maryland 

Tax Education Foundation, a taxpayer advocacy 

group, or at least its president, investment 

banker Jeffrey C. Hooke. He says 58% of Maryland 

thoroughbred winnings went to out-of-state 

owners, and says the number will be higher if 

proposed racing subsidies are passed in the November 

election. Breeders refute this with what 

seems to escape Hooke, that higher purses would 

spur a return of both breeders and owners to the 

state. Both have been heavily impacted by slots 

in adjacent states. 

A WARNING ON TRADE WARS 

Two members of Congress have warned U.S. Attorney 

General Michael Mukasey that continued 

U.S. intransigence in dealings with the European 

Union and World Trade Organization can lead 

to problems not in the best interest of the U.S. 

Democrats Robert Wexler of Florida and Steve 

Cohen of Tennessee issued the warnings. A 

July meeting was delayed by the U.S.





August 11, 2008 

MASS GOV “WEIGHS OPTIONS” 

When politicians need wiggle room, they weigh 

options. Centaur Gaming has encountered it 

in Pennsylvania, where time goes by while the 

Gaming Control Board weighs its options for a 

license for Centaur’s proposed new $400 million 

track near the Ohio line. Unfortunately, the 

banks that had agreed to finance the Centaur 

project are now weighing their options, while the 

Control Board sits mute, showing that it indeed 

controls things. 

Now the ploy has surfaced in Massachusetts, 

where Gov. Deval Patrick is using it in refusing 

to talk to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which 

wants to build at $1 billion casino entertainment 

complex. Scott Van Voorhis of the Boston 

Herald reports the tribe may have a long wait, 

while Patrick “weighs his options.” That is what 

the administration says when asked about the 

situation. “Should the tribe ask to commence 

negotiations prior to having lands in trust, the 

administration will weigh a number of issues in 

determining a response to that request,” says 

Kofi Jones, a spokeswoman for the executive office 

of housing and economic development. Patrick 

apparently has changed course, because in 

June he told WBZ-TV in Boston, “We are prepared 

to negotiate under the parameters that exist 

within current law. Some form of expanded 

gaming is coming, because the tribe has some 

tribal rights and we want to be ahead of it.” Van 

Voorhis says requests from the U.S. Department 

of the Interior, which is considering the Mashpee 

Wampanoags’ application for a land trust in the 

southeastern town of Middleborom “can take 

years,” and the tribe is not likely to get an answer 

until at least next spring. Approval of their 

plans by the governor, which is what they seek 

-- they already have tribal recognition -- could 

speed a decision in Washington. There will 

be Wampanoags growing old before that 

happens. 

HOW TO STOP A TERMINATOR 

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, 

has ordered the state to pay its employees the 

federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour until he 

gets a budget agreement. State controller John 

Chiang, who has vowed to defy Schwarzenegger’s 

executive order, did not take long to find 

a way. He told the Sacramento Bee there was 

no way that could be done in weeks, as the governor 

requested, because the state’s antiquated 

computer system could not handle the burden. 

“Pragmatically, we just can’t get the system to 

work in a timely manner for us to implement 

payment of a minimum wage.” He also said trying 

to do so could open the state to errors that 

would leave the state vulnerable to lawsuits from 

workers. Such cases can involve triple damages. 

Any questions, anyone? 

In Illinois, things are hardly better, as House 

Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago has bottled 

up Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s state infrastructure 

construction plans, already scaled down 

from $33.7 billion to $25 billion. Sometimes, as 

a former Illinois senator once said, “Those kind 

of things can add up to real money,” or words to 

that effect. 


Buffalo Raceway COO and former HTA executive 

assistant Jim Mango has announced a 25% 

increase in nationwide handle from last year. He 

also said track announcer and racing secretary 

Robin Burns has signed on for full time duties 

for three years, starting Oct. 1..... Youbet.com reports 

second quarter gross income from continuing 

operations at just over $2.20 million, up from 

a loss of $391,000 in the same period last year. It 

was the second consecutive quarter of profitability, 

CEO Michael Brodsky reported..... Handle 

at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs quadrupled 

with the Adios last Saturday. The race returns 

to a rebuilt The Meadows next year.





August 12, 2008 

GOODBYE TO THE SLOT BOATS 

You still have time to book passage on a gambling 

boat out of Ft. Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, 

but you will have to hurry. SeaScape Entertainment’s 

big SeaScape will sail from there for the 

last time next Sunday, following the earlier departure 

of Horizon’s Edge Casino Cruises and 

Aquasino, which ceased operations in the Miami 

area a few months ago. That leaves only one gambling 

boat -- the Palm Beach Princess -- sailing 

from Palm Beach, and it is for sale. Indian gaming 

and track slots ended the cruises to nowhere, 

at least in the Pompano-Ft, Lauderdale-Miami 

area. SeaScape promised “a big announcement” 

today, possibly that it will move its operation to 

Port Canaveral with possible day cruises as well 

as shorter ones. Some SeaScape crew members 

told the Miami Herald they had not been paid in 

months, and a maritime lawyer filed suit against 

SeaScape on behalf of six of them last week. A 

bankruptcy lawyer handling the auction of the 

Palm Beach Princess said four of five prospective 

buyers want to continue gambling cruises. 

RACINOS UP, CASINOS DOWN 

That’s the story in Indiana, where HTA members 

Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs were up 

a combined $5 million in July over June figures, 

but the state’s casino industry was reporting a 

$31 million decline in state taxes in that period. 

Admissions at 11 casinos were down sharply as 

well during July. 

THE INJURY REPORT 

Trainer-driver Tom Haughton, involved in a racing 

accident at the Red Mile in Lexington Sunday, 

suffered a fractured shoulder blade and five 

cracked ribs....Driver Luc Ouellette, out of action 

in Ontario for a month with a fractured left arm, 

says his doctor has pronounced him fit to 

drive, and he feels that way, so is returning 

to the Mohawk wars this weekend. 


Magna Entertainment’s selloff of its excess properties 

continues, with an agreement to sell 489 

acres of property in Ocala, Florida, to Lincoln 

Property company and Orion Investment Properties 

for $16.5 million cash. 

Sand Shooter, one of the sport’s top 3-year-old 

pacers, is being retired after cutting a tendon in 

the Adios at Mohegan Sun at Pocono last Saturday. 

The colt, owned by Jerry Silva and Bill 

Sanders, had earned $471,957. 

Fasig-Tipton’s Preferred Yearling sale of New 

York-bred thoroughbreds at Saratoga saw a 

hundred horses sold, and another 127 failing to 

meet their reserve prices or withdrawn for other 

reasons. Sale director of marketing Terence Collier, 

as reported in the Albany Times Union, said 

the numbers were “not unanticipated. We knew 

at the bottom end the supply might exceed the 

demand.” 

Suffolk Downs thoroughbreds in East Boston and 

Wonderland dog track in nearby Revere are close 

to final agreement on a partnership that the 

Raynham Call says would “dramatically reshape 

the state’s live racing industry and hold major 

implications for the ongoing gambling debate.” 

Both tracks hope to secure the Boston area casino 

site proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick but rejected 

by the legislature in March. 

State senator John Sabini has been confirmed by 

the Senate in his new role on the New York Racing 

and Wagering Board. Gov. David Paterson 

named him chairman for a six-year term. 

Vernon Downs is hosting a job fair this afternoon 

at its trackside hotel to fill some 30 part-time, 

full-time and seasonal positions. The track 

is looking for local workers to fill the jobs.





August 13, 2008 

MILE TRACK FOR DELAWARE? 

The Delaware Harness Racing Commission, 

by a unanimous vote, yesterday granted conditional 

approval for a new one mile harness track 

in the state. The application came from developers 

Gene Lankford and Preston Schell, both 

newcomers to racetrack operation, but whose 

application was supported by the 1,100 member 

Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, 

and lauded by the state’s racing administrator 

Hugh Gallagher. “They filled it out in detail and 

dotted every I and every T. This is not some flyby-night 

group that doesn’t know everything 

that needs to be done or is involved.” The commission 

listened to the proposal, which was given 

legal approval by the commission counsel, and 

discussed it for an hour before voting. The application 

calls for 45 to 60 days in July and August, 

without conflicting with Harrington Raceway, 

and Gallagher said the track, to be called Del 

Pointe, could apply for those dates next year. The 

$60 million mile track is slated for 110 acres on 

U.S. 113 between Georgetown and Millsboro in 

Sussex county, the site of the former Georgetown 

Raceway, and 15 miles from the Rehoboth Beach 

summer resort area. Lankford and Schell are 

officials of Ocean Atlantic companies, Lankford 

serving as chairman and Schell as president. 

Lankford owns the Atlantic Sands and Breakers 

hotels in Rehoboth Beach, and called the summer 

visitors “our audience.” He said Del Pointe 

would not need a racino with slots to be successful, 

despite its projected cost, but would not rule 

out seeking future state approval for one. Gallagher 

said both men have “deep pockets and 

the finances to do this.” When the Wilmington 

News Journal contacted HTA directors Bill Fasy 

of Ocean Downs and Jim Boese of Harrington 

Raceway for comment, both said they had only 

recently learned of the project, and needed 

to see the release that officially told of the 

plan. They heard the details yesterday. 

POLS TARGET CONTROL BD 

Two Pennsylvania legislators, called “a political 

odd couple, if ever there was one” by the Pittsburgh 

Post-Gazette, have found common ground 

on revising slots law. The two -- state senator 

Jane Orie, a conservative Republican, and 

soon-to-retire senator Vincent Fumo, a liberal 

Democrat -- have teamed up and are proposing 

revisions in the state’s Gaming Control Board. 

Angered by the board’s almost secretive operations 

and its hanging Centaur Gaming out to dry 

by denying it a gaming license for its proposed 

$400 million entertainment complex in western 

Pennsylvania, Orie and Fumo are proposing 

major changes. They issued a statement saying, 

“Public confidence in the Gaming Control 

Board has been shaken recently and we must restore 

the complete integrity of the process in the 

public eye.” 


Joe Costa, president and CEO of the Red Mile 

and the track director on HTA’s board, has been 

named to Gov. Steve Beshear’s Governor’s Task 

Force on the Future of Horse Racing. 

Woodlands in Kansas City, Kansas, is closing operations 

Aug. 21 rather than paying a 60% tax 

rate for slots. The track has 800 and was eligible 

for another 600 under Kansas law. 

Wyoming Downs in Evanston has planned special 

events and ceremonies honoring its former 

owner Joe Joyce, who acquired the track in 1990 

and revitalized it, keeping Wyoming horse racing 

alive. A benefit is schedule for Saturday, a 

dinner that evening, and live and silent auctions 

of racing related materials for the benefit of the 

Joseph F. Joyce Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, 

which awards scholarships to the University of 

Arizona Race Track Industry Program. Joyce’s 

son Eugene, general manager of Turf Paradise 

in Phoenix, and Joe’s widow, Elizabeth, 

will be on hand.


THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY 

Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, the sister 

tracks in New York, are experiencing both this 

week. They are ecstatic, and deservedly so, for 

scheduling a $30,000 open trot that was enticing 

enough for trainer-driver-part-owner Ray 

Schnittker to send his Hambletonian champion 

Deweycheatumnhowe back into battle in his first 

start since winning the big one at the Meadowlands. 

It should be a $15,000 training session 

for the undefeated trotting star, but he will not 

be the only top performer in action at Vernon 

tomorrow night. Driver Brian Sears, currently 

second in the nation with $9.9 million won by his 

mounts to Tim Tetrick’s $12.3 million, will sign 

autographs. A Sears bobblehead and a Deweycheatumnhowe 

photo montage will be given 

away. Sears will drive Falls for You, winner of 

Ontario’s rich Armbro Flight earlier this year, 

in the $135,000 Conway Hall trot. Arch rivals 

My Little Dragon and HTA champion Darlin’s 

Delight will hook up again in the $123,500 Artiscape 

for pacing mares. Tetrick is scheduled to 

drive, along with Ron Pierce, Andy Miller, Yannick 

Gingras and Jim Morrill Jr., a platoon of 

the best in the sport. 

Down the highway the news was not as good at 

Tioga, where somehow the wrong horse raced. 

Always Lucky K, a 6-year-old pacing winner of 

$214,309, trained and driven by Rick Plano, finished 

second in the first race on the card, pacing 

his mile in 2:06.1, then raced again in the 

11th, a $14,000 open, where he raced last all the 

way, pacing in 2:06. He was not scheduled to 

compete in the race. The horse that was, Silver 

Flash, a $378,452 lifetime winner with a record 

of 1:49.2, did not race. The two horses do not 

look alike. Always Lucky K has a large star and 

white on the inside of his right front pastern. 

Silver Flash also has white in front, 

but both hind heels are white. 




August 14, 2008 

Tioga VP of Racing Jason Settlemoir said internal 

and New York Racing and Wagering Board 

investigations are ongoing to see how this mixup 

could have happened. 

PRIVATIZATION IN ILLINOIS? 

The odds grew shorter yesterday, at least as far 

as the state lottery is concerned, after House 

Speaker Michael Madigan said he was taking a 

new look at Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposal to 

privatize the lottery to pay for a statewide construction 

program. Madigan was quoted in the 

Chicago Tribune as saying House Democrats 

have been discussing the idea and are moving 

closer to supporting it. That’s a big step forward, 

since a Madigan ally last week said it would be 

“a hard sell.” Blagojevich has advocated leasing 

to a private company for years, and now wants 

to use the money toward his hugely expensive 

state infrastructure construction program. 

KENTUCKY CATCHING UP 

The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council is 

scheduled to meet this afternoon in Lexington, 

and is expected to vote to effectively ban anabolic 

steroids in racing horses in the state. The ban, 

which is expected to pass, would do that by restricting 

the use of the four anabolics now legal 

to administration no closer than 30 days to race 

day. Lisa Underwood, executive director of the 

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said the 

drug council’s proposals “meet or exceed” the 

national recommendations of the Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium. Ms. Underwood 

said she thought a new steroid policy could be in 

effect for the first graded thoroughbred races at 

Turfway Park in March next year. Both thoroughbred 

racing’s Breeders’ Cup and American 

Graded Stakes Committee have announced 

draconian new measures for violators, including 

life suspension from Cup participation for 

trainers with three anabolic penalties.





August 15, 2008 

“WE’RE STILL IN” - CENTAUR 

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board signaled 

yesterday that its investigators are nearing 

the end of their long examination of Centaur 

Gaming, and could complete it in the next two 

weeks. If they do, the board expects to hold a 

suitability hearing by mid- to late-September, 

according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on Centaur’s 

application for a racino license. The board 

put Centaur in tight quarters last month, when 

it refused to issue the license shortly before the 

August 15 deadline set by its financial backers. 

News reports had said Centaur was dropping its 

plans, but company spokeswoman Susan Kilkenny 

informed the control board yesterday that 

“We have absolutely no intentions of withdrawing 

our gaming application.” Centaur already 

has a racing license, issued by the Pennsylvania 

Harness Racing Commission, but needs a slots license 

to obtain financing to build its $450 million 

Valley View Downs complex in Lawrence county 

in Pennsylvania’s far western reaches, near the 

Ohio line. It has been negotiating with its primary 

lender, Credit-Suisse Bank, for a $995 million 

line of credit, and Ms. Kilkenny said Centaur 

was “doing everything humanly possible to 

allow for the continued progress of the project.” 

If the control board approves Centaur’s application 

at its suitability hearing in September, 

and if Centaur is successful in renegotiating its 

financing, the board indicated it would go over 

the financing plan and meet in late September 

to consider the issue. The racing commission, 

meanwhile, extended Centaur’s racing license 

from September 2009 to September 2010. If a 

racino license is issued by the end of September, 

Valley View Downs could open as early as fall of 

next year. Lawrence county officials say Valley 

View Downs could mean $15 million in new revenue 

for the county, 1,500 jobs in building 

the track and racino, and 1,000 permanent 

jobs at the racino. 

ROONEYS MEET WITH NFL 

The five Rooney brothers, including Yonkers 

Raceway boss Tim, are scheduled to meet in the 

NFL offices next Thursday to discuss ownership 

plans for the Steelers. 

COUNCIL URGES STEROID BAN 

Kentucky’s Equine Drug Research Council voted 

unanimously yesterday to ban anabolic steroids in 

horses on race day, and require documentation of 

their therapeutic use as well. The Council will recommend 

the ban to the Kentucky Horse Racing 

Commission at its August 25 meeting. The council 

approved a two-tier system, considering use of 

synthetically produced steroids a Class A penalty, 

carrying suspensions of as long as three years, 

and endogenous or naturally-occurring steroids a 

Class B violation, which could be punished by up 

to two months banishment. The research council 

proposes mandatory reports on usage, and if approved 

for therapeutic use would result in prohibition 

of the horse racing for two months. 

HUGE DAY AT HARRAH’S 

Super Stakes Sunday at Harrah’s Chester Casino 

& Racetrack will see a Pennsylvania record $2.38 

million distributed in purses. The $500,000 Colonial 

for trotters and $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine 

for pacers, along with the $350,000 Valley 

Forge for 3 and 4-year old pacing fillies and mares, 

and five other races worth between $100,000 and 

$250,000, are on the card. The Colonial and Battle 

will be broadcast on Sirius radio, channel 127, 

from 6 to 7 p.m. EDT, with Dave Johnson and Bill 

Finley as hosts. 

GET YOUR SIMO ENTRIES IN 

Next Friday, Aug. 22, is the deadline for entries in 

the annual TRA-HTA simulcast awards. Send six 

copies in DVD format to Simulcast Awards, 420 

Fair Hill Drive, Suite 1, Elkton, MD 21921-2573. 

The award will be presented at the Simulcast 

Conference in St. Petersburg Sept. 30.


MANZI, GOODELL, INJURED 

Chester’s big day of huge purses went well for 11 

races yesterday, the $2.38 million being distributed 

bringing out a bevy of the best in the sport. 

Then, in the 12th race, a four-horse spill involving 

four of the best drivers in the game, Tim Tetrick, 

Brian Sears, Eric Goodell, and Cat Manzi. 

Eric Goodell’s mount, the fast pacer Fake Denario 

N, fell with three other horses plowing into 

him. Manzi suffered a broken shoulder blade 

and two fractured ribs and was hospitalized at 

Crozer Chester Medical Center, from which he 

could be released tomorrow. Goodell also was 

taken to the hospital, but released last night. The 

nation’s two leading drivers, Tim Tetrick and 

Brian Sears, who stand 1-2 in earnings in North 

America, were involved in the spill, but both 

walked off the track on their own power, with 

only scrapes and bruises. None of the horses involved 

was seriously injured. Chester cancelled 

the 13th and final race. 

ROUND TABLE ROUNDUP 

The somber tones still reverberating from the 

death of the thoroughbred filly Eight Belles 

echoed at the Jockey Club’s annual Round Table 

yesterday, with more action proposed than in recent 

years. Chairman Dinny Phipps sounded the 

note, telling those assembled, “We are not recommending 

reforms to appease people. We are 

making them because we need to make them.” 

The need is seen as twofold: to aid the health 

and welfare of horses, and to keep the federal 

government away from intervention in the sport 

by taking strong proactive steps. Alan Foreman, 

board chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred 

Horsemen’s Association, talked of formation of 

a single testing laboratory to be owned by the 

tracks; research into gene doping; universal 

adoption of the Racing Medication and 

Testing Consortium’s recommendations; 

and recruiting of graduate students interested 

in drug testing. 




August 18, 2008 

Of interest to those in harness racing was thoroughbred 

racing’s acknowledgment of milkshakes 

as a threat to racing, and the Thoroughbred 

Safety Committee recommending they be 

prohibited in all racing jurisdictions. We’re way 

ahead of the curve on that one. 

Foreman said 18 different laboratories do testing 

currently, and added that “even the best don’t 

have the resources to do the testing needed.... 

Our system worked decades ago, but it won’t 

work now.” 

While the Round Table proposals received positive 

vocal response, one important attendee expressed 

skepticism. Ed Martin, president of the 

Association of Racing Commissioners International, 

perhaps seeing that organization’s projects 

and goals slipping away, was quoted by Tom 

Lamarra in bloodhorse.com as saying, “There 

weren’t many new ideas here today, and the main 

issue has not been addressed. I would challenge 

the industry to match the money now spent on 

drug testing,” which Foreman said is $30 million 

a year. Martin said, “There is no beef. Where’s 

the beef.” 

BOB BENOIT DIES AT 81 

HTA and all of American racing -- and particularly 

this practitioner -- lost a close friend last 

Friday. Bob Benoit died at 81 after a long illness. 

We first met Bob when he was a photographer at 

the old Western Harness meetings at Hollywood 

Park and Santa Anita, and we remained close 

ever since. He and his trusted colleague Rayetta 

Burr were always there with great pictures when 

requested, and Benoit of course moved far past 

photography, having served as publicity director, 

chief operating officer and general manager 

at Hollywood Park. He is a link to a happier 

time in racing, and the loss of his talents and 

close friendship will leave a large void.





August 19, 2008 

KY GOV TO VOTERS: SPEAK UP 

Steve Beshear, the governor of Kentucky who if 

he had his way would have slots at the state’s 

racetracks, has been on a speaking tour of the 

state. He was at a town hall meeting in western 

Kentucky last night, and told attendees they 

needed to speak up and exert political pressure 

in an effort to be heard. Beshear has encountered 

heavy legislative opposition to his project, 

losing a vote earlier this year, but there are signs 

the tide is turning, with some key legislators now 

giving more attention to the idea. 

OCEAN COULD GET MD SLOTS 

Another governor who would like to see slots is 

Martin O’Malley of Maryland, and hometownannapolis.com 

in the state capital rebuts the idea 

that opposition to slots is unanimous in Ocean 

City. The resort town’s mayor and its chamber 

of commerce have fought the idea, but O’Malley 

told the news service that he has spoken to business 

people who support the idea of a racino at 

HTA member Ocean Downs. It is five miles inland 

from the beach, and Hometown Annapolis 

says that if Maryland voters approve slots in 

November, Ocean Downs is the likely site for a 

racino with 2,500 of them. 

SOME SIMULCAST WARNINGS 

Warning Number 1: There are only about 30 

rooms left in the Renaissance Vinoy’s block for 

the TRA-HTA simulcast conference Sept. 30-Oct. 

1. To avail yourself of the very special $145 rate 

single or double (regular rate is $259) contact the 

hotel, 727-894-1000 and ask for the International 

Simulcast Conference block. September 5 is 

the cutoff date. Warning Number 2: Entries for 

this year’s simulcast award close Friday. Send 

six copies of your best production, in DVD format, 

to TRA, 420 Fair Hill Drive, Suite 

1, Elkton, MD, 21921, to arrive by this 

Friday, the 22nd. 

HOORAY FOR SUPPLEMENTALS 

We have campaigned for years, as far back as 

our racing secretary days, for major stakes to be 

opened to supplemental entries. Without them, 

those races frequently wind up with major stars 

missing because they did not show enough promise 

to justify being entered at the time of original 

nomination. One that will not be deprived 

is Saturday’s upcoming Cane Pace, first leg in 

harness racing’s Triple Crown of Pacing. Art 

Official, the conqueror of Somebeachsomewhere 

in the $1.1 million dollar Meadowlands Pace, 

was not nominated for the Cane. The Art Major 

colt’s owners, Sawgrass Stables of Lockport, IL, 

and their trainer, Joe Seekman, have decided to 

spend the $35,000 fee to supplement the colt tomorrow. 

HTA DIRECTORS AND OUR ART 

You have heard this message before -- many 

times -- and are hearing it again. We are mailing 

all of you our 2008 art catalogue, 40 pages in 

color, showing all of the treasures being offered 

this year. If each of you would pick out one piece 

and bid on it, for a trophy or decor of home or 

office, it would go a long way to assure the success 

of the auction on Saturday morning, Oct. 4. 

Our track record in this regard is not good, in 

fact dismal, particularly in view of the fact that 

it is the engine that powers our annual award 

of HTA scholarships to children of participants 

in the sport, or participants themselves. If you 

believe in this worthy cause, support it, and receive 

in return items that artists have created especially 

for harness racing. You do not have to 

be present to bid or win. We have a battery of 

skilled telephone bid takers, and some remarkable 

works of art this year. The price range is almost 

infinite. If you want guidance, or estimates, 

call us and we’ll be happy to respond. But as 

Nike says, don’t just think about it. Do It! 

Operators are waiting for your call.


Chiaravalle asked the commission to force WEG 

to accept his racing entries. He owned 12 horses, 

11 of them trained by Bill Elliott, the 12th -- the 

pacer Fox Valley Tribal -- by Brett Robinson, 

who received a 10-year suspension and $40,000 

fine a year ago for an EPO positive on the horse. 

Trainer Elliott subsequently was informed that 

entries for Chiaravalle horses would be refused. 

Chiaravalle appealed to Woodbine, which refused 

to alter or amend the ban. The deadlock resulted 

in an appeal to the Ontario Racing Commission, 

which has power to govern, direct, control and 

regulate racing in the province. Chiaravalle was 

and is an owner licensed by the commission in 

good standing. Ontario rules of racing provide 

that, “The relationship between an owner and 

trainer shall be based on integrity, disclosure, 

maintaining the health and welfare of the horse, 

and acting in the best interests of racing.” Chiaravalle 

claimed his trainers over the years -- Bill 

and Brett Robinson, Bill Elliott, Monte Gelrod 

and Nat Varty -- all had been given the request to 

“keep it clean.” The commission said, “At some 

stage it should have become apparent that simply 

giving that instruction to demonstrated illegal 

substance violators was woefully inadequate. 

A waste of time.” All five trainers have 

had illegal substance violations, some 

still in effect. 




August 20, 2008 

IMPORTANT EXCLUSION CASE The commission also was troubled by a claim 

We now have the full 14-page text of the Ontario 

Racing Commission decision in the appeal of his application stated, “During my 32 years in 

made by Chiaravalle. His affidavit in support 

of owner Antonio Chiaravalle from exclusion of the horse racing industry my horses have been 

his horses from Woodbine Entertainment Group involved in one prior infraction,” on a horse 

tracks. It is interesting, and you undoubtedly named Flight Plan for milkshaking in 2003. It 

will read more about it when HTA’s fourth edition 

of exclusion from tracks rolls from Bennett horse named Armbro Trench, trained by Monte 

turns out that was not true, that a Chiaravalle 

Liebman’s computer. The ORC held the Chiaravalle 

hearing June 27, a final submission was at the Meadowlands resulting in a $40,000 loss 

Gelrod, tested positive in two consecutive races 

made July 15, and the ORC report on the matter of purses for Chiaravalle and a year’s suspension 

for Gelrod. Chiaravalle told the commis- 

was dated Aug. 15. 

sion he had forgotten that. The commission said 

they found it difficult to believe that an owner 

would forget the stigma of two successive positives, 

the loss of $40,000 in purse, and having to 

switch trainers because of the long suspension. 

It said the suspension of Fox Valley Tribal was a 

fifth positive test for Chiaravalle horses. Given 

that, the commission asked rhetorically if WEG 

“should be obliged to absorb into its racing product 

the cumulative taint of five positive tests and 

the culminating robust tarnish of an EPO violation?” 

It decided it should not, and concluded that 

the vast preponderance of the public interest favors 

WEG’s position. “The applicant has failed 

to discharge the onus of proof of a balance of 

probabilities based on cogent evidence, clear and 

compelling.... The gravity of the industry peril 

from drug violators requires resolute response 

focused on deterrence, specific and general. 

No basis for ORC intervention has been established.” 

The commission declined to intervene, 

declaring WEG within its rights in banning Chiaravalle, 

and dismissed his appeal. The full ruling 

is posted on the HTA Web site. 

LAST 2 DAYS TO SEND DVDs 

Today and tomorrow are your final days to submit 

6 DVDs of your best simulcast production to 

TRA for judging. They must be received Friday 

to be eligible for judging.





August 21, 2008 

CALIFORNIA CRACKS DOWN 

The California Horse Racing Board, determined 

to rid the state’s horse racing of illegal substance 

abuses, has conducted a raid of the stable of the 

leading trainer at Del Mar, John Sadler. No 

charges were leveled, but Dr. Rick Arthur, the 

board’s equine medical director and a leader in 

the national battle for uniform rules and eradication 

of illegal medication, said 38 of 418 steroid 

tests under California’s new tough laws were 

found in violation, 17 with one trainer and 11 

with another. “Two trainers have been responsible 

for 70% of the violations for steroid tests 

at Hollywood Park and Del Mar,” Arthur said. 

On Tuesday, racing board chairman Rick Shapiro 

held up a sheet of paper at a meeting of the 

commission’s medication committee and said, 

“Just look at the top of the trainers’ and owners’ 

list.” Blood-Horse reported that racing board 

executive director Kirk Breed had confirmed 

the search of Sadler’s barn after Sadler turned 

up with an undisclosed number of anabolic steroid 

violations since official testing began Aug. 

1. The Paulick Report said Sadler was considering 

a lawsuit against the board, and Breed responded 

to that report by saying he welcomed 

the suit, and hoped Sadler’s veterinarian would 

sue too. Jack Shinar in his Blood-Horse story, 

quoted Breed as saying, “Listen, we have every 

right to shake his barn down and to say what we 

are looking for. Anything that goes on in that 

enclosure we can investigate. And over the past 

two weeks, all I can say is that his name has been 

coming up with positives for anabolic steroids.” 

Dr. Arthur was quoted as saying, “Personally, 

I’ve never thought that anabolic steroids were 

much of a performance enhancer in racehorses. 

I might have been wrong. Clearly, some trainers 

feel they are. And they are willing to embarrass 

themselves and embarrass the horse racing 

profession, which they are doing so 

badly here.” 

WE ARE NOT ALONE 

It is no consolation to learn that four Olympic 

jumping horses have been provisionally suspended 

by testing positive for use of capsaicin, a 

banned derivative of chili peppers used as a pain 

killer. The four were part of the teams from Ireland, 

Brazil, Germany and bronze medal winning 

Norway. Following an “accelerated” second 

test further action could be announced, and it is 

possible that Norway could lose its medal. 

ON THE COMMISSION BEAT 

In Virginia, Stan Bowker, a veteran of 40 years 

of racing, including 12 in Virginia, is retiring as 

executive secretary of the Virginia Racing Commission 

September 1. His successor is Vic Harrison, 

a longtime popular figure with United Tote, 

and more recently an official at Tioga Downs and 

Vernon Downs in New York. 

In Maine, the Gambling Control Board, noting 

candidly that “everyone was ignoring it anyway,” 

decided to lift its moratorium on more casinostyle 

gambling venues. During the two-year period 

the “nonbinding resolve” was in effect, the 

state has seen several gambling proposals arise. 

A proposed gambling impact study never was 

funded or done, so the commission decided to let 

the moratorium request “die on the vine.” 

Thriving on the same vine is HTA member Bangor 

Raceway, now known as Hollywood Slots 

Hotel and Raceway. When it opened its new 

$132 million facility July 1 it began a recordsetting 

run that included four $3 million days 

and twelve $2 million days, with total handle of 

more than $75 million. Hollywood Slots is a Penn 

National track, an HTA member, and has an immediate 

opening for a full time track maintenance 

man. Maine is pretty and offers good living, and 

the track is doing well. If interested, contact 

corey.smith@pngaming.com.





August 22, 2008 

HUGE BOOST FOR HTA ART 

In a hugely significant art development for harness 

racing and art collectors, and a giant boost 

for HTA’s College Scholarship Fund, the upcoming 

Oct. 4 HTA art auction has had nine original 

paintings and drawings by George Ford Morris 

consigned to the sale. 

The collection, including seven exquisite oil 

paintings, are of celebrated harness horses of 

the past. The oils include Messenger, his sire 

Mambrino, Electioneer, Axtell, Greyhound, Dan 

Patch, and Blackhawk and Lady Suffolk, and a 

superb charcoal of Justin Morgan. 

The paintings are from the estate of Sandra Van 

Buren, wife of former harness racing executive 

Bill Van Buren, and are the most valuable single 

consignment in the 31 years of the HTA Scholarship 

Art Auction. George Ford Morris works 

are highly sought by collectors, and a collection 

of this magnitude almost never appears on the 

market. 

With the regular 40-page printed catalogue of 

the auction already in distribution, a special full 

color supplement featuring the works is being 

prepared. 

LIKE BIG PAYOFFS? TRY THESE 

Sweden’s V64 bet, available to American bettors 

at HTA members The Meadowlands and Freehold 

Raceway and also at the Meadowlands’ sister 

track Monmouth Park, will carry a jackpot 

pool of $3.7 million into next Wednesday’s races. 

Advance wagering begins Monday, involves 

picking the winners of six consecutive races, and 

further information on procedures and racing 

information can be obtained from the publicity 

department at the Meadowlands, 201-460-4050. 

Betting is available until post time at 1 

p.m. eastern time on Wednesday. No 

mastery of Swedish is necessary. 

MAJOR PROPOSAL ON WHIPS 

The Board of Directors of the Hambletonian Society 

has passed a resolution on whipping, and 

submitted it to the United States Trotting Association 

as a proposed rule change. The proposed 

rule would require drivers to keep a line 

in each hand for the entire duration of a race, 

thus eliminating the negative image of vigorous 

one-handed whipping, widely perceived as brutality 

rather than necessity. The Society, in its 

proposal, said the rule “certainly is not intended 

as a criticism of our drivers whose use of the 

whip was within the rules in the past. It also is 

not intended in any way to relieve any driver of 

the responsibility of maintaining control of their 

horse for their own safety and the safety of others 

during the race when they use their whip as 

permitted under the rule.” The specified proposal 

calls for amending the last sentence in the 

second paragraph of USTA Rule 18, Section 9, 

which currently reads, “Drivers shall keep a line 

in each hand from the start of the race until the 

head of the stretch finishing the race,” to read, 

“Drivers shall keep a line in each hand from the 

start of the race until after the finish of the race.” 

The Society intends to urge the Association of 

Racing Commissioners International and its 

members where harness racing is conducted to 

amend their rules “for the sake of the industry’s 

public responsibility and image.” 

“WE MEAN BUSINESS!” 

That was the angry response of California Horse 

Racing Board chairman Richard Shapiro after 

hearing a report from Dr. Rick Arthur, the 

board’s equine medical director, that some trainers 

are continuing to administer anabolic steroids. 

Vice chairman John Harris, who serves 

on the board’s medication committee with Shapiro, 

backed up the board’s resolve, saying, “We 

will have no sympathy for any owners or trainers 

who flaunt our rules.” No names were mentioned 

during the committee meeting.





August 25, 2008 

ANOTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENT 

On the heels of racing accidents that hospitalized 

top drivers Cat Manzi and Tommy Haughton, 

another -- this one in Maritime Canada -- 

where Canada’s leading woman driver, Clare 

MacDonald, was injured in a spill at Exhibition 

Park in Saint John, New Brunswick. She was 

thrown from her sulky and dragged across the 

racing surface, and was unconscious for an hour 

after being taken to St. John General Hospital 

yesterday. She suffered rib and other injuries, 

but is conscious now and reported recovering 

rapidly. Ms. MacDonald is the only Canadian 

woman driver with more than 1,000 victories, 

and was scheduled to drive in two Mildred Williams 

series races this week for the benefit of the 

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. 

OHIOANS FAVOR CASINO 

At least that’s what the Columbus Dispatch says 

its latest poll shows. The newspaper reported 

that 53% of 2,102 voters contacted said they either 

favor or strongly favor the creation of a $600 

million casino and resort between Columbus and 

Cincinnati, near the town of Wilmington, long 

a harness stronghold. Thirty-seven percent oppose 

or strongly oppose the idea. 

MORE PENNSYLVANIA FIGURES 

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reports its nearby 

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course 

is running ahead of projections despite gas prices 

that exploded about the time the $312 million casino 

opened six months ago. It has handled some 

$1.2 billion and paid out $1.1 billion, which puts 

it between the $1.3 billion poured into slots at 

Philadelphia Park and ahead of the $791 million 

dropped in at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. 

The story by Sharon Smith says Philadelphia 

Park earned $120.4 million from slots in 

those six months and Mohegan Sun at 

Pocono $62.1 million. Business is brisk. 

“A BAFFLING CONVERSATION” 

That was the quote attributed to CNET founder 

Halsey Minor in this morning’s edition of Ray 

Paulick’s newsy Paulick Report, following Minor’s 

attempts to discuss buying Santa Anita and 

the Maryland Jockey Club tracks with Magna 

Entertainment’s chief financial officer, Blake Tohana. 

“I had the most baffling conversation in 

my life with a CFO, particularly one whose job 

depends on asset sales,” Minor e-mailed Paulick, 

and reportedly copied Tohana. “Basically,” Minor 

said, “nothing is for sale. Maybe they have 

some time shares for you.” Tohana said Frank 

Stronach misspoke when he said “he was considering 

selling a majority interest in Santa Anita. 

Now it is back to a minority interest.” 

Minor, who is trying to buy Hialeah Park from 

John Brunetti, also told Paulick that Magna is 

not guaranteed any slot franchises in the measure 

going to voters in November in Maryland, 

and they would need to post a $50 million bond 

“which they don’t have to get one.” He said, 

“You would think you were talking to the CFO 

of Microsoft sitting on a pile of cash, given the 

attitude.... Without an investment bank, nothing 

sells if my experience is any guide.” Tohana 

told Minor, who he said he did not know and 

ultimately hung up on, that Minor “misrepresented” 

the conversation. “Further,” he e- 

mailed them, “Your manner of communicating 

to me via e-mail and telephone was inconsiderate, 

rude and misinformed. In doing my job, I 

have always carried myself with dignity and professionalism. 

I think that view would be shared 

by anyone who has dealt with me during my career.” 

He said Magna has sold more than $400 

million in assets “without investment bankers” 

and would continue to pursue other asset sales 

and joint venture transactions as in the past. Tohana 

was greatly annoyed at both Paulick’s and 

Minor’s “insulting” calls during a family 

vacation.





ROONEYS MEET NFL TODAY 

The five Rooney brothers are meeting with National 

Football League commissioner Roger 

Goodell today in New York, complying with 

Goodell’s request to see if the ownership of the 

Pittsburgh Steelers can be resolved. Brother 

Dan, the Steelers chairman, has offered a plan 

to buy out his brothers -- Tim, Art Jr., Pat and 

John -- but they have rejected that idea and 

hired Goldman, Sachs & Co. to provide guidance. 

Tim Rooney, who runs Yonkers Raceway, 

told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he had 

“no particular hopes or wishes” for the meeting, 

that he was meeting to comply with the commissioner’s 

request, and that “we will have to wait 

and see what develops.” 

A LOVELY PROBLEM TO HAVE 

Cash rich Keeneland in Lexington, KY, is one of 

America’s truly great racetracks, and certainly 

one of its prettiest. It has a problem, however, 

in that it draws more people than it can accommodate 

comfortably, so its president, Nick Nicholson, 

called a town hall meeting last night to 

get suggestions. A gathering of 125 or so turned 

out, and their refrain was, “Keep it green, and 

add more toilets.” Nicholson acknowledged the 

problem, saying that two-thirds of its 477,000 

patrons last year had no place to sit down, the 

track having only 8,500 seats. Nicholson has 

hired the sports stadium firm HOK to make 

recommendations, saying changes will be on the 

interior of the track and not its leafy, green exterior 

grounds. He acknowledged people spent 

too much time in lines and too much time getting 

in and out of the plant. Big player Mike 

Maloney urged plans for technology for handicappers. 

One fan urged no changes in the rural 

atmosphere and greenery of the exterior, saying, 

“That’s really where the magic is.” 

Nicholson said, “We’re growing faster 

August 26, 2008 

than our facility is, but not going to change who 

we are,” or mess with Keeneland’s soul. 

AN ANABOLIC FREE AUTUMN 

There will be no horses racing with anabolic 

steroids at the fall Grand Circuit meeting at the 

Red Mile, or if there is it is likely to be the last 

time it happens. Kentucky has adopted tough 

new rules, and is requiring trainers shipping 

horses to Kentucky to abide by them or certify 

their horses have not been administered steroids 

for 60 days prior to racing. If they have, they 

will be ineligible to race in the state for 60 days 

or until a testing lab provides a negative steroid 

report. Harnessracing.com, reporting on 

the development, says persons claiming a horse 

can request steroid tests and void any claim that 

comes back positive. 

LIFE BEGINS AT 90 

A chestnut trotter named Winsome Wyoming 

won the second race at the DuQuoin State Fair 

in Illinois Sunday. Nothing too unusual about 

that, except the driver was Leo Burns of Albion, 

Illinois. Burns is 93 years old, the oldest active 

driver in the United States. It was his fourth 

win this year. Last year he won 8 of 12 starts. 

He took the wins casually, saying, “I ain’t got no 

secret about winning. I’ve been racing for more 

than 50 years. DuQuoin is one of my favorite 

tracks.” 

DON IRVINE JR. DOWN AGAIN 

Don Irvine Jr., the six-time leading driver at 

Hoosier Park in Indiana, but racing on a probationary 

license after failing a sobriety test last 

March, has been suspended again. No details 

available yet from the commission, which is investigating, 

but harnessracing.com reports the 

suspension came following an incident in the 

Hoosier Park casino.





August 27, 2008 

NEW HALL OF FAMERS NAMED 

Kentucky breeders Tom Crouch and Alan 

Leavitt, and New York track operator and 

breeder Tim Rooney, have received harness racing’s 

highest honor, election to the sport’s Living 

Hall of Fame. 

Crouch, owner of Kentuckiana Farms, has bred 

six winners of Breeders Crowns, and was the 

co-founder of the Kentucky Standardbred Sales 

Company and a director of the Hambletonian 

Society. 

Leavitt has been associated with some of the 

greatest horses in the sport, including Speedy 

Crown, No Nukes, Mack Lobell, Andover Hall, 

Conway Hall and Cambest, in his role as master 

of Lana Lobell Farm and now Walnut Hall Stud. 

He was the man most singularly responsible for 

syndication in the sport. 

Rooney, one of the five sons of legendary Art 

Rooney, has run Yonkers Raceway in New York 

as part of the Rooney sports empire that includes 

the Pittsburgh Steelers and Palm Beach Kennel 

Club, and has bred top horses at his breeding 

operation in Maryland. 

Also headed to enshrinement in Goshen are longtime 

Illinois and Florida harness racing publicist 

John Berry and New Jersey’s public relations 

consultant and legislative lobbyist Leon Zimmerman, 

both named to the Communicators 

Hall of Fame. 

In Canada, harness breeder Pierre Levesque, 

owner of Angus Farms; the late Cliff Chapman 

Jr., former publisher of the Canadian Sportsman 

and incomparable auction bid-spotter; and 

archivist and historian Louis Cauz, along with 

the superb trotting mare Peaceful Way and pacing 

standout Real Desire, will be inducted 

into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of 

Fame tomorrow night. 

TUCSON OFFICIALS SEMINAR 

The Racing Official Accreditation Program announced 

today that it will conduct the first “Conference 

on Officiating Horse Racing” on Monday, 

Dec. 8, the day before the University of Arizona’s 

35th annual Symposium on Racing and Gaming 

gets underway in Tucson. The morning and afternoon 

sessions, designed for stewards, judges, 

racing commissioners, regulators, horsemen 

and racing fans interested in the daily regulation 

and officiating of horse racing, will be free, 

with lunch served. Prior registration will be required, 

available either online at www.horseracingofficials.com 

under “Upcoming Events,” 

or by calling Jennifer Voss-Franco, ROAP coordinator 

of racing officials, at 859-224-2702. 

The announced agenda includes discussions on 

determining penalties, trainer responsibility, 

enforcing house rules, race video review, model 

rules development, coordinating uniform regulations 

and education requirements for licensees. 

Frank Lamb, former executive director of 

the Wyoming racing commission, will serve as 

moderator, and speakers include Alan Foreman, 

chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s 

Assn.; Dr. Ted Hill, Jockey Club steward 

at NYRA tracks; Eddie Arroyo, Illinois Racing 

Board steward; Dr. Scot Waterman, executive 

director of the Racing Medication and Testing 

Consortium; Hugh Gallagher, executive director 

of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission; 

Duayne Didericksen, chairman of the American 

Quarter Horse Assn. Racing Committee; Stan 

Bowker, chairman of the Racing Officials Accreditation 

Program; and Joe Gorajec, executive 

director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission 

and chairman of the Association of Racing 

Commissioners International. We trust excessive 

whipping will be addressed during the daylong 

seminar at the Westin La Paloma Resort, 

with discussion of enforcement of present 

rules and proposed new ones.





August 28, 2008 

WALTER CASE BACK IN NEWS 

A chat line report today says Walter Case Jr., one 

of the supreme driving talents in harness racing 

but a problem child for years, will be getting out 

of prison next month, nine months early for good 

behavior, “and will be taking his whip, helmet 

and colors to take up residence at The Meadows.” 

The report was news to The Meadows. 

Vice president and general manager of racing 

John Marshall said it was the first he had heard 

of the report, that he never had heard from Case, 

and that obviously approval of the Pennsylvania 

Harness Racing Commission would be the first 

essential step to Case returning to action in the 

state. Marshall said he would consider an application 

from Case if he received commission 

approval, and that he is weighing the status of 

Eric Ledford, who recently was forgiven his sins 

by Peter Szymanski of Ocean Downs, who said 

he believed in giving people a second chance. If 

Pennsylvania’s commission felt that Walter Case 

had served his time and paid for his misdeeds, 

and The Meadows were to accept him, it would 

set up a classic confrontation between Case and 

Dave Palone, who has long dominated the track’s 

driving colony and overshadows all drivers competing 

there. He and Case rank high among the 

sport’s all-time great drivers. Palone has won 

HTA’s hugely difficult-to-win Driver of the Year 

title four times, and Case won it three times before 

his career was cut short. 

THE POWER OF SLOTS 

The Meadows, while discussing it, is perhaps the 

prime example of what slots can do for tracks 

and the horsemen who race at them. A year ago 

the track was overpaid $2.5 million in its purse 

account. Today, 12 months later, it is underpaid 

by $5.6 million. John Marshall is meeting with 

his horsemen to discuss the underpayment, 

with plans to enrich The Meadows 

stakes program for 2009. 

TOUGH TIMES, NEW TRACKS 

Times may be tough economically, but the shining 

light of alternative gaming still serves as a 

lure to entrepreneurs hopeful of cashing in on 

slots. Two new race tracks, one in Ontario and 

the other in New Mexico, are in the news today. 

In Ontario, a Toronto-based group called 

Baymount Inc. is holding a groundbreaking 

ceremony today in Belleville, Ontario, on a $22 

million development of a new racetrack, racino 

and Quinte Exhibition grounds. In New Mexico, 

the racing commission approved the application 

of a group called Horse Racing at Raton for a 

$50 million track and racino. A Toronto-area developer 

named Michael Moldenhauer, plans to 

build a facility on 225 acres in Raton, which was 

home to New Mexico’s first racetrack, La Mesa 

Park, which opened in 1946 and closed in 1992. 

Raton won out over two other applicants, one in 

Tucumcari that would draw mainly Texas fans, 

and the other by the Pueblo of Pojoaque Indian 

tribe, which was denied after officials of The 

Downs in Albuquerque refused to sign an agreement 

to allow simulcasting in Santa Fe, within 

80 miles of the area protected by New Mexico 

law. 

PRICE FIXING, PURE & SIMPLE 

That was the charge of Churchill Downs against 

the recently formed Thoroughbred Horsemen’s 

Group and other horsemen’s groups it has sued, 

as reported by Ryan Conley on bloodhorse.com. 

Churchill was responding to a motion to dismiss 

its lawsuit against “ringleaders” of an alleged 

conspiracy to unlawfully increase revenue 

shares from internet, telephone and mobile wagering 

devices. The horsemen had cited the Interstate 

Horseracing Act of 1978 in its rationale, 

but Churchill attorney David M. Schiffman says 

that act contains no exemption from antitrust 

laws and does not say that horsemen’s rights 

are “absolute, without regard to other federal 

statutes.”





August 29, 2008 

A HUGE WEEKEND OF RACING 

It would be hard to imagine a bigger weekend of 

racing than this Labor Day holiday lineup. Anchoring 

the whole show is a remarkable Saturday 

night card at Mohawk Racetrack, so remarkable 

that it warrants listing the first 10 races. They 

are: 

1. $50,000 consolation, She’s A Great Lady 

2. $600,000 Breeders Crown open trot 

3. $132,327 Simcoe 3-year-old open trot 

4. $100,000 Metro consolation, 2-year-olds 

5. $672,000 She’s A Great Lady, 2-year filly pace 

6. $1 million Metro 2-year-old pacing colts 

7. $250,000 Breeders Crown mare trot 

8. $331,500 Breeders Crown mare pace 

9. $500,000 Breeders Crown older pacers, featuring 

another meeting of Mister Big and Artistic 

Fella. 

10. $132,327 division, Simcoe 3-year-open trot 

Mohawk follows on Sunday with the $249,813 

Simcoe for 3-year-old filly pacers, and three divisions, 

each worth between $111,636 and $113,636, 

for 2-year-old trotters. 

On Monday Mohawk will host three $96,508 divisions 

of the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old 

filly trotters. 

In DuQuoin, Illinois, the $500,000 World Trotting 

Derby with undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe 

going for a world record, and the $250,000 

filly division. 

At Freehold Raceway, the $392,850 Cane Pace, 

first leg of the Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, and 

the $156,940 Battle of Freehold for 2-year-olds, 

both on Labor Day. 

At Rockingham Park Sunday, the $50,000 Carney 

Memorial Trot. 

And other $50,000 attractions dotting the 

holiday cards. 

MAGNA WELCOMES THG TALKS 

While Churchill Downs sues them, calling them 

“ringleaders” of an alleged conspiracy to unlawfully 

increase revenue shares from internet, 

telephone and mobile wagering devices, Magna 

Entertainment has announced it is continuing 

discussions with the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s 

Group “aimed at improving the economic 

condition of the horse racing industry through 

the development of more equitable pricing and 

distribution models for advanced deposit wagering.” 

Magna chairman and CEO Frank 

Stronach, commenting on the discussions, said, 

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the 

THG as a national agency assisting local horsemen’s 

groups. We are having very constructive 

conversations with Bob Reeves and Wilson Shirley 

of the THG. We all understand horseracing 

faces major challenges, and I personally believe 

that a national horsemen’s group could be very 

beneficial in addressing major national issues 

like advanced deposit wagering pricing and distribution 

strategy. I am hopeful that in the near 

future, we will develop a new framework which 

will improve the economics of the horseracing industry 

for both race tracks and horse owners.” 


An HTA member association located in Canada is 

looking for a Director of Racing. The position is 

full-time/year-round. Interested parties should 

send resumes to info@harnesstracks.com. 

The Meadows announced today that its Meadows 

Racing Network will be broadcast by Comcast 

starting next Tuesday, making the show available 

to 175,000 cable subscribers in Pittsburgh 

and its surrounding area. 

The California Horse Racing Board will conduct 

a public hearing to consider mandating the use 

of safety reins.





September 2, 2008 

A CHALLENGE IN MARYLAND 

As the fate of slots in Maryland -- and the state’s 

racetracks -- draws nearer, opponents have 

mounted a bid to prohibit election officials from 

certifying the ballot language. They are asking 

the state, according to delmarva.com, to direct 

the secretary of state “to revise the ballot 

question with neutral language that fairly and 

accurately apprises voters of the true nature of 

the issue.” The secretary of state in Maryland, 

recently appointed, is John McDonough, a longtime 

lawyer and lobbyist for HTA member Rosecroft 

Raceway. 

The opponents, anti-slots groups called Stop 

Slots Maryland and No Casino Maryland, are 

represented by attorney Irwin Kramer, who last 

year tried to overturn the special legislative session 

that approved the upcoming Nov. 4 referendum. 

Kramer, filing an emergency motion with 

the Anne Arundel County Court, says the secretary 

of state “is not permitted to beg the question 

or to manipulate voter preferences by emphasizing 

certain aspects of the revenue plan and by 

omitting less popular purposes.” He wants the 

present language to authorize slots, which reads 

“for the purpose of raising revenue for education 

of children in public schools....and construction 

of capital projects at community colleges 

and higher education institutions,” but does not 

mention benefits for Maryland horse racing, to 

be changed to “for the purpose of raising revenue 

to be distributed to certain public programs 

and private entities.” 

McDonough, named secretary of state last month 

by Gov. Martin O’Malley, said he anticipated 

criticism but was simply condensing the will of 

the General Assembly. Fred Puddester, chairman 

of a group called Maryland For Our 

Future that favors slots, says “voters 

know what they’re voting on -- a slots bill 

that funds education.” 

POMPANO TAKES THE LEAD 

The Isle Casino and Racing at Pompano Park, 

preparing for its 45th season of racing Sept. 12, 

has announced the most stringent track rules 

on whipping in harness racing. Under the program, 

drivers and trainers will be prohibited at 

all times -- in races, non-wagering events, qualifying 

races, and warming up -- from taking the 

lines in one hand and whipping, or reaching back 

to whip with their whip hand behind their head 

or hips. Penalties will be $100 for the first offense, 

$250 and five-day suspension for a second, 

and possible denial of all racing privileges and 

ejection from the grounds for multiple offenses. 

The same penalties will be enforced for striking 

a horse below the shafts of the sulky, and excessive 

whipping at any point in a race will subject 

the offender to fines of up to $1,000 and possible 

suspension or ejection. Pompano says the whipping 

issue was first brought to its attention by 

leaders of the Florida Standardbred Breeders 

and Owners Association, and the new rules have 

been endorsed by leading drivers at the track. 

Michael Bloom, The Isle’s vice president and 

general manager, said, “We’re very pleased to 

be the first track in North America to implement 

these new rules. We know our drivers will abide 

by them and we hope to become the model for all 

horse tracks to follow.” 

HARNESS SERIES ON TVG 

Trotters & Pacers, a series of half-hour features on 

all aspects of harness racing, debuted this morning 

on TVG. Produced by Vigilante Films, the 

series is admirably hosted by Gary Seibel, longtime 

harness racing commentator and currently 

a host on TVG. Today’s first show, sponsored by 

the Hambletonian Society, includes segments on 

the Breeders Crowns, Donato Hanover, trainer 

Steve Elliot, and Ray Schnittker and the 

undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe.






AN HISTORIC DAILY DOUBLE A RALLY TO SHAKE A SLOW BOARD 

Mohawk Raceway has scored a coup, and could Come Friday, it will be a year since the Pennsylvania 

Harness Racing Commission granted 

enjoy its biggest night ever Saturday when the 

two reigning kings of North American harness Centaur Gaming the state’s final harness racing 

racing, trotter Deweycheatumnhowe and pacer license. A year later, the state’s Gaming Control 

Somebeachsomewhere, both race in an unprecedented 

first dual appearance. 

on Centaur’s principals. We do not know how 

Board says it still is doing background checks 

many days a week, or how many hours a day, 

Dewey, unbeaten in 17 career starts, will appear 

in an elimination race for the upcoming $1 a world record for delay. The board holds an- 

the board’s investigators work, but they may set 

million Canadian Trotting Classic. This year’s other meeting this month, while Centaur tries to 

Hambletonian winner has banked $2,237,080 hold its financing together in tough times for the 

and is coming off a 1:50.4 victory in the $550,000 $400 million plus project. To lend support, officials 

of Lawrence county, where the track will 

World Trotting Derby in DuQuoin, Illinois. His 

opponents Saturday night include Crazed, who be built when the gaming board approves, will 

tested him in a stirring stretch drive while finishing 

second in the Hambletonian. 

near the site of the proposed track and racino. 

be holding a rally Friday along state route 422, 

Carmen Schick, once a foe but now an ally and 

Somebeachsomewhere, winner of 14 of 15 lifetime 

starts and with earnings of $2,324,092, will rally. He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that 

part of the Centaur plan, is helping organize the 

race in a $132,326 division of the Simcoe stakes the mile track and racino, together with a $400 

for 3-year-olds. He set a world record of 1:49.2 million indoor water park he plans to build at 

on a half-mile track, winning the $493,000 Confederation 

Cup at Flamboro Downs in his last shops and condominiums, “is the linchpin to this 

the site with hotels, 400,000 square feet of retail 

start, has won four in a row, and is being pointed region’s economic recovery.” Lawrence county 

toward a world record performance at the Red commissioner Dan Vogler, leading the rally effort 

with Schick, told the newspaper he plans to 

Mile in Lexington, KY, in coming weeks. He has 

drawn the rail for Saturday’s Simcoe, facing a attend every gaming board meeting, held once or 

field that includes The Mohegan Pan, Legacy N twice a month, in support of Centaur until action 

Diamonds, Dali and Deuce Seelster. 

is taken on the license application. Richard Wukich, 

an art professor at nearby Slippery Rock 

PA DOING WELL, THANK YOU University, who is one of the Friday rally organizers, 

said people need to realize the importance 

The state of Pennsylvania thanks all of its slots 

contributors for their avid play at the state’s of the several thousand jobs that will be created 

racetracks. The state collected $47.5 million in by the project. Friday’s rally will begin at 2 pm 

August, bringing its fiscal year total to $102.6 at Schick’s Ambrosia Enterprises in Edinburg, 

million, according to pennlive.com. Those numbers 

include taxes, fees and interest, and $47 hold a “suitability hearing” this month to hear 

PA. Gaming board officials, meanwhile, plan to 

million of the total goes to property tax relief testimony on its background check. It will get 

for Pennsylvanians. That brings the tax around to the license application sometime, it is 

reduction fund to $101.8 million for the 

hoped, while thousands wait for work in the 

fiscal year. 

economically hard-pressed area.






SPECIAL HTA AUGUST REPORT 

HTA’s August report for our track executives, a 

265-page study of Purse Distribution Analysis by 

Race Type at HTA Tracks in 2007 by executive 

assistant Brody Johnson, is a valuable addition 

to HTA literature. It is posted today on our proprietary 

home page Web site. 

This sixth edition of the survey covers 33 member 

tracks, using a model developed by University 

of Arizona Race Track Industry students eight 

years ago that was applied to every race at each 

HTA member last year. Raw data was provided 

by David Carr of USTA, and our deep thanks to 

both. 

The report creates a benchmarking record of 

where purses have been and where the trends 

are leading. Each track was separated into its 

own Excel file, with each race categorized as 

claiming, conditioned or a stakes event. The 

data for each track was used to create tables and 

charts indicating the purse and race percentage 

as compared to the total distribution, as well as 

the average number of starters in each category. 

Claiming races are grouped according to price 

level, conditioned races are grouped by nonwinners 

of a certain number of races or amount 

of money, and stakes are grouped according to 

purse levels. There is no report like it available 

anywhere else in harness racing. 

EXPERIENCED GM AVAILABLE 

A general manager with longtime successful experience 

currently is available for immediate 

duty. Interested parties should contact HTA. 

Also on the job front, Steve Morro, chief operating 

officer of slot maker International Game 

Technology, resigned yesterday, but will remain 

with the Reno, Nevada based company in a 

non-executive capacity. T.J. Matthews 

will assume COO duties Sept. 27. 

I’M THE DECIDER: JOHN SABINI 

He didn’t put in quite the same language as our 

leader in Washington, but John Sabini, the new 

chairman of the New York Racing and Wagering 

board, made it clear he will be in charge in his 

new role. The Saratogian in Saratoga Springs, 

NY, quoted him as using the third person in 

saying, at his first racing board meeting, “The 

governor indicated that the new chairman will 

have a lot to say about where we’re heading as a 

state with regard to all of these revenue issues.” 

The former state senator from Queens, who describes 

himself as “a very casual horseplayer,” 

gave what is a heads-up to tracks and racinos 

when he said the thought New York “can and 

should be able to reap greater financial rewards 

from each entity in racing.” The Saratogian led 

its story by Paul Post saying, “John Sabini has 

a simple goal: raise more money for the state.” 

Forewarned may or may not be forearmed for 

New York tracks, but we thought we would pass 

this along. 

KY CONSIDERS ITS OWN LAB 

At the recent Jockey Club Round Table, Alan 

Foreman, chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred 

Horsemen’s Association, discussed the possibility 

of a central super testing laboratory to be 

owned by tracks. We wrote that states would not 

readily give up those labs they zealously control. 

It did not take long for proof. Kentucky announced 

yesterday it is considering establishing 

“a top quality drug testing lab,” perhaps by accepting 

the offer of an existing lab (Iowa State?) 

to move to Kentucky and using it as the base for a 

Kentucky lab. The proposal was discussed at the 

first meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on the 

Future of Horse Racing. Board chairman Tracy 

Farmer said, “Kentucky’s the logical place for 

a super lab for other athletic endeavors.” The 

U.S. Equestrian Federation, which does testing 

for quarter horses, expects to relocate 

from Ithaca, NY, to Lexington.


ODDS CALLED EVEN IN MD 

Shawn Soper, the news editor of The Dispatch in 

Ocean City, Maryland, reports this morning that 

“despite strong rhetoric from an organized and 

vocal anti-slots contingent in the local area and 

across Maryland, the November referendum on 

the gaming machines appears to be an even bet.” 

Citing local merchants’ opposition, Soper noted, 

“What is uncertain, however, is just how the 

general population in the resort, or Worcester 

county, or even across the state, feel about legalizing 

the gaming devices.” He added, “All of the 

e-mails, phone calls and personal contacts I’ve 

had in this district seem to indicate a pro-stance 

on slots.” Ocean City Chamber of Commerce 

lobbyist Dennis Rasmussen acknowledged that 

“there appears to be a silent majority across 

Maryland in favor of the gaming machines. With 

two months to go, the referendum could go either 

way and it will likely come down to which faction 

is most successful in getting its message out.” If 

slots are approved, HTA member Ocean Downs, 

less than 10 miles from the shore resort, will be 

a site. State senator Lowell Stoltzfus, commenting 

on that, said that Ocean Downs “will likely 

be transformed from a folksy, country racetrack 

to something far different. Mr. Rickman will be 

required to spend $125 million there if slots are 

approved for Ocean City. It’s going to look good 

and it’s going to look glitzy.” 

NEW RACE BOSS IN ALBERTA 

Shirley McLellan, who has held five cabinet 

portfolios including deputy prime minister of 

Alberta, is the new chairwoman of Horse Racing 

Alberta. A lifetime fan of both harness and 

thoroughbred racing, she succeeds and will work 

closely with Dr. David Reid, who stepped aside 

after six years under the provincial mandatory 

term limit, but will remain on the 

board as chief executive officer. 





Ms. McLellan’s appointment was applauded 

widely, particularly by Northlands Park, whose 

racing manager Kevin Behm said the track was 

pleased with the appointment, “Shirley has 

worked hard, and her experience is sure to be 

helpful in these difficult and turbulent times for 

the racing industry. She has the kind of background 

needed to help put the sport back on 

track in many ways.” Outgoing chairman Reid, 

who has introduced numerous innovations during 

his maximum six-year term, said, “If you 

close your eyes and try to imagine who would 

be the sort of person we would need....you would 

keep coming back to her name. It’s amazing to 

us that she had enough interest to apply. She has 

enormous skills.” 

INDIAN WARS IN BUFFALO 

The buffalo played a major role for Indians in 

the early west in this country, and now Buffalo, 

the city, and the federal government are giving 

them trouble. In July, a federal judge revoked 

the Seneca Nation’s authority for a temporary 

casino, but the Senecas refused to comply or shut 

it down. Now the National Indian Gaming Commission 

has issued a “notice of violation” for the 

temporary operation, which sits on the site where 

the Senecas have started to build a $333 million 

permanent casino. The government has told the 

Senecas it plans to shut down the present casino 

within five days. The Senecas have appealed and 

said they will not close, despite facing a $25,000 

a day fine. 

JUST CHANGE THE WORDING 

On the west coast, the Sacramento Bee editorialized 

yesterday with a headline that read, “As 

Usual: If the tribes want it -- BINGO! -- they 

get it,” saying the “tribes prevail at almost every 

legislative hearing. Just change the “tribes” 

to “Atlantic City casinos” and you have a 

valid editorial for New Jersey.


YONKERS INVESTIGATING 

Yonkers Raceway, or Empire City at Yonkers 

Raceway if you prefer, is conducting an internal 

investigation, along with lottery division officials, 

into the track’s “Play Off Your Mortgage” 

slots promotion. VP Bob Galterio told The Journal 

News, serving the lower Hudson Valley, that 

computer problems led to the investigation and 

that Yonkers may drop its electronic system and 

use paper chances for future promotions. Galterio 

said there were “some system issues” that 

led to patrons’ inability to register their promotion 

cards, and one woman, Bette Slutsky won 

both the grand prize of $250,000 and one of four 

$10,000 prizes. It is not known if Ms. Slutsky 

is from the famed harness racing family in the 

Catskills, and the double prize is possible under 

promotion rules that call for all winning entries 

in the $10,000 events to be returned to the pool 

for the final. The same rule is in effect in many 

major charity promotions nationwide. 

MAKE IT AND SPEND IT WISELY 

The pacer Art Official has won $1.2 million this 

year, including beating Somebeachsomewhere 

in the Meadowlands Pace, but there are maintenance 

costs even with Horse of the Year candidates 

like this 3-year-old. His owners, James 

and Joyce Jesk, did not expect to own one 

of the nation’s best, and did not stake him 

to some of the major stakes events. 





KY GOV SIGNS STEROID BAN Fortunately for their Sawgrass Farms of Lockport, 

Illinois, and for trainer Joe Seekman, two 

Kentucky governor Steve Beshear lost no time 

autographing new rules that ban steroids from of the legs of the Triple Crown of pacing now 

harness and thoroughbred racing in Kentucky. offer supplementary entries. The Jesks ponied 

Beshear, using emergency procedures, signed up $35,000 to enter the first leg, the Cane Pace 

the measure into law Friday, making the presence 

of steroids in a horse’s blood a state offense. hot young stallion Art Major, won in 1:51.1 over 

at Freehold, which Art Official, a son of the red 

Beshear acted on recommendations of the drug the half-mile track. Now comes the second leg, 

policy review committee he appointed, and the the Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio, and Art 

new rules and regulations become effective immediately 

under the emergency mandate. ther. The Jug now has a supplementary entry 

Official was not made eligible to that classic ei- 

rule that provides for winners of previous legs to 

supplement for $45,000, and the Jesks are in for 

the pot. As someone in Washington once said, a 

million here and a million there can add up to 

real money. 

THE BEACH IS SANDY 

Speaking of Somebeachsomewhere, who won 

his 15th race in 16 lifetime starts over the weekend, 

sending his earnings to over $2.3 million, 

co-owner and trainer Brent MacGrath says his 

champion was slowing down in his 1:50.4 victory 

at Mohawk Saturday and a scoping showed mucus 

in his throat and lungs. He is undergoing 

medication and still will pursue a world record 

at Lexington. His co-superstar, the 3-year-old 

trotter Deweycheatumnhowe, lost for the first 

time in 18 lifetime starts on the same card, defeated 

by Crazed, who was second to him in this 

year’s Hambletonian. His earnings now stand 

at $2.28 million, as the two brilliant 3-year-olds 

continue down their remarkably similar paths of 

near invincibility. 

FUMO TRIAL STARTS TODAY 

Pennsylvania’s wealthy power-wielding former 

state senator Vincent Fumo, who played a key 

role in development and passage of the state slots 

bill four years ago, goes on trial this morning, accused 

of financing his very high living style with 

$3.5 million of what he called OPM -- other 

people’s money.






JIM HARRISON DEAD AT 87 

Harness racing has lost one of its brightest stars 

with the death at 87 of the multi-talented Jim 

Harrison. As editor of Hoof Beats at USTA he 

took on the job of editing the original Care and 

Training of the Trotter and Pacer, the most successful 

publishing venture in USTA history. He 

was an executive with both Hanover Shoe Farms 

and Lana Lobell Farms, serving as executive 

vice president and general manager at Hanover, 

and one of the sport’s leading pedigree authorities. 

A winner of the harness writers’ Proximity 

Achievement award and publicists’ Golden Pen 

award in 1970, he also was elected to the Communicators’ 

Corner of the Hall of Fame in Goshen 

in 1986. A tough and no-nonsense executive, 

he had strong views on conflict of interest and 

principles, and would never write after his retirement, 

despite repeated requests and offers to 

contribute to publications as a columnist. His 

views on breeding were valued and respected. A 

veteran of Army Air Corps service in World War 

II, he earned a Purple Heart and Air medal, with 

several clusters, in combat action. His wife Margaret 

died two years ago. HTA extends its deep 

sympathy to his sons and extended family. 

KENO REVIEWS ‘MIXED’ 

The Dayton Daily News, reporting on keno play 

in Ohio, says it is faring better in the northern 

reaches of the state than the southern. Three 

northern counties -- Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Lucas 

and Lorain -- are among the top four selling 

areas in the state, where 974 locations now are 

selling the numbers game. The lottery’s spokeswoman, 

Marie Kilbane, said, “Four weeks out, 

we are cautiously optimistic about Keno sales. 

We expect sales to pick up as we bring on more 

retailers and as we enter the fall and winter sales 

season, our strongest.” Some vendors now 

are questioning whether the 6.2% commission 

on sales is worth the paper work 

and added administrative costs. 

TOP TRAINERS STEP DOWN 

Peer pressure can play a major role in racing’s 

battle against illegal drugs, but it has been in 

short supply. Now, for the first time, there are 

visible signs it is emerging. John Sadler, the 

leading trainer at Del Mar’s recent meeting, 

elected in July as president of the California 

Thoroughbred Trainers, has taken a “voluntary 

leave of absence,” according to a report from the 

training group’s executive director, Ed Halpern, 

in today’s Paulick Report. Jeff Mullins, a 

member of the CTT board, also took a voluntary 

leave of absence while racing board charges 

against him are litigated. Halpern told Paulick 

the CTT board agreed with the leaves of absence 

“because of the controversy surrounding recent 

revelations” by the racing board. 

MESSAGE FROM TERRY LANNI 

MGM chief executive officer Terry Lanni, who 

addressed the Racing Congress in Las Vegas 

three years ago, spoke most recently to 165 newspaper 

editors, who are facing threats to their industry 

from technology and other sources that 

are forcing change. Lanni quoted former Army 

chief of staff Eric Shinseki, who advised, in discussing 

changes in the Army, “If you don’t like 

change, you’re going to like irrelevance even 

less.” Track operators note. 

TWO SPORTS TRY NEW TRICKS 

Lanni took his own advice at MGM Grand at 

Foxwoods, where it was announced that Foxwoods 

is building a huge skating rink for a reality 

show called “Thin Ice,” in which the public 

will have its say as to who stays and goes. The 

show will be televised nationally, on a network 

not yet named. Fox Searchlight Pictures, meanwhile, 

beat out rivals at the Toronto Film Festival 

for rights to “The Wrestler,” a film featuring 

Mickey Rourke as a retired wrestler attempting 

a comeback. Now for change and some 

originality in presenting harness racing.


In Montreal, where live racing is held only once 

a week at Hippodrome de Montreal, on Sunday 

afternoons, Gazette racing writer Paul Delean 

reports that the province’s biggest yearling 

sale, scheduled for October 11, has been cancelled, 

leaving consignors of 129 colts and fillies 

to scurry for cover. The cancellation followed 

a disastrous Canaco sale in which only 9 of 42 

head offered were bought, with the highest price 

$10,000. The cancelled sale could be rescheduled 

for November, Delean reports, if a parliamentary 

commission reports favorably on guarantees 

for purses next year. 

In Illinois, revenues and admissions dropped 

in August at both casinos in Joliet. The Empress 

saw receipts fall 15%, with admissions 

down 7.97%. Harrah’s adjusted gross receipts 

dropped 24.4% against August 2007, and admissions 

fell 17.85%. 

Video lottery play in gambling Kanawha county, 

West Virginia, also dropped, with a new smoking 

ban blamed. 

Pennsylvania slots wagering dropped 3% from 

the Labor Day weekend. The Meadows did best, 

leading the state with a 91.7% payout rate 

and $3,048 in weekly gross terminal wagers 

per machine. 





ALL SIGNS POINT ▼▼▼▼ 

In Florida, the St. Petersburg Times reported, 

It’s sunny outside, but a gloomy day news-wise. “The Florida Lottery, long a cash cow for public 

Everything, even the clang of slots and the horse education, can no longer pay its share of the bill 

sale at Keeneland, a sure winner, have minus because of falling ticket sales. To make up for 

signs to report. 

lost cash, the state has to dig around for spare 

change. In Tallahassee today, lawmakers will 

Keeneland opened with a 7.7% decline in average 

price and a 16.8% drop in gross sales. The 

tap $48 million from an account filled with unclaimed 

checks, forgotten utility deposits and 

number of unsold horses rose 5%, to 29%, and 

other unclaimed property to stave off cuts in 

in a bizarre episode one colt, the royally-bred 

education.” A lobbyist for the Florida Education 

son of A.P. Indy and Azeri named Vallenzeri, 

Association, Michael Ogletree, called developments 

“A very scary trend.” 

was bid-in by consignor Michael Paulson at $7.7 

million. 

In Maryland, a double whammy. A poll conducted 

by a marketing research firm found support 

for the upcoming Maryland slots vote had 

dropped from 54% support in January to 49% 

in August. Maryland’s political leaders, meanwhile, 

learned today that the state faces a $432 

million revenue shortfall that could rise to a billion 

next year, according to the Baltimore Sun. 

With that news, a new poll might show stronger 

support for slots. Officials of the University System 

of Maryland’s board of regents, unable to 

see how the university can do without slots money, 

publicly endorses a “yes” vote on the issue. 

To end this depressing report on declines, still 

another, on a more personal note. Phil Pines, 

former curator of the Hall of Fame and Harness 

Racing Museum, was hospitalized recently, and 

now has been transferred to the Schervier Pavilion 

in Warwick, NY. On release Pines and wife 

Jane will be moving to the Walkill Living Center, 

455 Schutt Road, #218, Middletown, NY 10940, 

phone to be 845-342-4437. Messages from Phil’s 

friends would be helpful. 

On a more cheerful note, Saratoga Gaming and 

Raceway has added three Monday afternoon 

programs to its live racing schedule for October, 

on Oct. 6, 20 and 27. It already had a Columbus 

Day Monday card scheduled Oct. 13.






WANT TO LEASE A LOTTERY? 

You may not, but you can be sure someone will, 

particularly with a 50-year deal. The Illinois 

House and its leader Michael Madigan finally 

relented yesterday and passed a bill to lease the 

Illinois state lottery to a private vendor. It will 

require $10 billion for approval, and would run 

for not less than 50 years nor more than 60. Illinois 

would collect 20% of what the new operator 

earns, with $600 million for schools annually, and 

the first $3 billion would be set aside to create a 

trust fund whose interest would guarantee that 

payment. The next $7 billion would go to pay for 

repair of Illinois roads, bridges and other infrastructure, 

which was the key to passage. No other 

way was available to obtain that kind of money. 

Illinois’ Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich 

was not totally happy over the deal. He told reporters 

the 75-38 vote pleased him, but he feared 

it was “just another delay tactic in the games that 

are being played” by his fellow Democrats who 

lead the House, particularly speaker Madigan, 

who has blocked such a move for years. The bill 

itself does not provide for any spending, and still 

needs approval in a hostile Senate. Adding insult 

to injury, the House voted 101-12 to restore $221 

million or $372 million (news reports varied) in 

budget cuts and 325 jobs that Blagojevich had 

imposed, without knowing where all the money 

involved would come from. They bridled, however, 

at Gov. Blagojevich’s proposal to revise the 

state’s ethics legislation, and took only four minutes 

to shoot down, 101-3, a threat that would 

have changed legislation that currently bars major 

state contractors from contributing to the 

governor and other officeholders. House leaders 

accused Blagojevich of “one, last, desperate 

attempt to prevent the ethics bill from becoming 

law,” but the governor’s spokesman blasted 

them as being “dishonest and self-serving” 

in rejecting his changes. There is an election 

coming up in November. 

BIG HASSLE OVER ONE WORD 

Opponents of slots in Maryland won a battle, 

but not the war, yesterday. A panel of Circuit 

court judges decided with the plaintiffs that the 

present language of the proposed slots bill was 

“misleading,” but they said one added word 

could remedy the problem and they ordered it 

inserted. The word was “primary,” as in “the 

primary purpose of the slots referendum is to 

raise revenue for education projects.” The present 

wording merely said the amendment has “the 

purpose of raising revenue for education.” The 

three-judge panel ruled that adding “primary” 

clarified the fact that there would be other beneficiaries, 

including the horse racing industry 

in Maryland. They said the secretary of state 

had violated state election law by not including 

the word in the proposed constitutional amendment, 

and ordered the November ballot to be 

changed accordingly. The attorney for the slots 

opponents said he would appeal, seeking to have 

all beneficiaries listed or none, and charged that 

the present framing of the bill would amount 

“to granting the legislature a license to deceive.” 

The head of a pro-slots movement called the intention 

to appeal “a waste of taxpayers’ dollars 

by continuing their frivolous lawsuit.” 

THERE IS NO JOY IN VEGAS 

Hotels and their casinos in Las Vegas are taking 

multiple hits. July marked the biggest monthly 

decline in visitor traffic in five years, since the 

Iraq war began, according to the city’s Convention 

and Visitors Authority. Average room rates 

dropped by 10% against a year ago, running at 

86% weekdays and 91% weekends. Passenger 

traffic at McCarran airport was down 9% and 

auto traffic fell 7%. The number of conventions 

rose in July, however, up 9% from a year ago. 

Which reminds us: don’t wait too long to make 

air reservations for arrival on Feb. 2 for the 

2009 Racing Congress. Airlines are cutting 

flights. Don’t get shut out.






PENN NAT’L: BYE TO KANSAS 

Penn National Gaming announced yesterday it 

was abandoning its plans for a casino in Cherokee 

county in southeastern Kansas, saying an 

Oklahoma Indian casino whose parking lot is 

in Kansas is more competition than it cares to 

battle. Penn National was the only bidder for 

the license, and decided the $225 million investment 

was too large for the risk. It had hoped to 

get around the Kansas law that there could be 

only one casino in a county, and those owned by 

the Kansas lottery, by operating one in Cherokee 

county and linking it with one in Sumner county. 

The Kansas casino review board, however, gave 

the Sumner license to Harrah’s Entertainment, 

and Penn National’s Eric Schippers said the 

Cherokee operation “is simply not viable on a 

stand-alone basis.” 

COURT SAYS NO, TRIBE YAWNS 

The Florida Supreme Court yesterday refused to 

hear an appeal from governor Charlie Crist and 

the Seminole Indians of an earlier decision that 

invalidated the state’s gaming compact with the 

Seminoles. The tribe says only the legislature 

could undo the compact, which was declared illegal, 

and it will not shut down its gaming operations. 

A major change in the composition of the 

Florida legislature in November may result in a 

willingness of that body to sign off on the Crist 

compact, according to the Palm Beach Post. The 

court’s earlier decision said Crist had exceeded 

his authority in signing the compact, allowing table 

games as well as slots, and that “such power 

falls exclusively to the legislature.” Florida faces 

a $47 billion deficit in its current fiscal year that 

runs until next June, and if the compact were to 

remain invalid the state would get nothing from 

the Indian gaming that now flourishes there. 

The Seminoles’ attorney told the Post, “If they 

don’t approve it, we may end up back in 

court.” 

BATAVIA CHALLENGE BEGINS 

HTA member Batavia Downs launched a unique 

Drivers Challenge this week, with a different top 

driver competing each week for eight weeks in 

eight races. The winner in point standings after 

the series ends takes down a $10,000 prize, but all 

winnings each night of the competition go to the 

Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Wanda 

Polisseni, who races as Purple Haze Stable and 

has lost family members and friends to cancer, 

is the creator and major sponsor of the charity 

event. Michael Kane, Batavia’s vice president 

of live racing, said local drivers “have graciously 

given up eight drives each Wednesday to the All- 

Stars,” and Bruce Tubin, president of the western 

New York Harness Horsemen’s association, 

said, “It’s our pleasure to help out in this great 

cause.” He added, “It’s also a great way to highlight 

our product to new fans.” Veteran Howard 

Parker started off the challenge this week, scoring 

34 points and picking up $400 in purses for 

the charity. In the weeks ahead Vernon’s Howard 

Okusko Jr., Ontario’s Jody Jamieson, Rick Zeron 

and Luc Ouellette, Jim Morrill Jr., Stephane 

Bouchard and Jeff Gregory will try their luck 

and donate their winnings to the Breast Cancer 

Coalition. 

CRAZED, DEWEY AT IT AGAIN 

Crazed, conqueror of Deweycheatumnhowe 

last weekend, and the only horse ever to beat 

him, tries again tomorrow night at Mohawk, 

this time for a million dollars in the Canadian 

Trotting Classic. Dewey drew 10th post, which 

won’t make his task any easier. Also on tap at 

Mohawk tomorrow night, two $500,000 races, 

the Peaceful Way for 2-year-old trotting fillies 

and the Wellwood for 2-year-old trotting colts. 

The card also includes $194,000 divisions of the 

Nassagaweya for 2-year-old pacing colts, and the 

$175,000 Moni Maker for 3-year-old filly trotters. 

Somebeachsomewhere is resting up 

for a Lexington world record try.






CASE MAKES IT OFFICIAL 

As reported here weeks ago, Walter Case Jr. 

hopes to be released from prison soon and may 

apply for a Pennsylvania license to enable him to 

race at The Meadows. Dave Little, the New York 

Daily News’ harness racing writer, provided fuller 

details in yesterday’s edition. Little and his 

wife Debbie, who holds the same position at the 

New York Post and is president of the U.S. Harness 

Writers Assn. are friends and admirers of 

Case and keep in close touch with his activities. 

Dave reports that Walter’s attorney, Lawrence 

Whitney, has filed a motion for judicial release in 

the Court of Common Pleas in Portage county, 

Ohio, where the trial judge who sentenced Case 

will hear the appeal. A decision is not expected 

for several weeks, but regardless Case is eligible 

for parole from his felonious assault charges involving 

the stabbing of his former wife Nadine. 

If five years imprisonment has taught Case lessons 

he long has ignored, he could return to 

add the electrifying excitement that his driving 

style brings to the sport. John Marshall, vice 

president and general manager of racing at The 

Meadows, told Executive News that Case had 

not applied for anything at the track, but that if 

Case were licensed by the Pennsylvania Harness 

Racing Commission he would give an application 

due consideration. A Case v. Dave Palone 

rivalry would be a huge draw, and could modify 

the domination of Palone at The Meadows. A 

behaving Case would be a draw anywhere. He 

has paid his debt to society and hopefully has 

learned self control, and it is likely that his supreme 

driving skills could be honed sharp again 

in short order. 

KEENELAND DOWN 13% 

After 6 of the 15 sessions of its monster September 

sale, Keeneland is down 13% in gross receipts. 

The Paulick Report says this translates to 

a $41 million decline in revenue. 

YO HTA: ART NEEDS YOU NOW 

The HTA Scholarship Art Show and Auction 

now is less than two weeks from getting underway, 

without response from member tracks. The 

auction is the engine that drives our scholarship 

program, and if each track were to commit to 

buy one piece of art, either selected from our catalogue 

that you have received, or for a specified 

amount with us choosing the piece, it would help 

assure the success of the auction Oct. 4. We understand 

times are tough, but we either support 

the scholarship fund or abandon it after decades 

of usefulness to the sport. We have no fund raising 

sources other than donations and the sale of 

art. We have 215 very special works, including 

an unprecedented 11 George Ford Morris originals 

and 50 Currier & Ives lithographs and spectacular 

bronzes and woodcarvings to sell this 

year. Pick one out or authorize us to select one 

for you up to a specified amount. If you don’t 

get it, it at least will sustain bidding to that point. 

The logistics of assembling and staging the auction 

are huge, and it deserves your support. 

BRUISING ILLINOIS DATE BIDS 

The Illinois Racing Board considers 2009 date 

applications today, and the hearing is not likely 

to be cordial. Neil Milbert reports in the Chicago 

Tribune that Balmoral/Maywood is seeking 

all of Hawthorne’s harness dates, and Arlington 

Park is asking for a slice of the Cicero track’s 

thoroughbred dates. Milbert says Balmoral/ 

Maywood is seeking a combined 309 year-round 

dates that would eliminate Hawthorne’s 39 

nights of harness, which were raced from June 

24 to August 7 this year. Hawthorne, for its part, 

has responded aggressively, asking to expand 

to a June 1 - August 31 summer harness meeting 

that would double the dates raced this year. 

Hawthorne also wants to race a Feb. 27-May 2 

thoroughbred winter-spring meeting, and 

trim two weeks from Arlington in the fall.






HAWTHORNE LOSES HARNESS 

The Illinois Racing Board yesterday stripped 

Hawthorne Racecourse of its harness racing 

meeting, giving its racing dates for 2009 to Balmoral 

and Maywood Parks and giving those 

tracks 267 dates for next year. Hawthorne had 

raced a June 24 thru August 7 meeting this year, 

but the board allocated them to a reduced schedule 

meeting at both Balmoral and Maywood, acceding 

to those tracks’ wishes and those of the 

Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, which 

argued for reduced racing in order to boost 

purses. Neither Balmoral nor Maywood will 

race from Jan. 5 to Jan. 27 next year, and Balmoral 

will discontinue Tuesday night racing in 

February through April and in November and 

December. Balmoral will race Jan. 3 and 4 and 

then three programs a week from Jan. 28 thru 

April 29; four a week from May 2 thru Oct. 31; 

and three a week from Nov. 1 thru Dec. 30, a total 

of 171 nights. Maywood will race 96 nights, Jan. 

1 and 2, and two programs a week from Jan. 29 

thru Dec. 31. Revenues gained from betting on 

other tracks during the 43 newly created dark 

nights will be used to boost purses. Hawthorne 

has been a long time member of HTA, extending 

from its takeover of the old Suburban Downs, 

also a longtime member. 

MD SLOTS CHALLENGE DEAD 

Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, 

yesterday ended the legal challenge to what slots 

opponents called “misleading” ballot language. 

The issue resulted in a three-man panel of a 

lower court changing one word on objectives of 

the proposed amendment. That decision was appealed. 

The Court of Appeals issued a one-page 

order Monday affirming the lower court decision. 

The one word change inserted the word 

“primary” describing the measure’s primary 

purpose being educational support. 

It also authorizes 15,000 slots at various 

state locations. 

KY TAKES ACTION ON WHIPS 

Kentucky, following the example of Pompano 

Park and heeding the pleas of racing commission 

member Alan Leavitt, is about to become the 

first state to mandate rules against one-handed 

whipping for harness racing. The new rule will 

ban one-handed whipping and require drivers 

to keep both hands in front of their bodies during 

a race. The action was recommended by a 

safety and welfare panel and the full commission 

could approve the new rules on September 22 at 

its next meeting. Changes in whips and rules for 

thoroughbred racing also are being considered, 

with the state’s new equine veterinary chief Mary 

Scollay saying, “I don’t care where his arm was, 

if he cuts the horse, he’s wrong.” Keeneland 

also is experimenting with new whip designs for 

runners. The Lexington Herald Leader story by 

writer Janet Patton carried a color photo with it 

showing a driver, arm upraised behind his head, 

flailing away at a pacer in the stretch. 

FULL RACE REPLAYS AT SARATOGA 

There is a new convenient service for racing fans 

at HTA member Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. 

The track has introduced full race replays on its 

Web site, including race archives that go back 

as far as May of last year. The replays can be 

accessed at www.saratogaraceway.com, and will 

be available moments after each race is declared 

official, along with pari-mutuel payoffs. Fans 

can follow the “race replays” link on the front 

page of the Web site, select a date, and choose the 

number of the race they wish to review. 

NEW TRIBAL TWIST: SLOT LEASES 

The Navajo Nation in Arizona, which has the 

rights to 1,400 slot machines and hopes to build 

four casinos in the state when it gets the money, 

is leasing more than 1,000 to three other tribes, 

one the Tohono O’odham Nation near HTA’s 

home in Tucson. The Navajos are opening 

a casino in Gallup, New Mexico, Nov. 17.






MAGNA CASTS A SLOTS VOTE 

Frank Stronach has in the past expressed disdain 

for slots and racinos, preferring entertainment 

complexes to attract racing fans, but he is too 

smart to let opportunities pass by. His Magna 

Entertainment Corporation has obtained clearance 

from his MI Developments Corporation to 

use up to $2 million of a $100 million loan to support 

slots in the upcoming election in Maryland. 

At stake for Magna is a possible racino site at 

its Laurel Park, although that is not assured and 

would have to be won through a bidding process 

if the slots referendum passes Nov. 4. Magna at 

least is one of five in the hunt. The Baltimore 

Sun reports that recent polls have shown “solid 

though dipping popular support” for the slots 

bill, and a late surge of track and casino money 

in support of the measure is expected, including 

Penn National Gaming, which hopes to build 

and operate a racino in Cecil county in western 

Maryland. 

In other news from Maryland, the state’s racing 

commission has approved the Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium’s general guidelines on 

banning anabolic steroids, joining neighboring 

Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. Commission 

executive director Mike Hopkins was quoted 

in the Sun, saying, “I think the general consensus 

in the industry is that these drugs shouldn’t 

be used the way they’ve been used.” Noted 

Maryland thoroughbred trainer Bill Boniface 

said, “I’m very proud that Maryland has joined 

the ban. It’s better for the sport’s image and 

more importantly for the horse.” Boniface said 

steroids have “artificially stimulated growth in 

young horses, to the detriment of the breed.” An 

administrative panel of state legislative delegates 

and senators must approve the measure before 

it can become effective, and it does not provide 

for penalties. Hopkins says horsemen and 

racing officials will decide on those by 

January 1. 

JUG SUPPORTS WHIP RULES 

In Delaware, Ohio, where the state pauses for 

tomorrow’s Little Brown Jug pacing classic for 

3-year-olds, the Jug Society’s directors voted to 

support proposed whipping rule changes calling 

for drivers to keep a line in each hand. They 

also added their support for the Racing Medication 

and Testing Consortium’s ban on anabolic 

steroids, and approved the option -- but not the 

action -- of holding Jug and Jugette eliminations 

on a day other than Jug Thursday. They signified 

their intention of continuing the present 

multi-heat format. The Jug’s HTA director Tom 

Thomson and alternate director Phil Terry were 

reelected as president-treasurer and secretary 

of the Little Brown Jug Society, and Thomson’s 

son Chip became the third generation Thomson 

to serve as a director, following his dad and 

grandad, Jug founder Hank Thomson. 

BARNEY FRANK WINS A ROUND 

Congressman Barney Frank won’t quit in his 

efforts to derail prohibition of Internet betting, 

and this week he won a first-round victory. His 

Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement 

Act was defeated last summer in a committee 

vote, but this week a revised version, The Payment 

Systems Protection Act of 2008 (H.R. 6870) 

was approved by the House Committee on Financial 

Services, which Frank chairs. The bill 

would direct the Treasury and Federal Reserve, 

along with the Attorney General, to appoint a 

special administrative law judge to define types 

of unlawful gaming and conduct an economic 

impact study on the costs for compliance. If 

passed, it would delay implementation of the 

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 

of 2006, known as UIGEA, by assuring that program 

did not impair the U.S. system of payments 

or prevent legal online transmissions. Frank is 

optimistic about passage next year. Racing currently 

is exempt from the ban, with conditions.






A BUREAUCRATIC HANGING 

It is not dead yet, and it vows to continue gasping 

for breath, but Centaur Gaming has told the 

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that while its project 

to build Valley View Downs racetrack and racino 

“has not been cancelled, the money to build 

it has been returned to the banks.” It has been 

strangled by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control 

Board, which has refused to grant a gaming license 

although Centaur already possesses the 

last harness license available in the state. In a 

masterpiece of disingenuous denial, Doug Harbach, 

a spokesman for the board, said, “We do 

not have all the information we need to move 

forward with Centaur’s license. We were still 

awaiting additional information on their financing.” 

Harbach and the board had to know the 

financing was awaiting its approval, and would 

have been forthcoming with it, but kept procrastinating 

until now when the financial crisis on 

Wall Street makes the needed financing unlikely. 

Susan Kilkenny, a Centaur spokeswoman, said 

Centaur “will continue vigorously to pursue the 

successful development of Valley View Downs & 

Casino through all means available to us. We remain 

fully committed to doing everything in our 

power to help ensure that Valley View is built 

at its current site.” Lawrence county officials 

and residents have expressed strong desire for 

the track, and Centaur holds one trump card. 

While the Gaming Control Board continues to 

deny licensing, no one else can obtain a racing 

license. Centaur holds the only one remaining, 

and Anton Leppler, executive director of the 

Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, told 

the Tribune-Review it was “way too premature” 

to talk about taking away Centaur’s harness 

racing license and giving it to someone else. The 

commission last month gave Centaur until 2010 

to have a track operating, and Leppler 

said the commission favors the Centaur 

site because of benefits of its location. 

MAJOR WORK AT HTA TRACKS 

Two major construction projects are moving 

forward rapidly at HTA tracks in Indiana and 

Pennsylvania. The Indianapolis Star and Anderson 

Herald Bulletin both carried solid stories 

and photographs of progress on the permanent 

casino construction at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville. 

Completion is not expected until mid- 

March of next year, but impressive steel work 

has been finished on a three-story parking garage 

and the 233,000 square-foot main racino 

structure. Project manager Chris Blust says 

the exterior is about 80% complete. When finished, 

it will house 2,000 slot machines, and will 

dwarf Indiana Downs’ present temporary casino, 

which has 65,000 square feet. The new facility 

will contain electronic table games and four 

restaurants surrounding a central bar. The four 

include a Maker’s Mark Steakhouse, NASCAR 

Sports Grill, Angel’s Rock Bar and Live Market 

that will seat 300 and serve a variety of international 

foods. The estimated annual payroll of the 

racino will be $20 million, projected taxes will be 

$112 million, with $70 million of that earmarked 

for the state’s property tax reduction trust fund, 

and $6.7 million going to Shelby county towns. 

ROONEYS VOTE TODAY 

Four of the five Rooney brothers, including Tim, 

operator of Yonkers Raceway, and his brothers 

John, Pat and Art Jr., are scheduled to meet and 

vote today on whether to sell their individual 

16% holdings in the Pittsburgh Steelers to New 

York billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller. He has 

offered to buy their cumulative 64% share in the 

NFL franchise, with a deadline tomorrow. The 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in today’s editions says 

that even if they decline his offer, the Rooney 

brothers might decide to seek another investor 

once a calamitous economy settles, rather than 

accept the offer made by their brother Dan, 

the team’s president, and his son Art II.






SCIOTO AVERAGE UP 87.3% 

Under the new program, with $25,000 added unrestricted 

from Plainfield Asset Management of 

HTA member Scioto Downs closed its 2008 meeting 

showing a stunning 87.3% increase in average 

daily handle, with a new simulcast agree- 

Downs and Vernon Downs, Dr. Jesty’s clinical 

Greenwich, CT, which has investments in Tioga 

ment with its neighbor, Beulah Park, fueling the fellowship will be $220,000. Her project will involve 

the investigation of cardiac arrhythmia in 

increase. General manager of racing operations 

Stacy Cahill acknowledges the Beulah boost, but horses and development of new medications to 

adds the increase “was probably due to a lot of correct it. She has specialized in equine cardiology 

at the University of Pennsylvania and Cor- 

different things. We certainly had competitive 

racing and that’s the most important thing for nell. 

our bettors. But we also had a strong year in the 

clubhouse and patio and many compliments on 

the food service. We also had a lot of giveaways.” 

The latter were part of Scioto’s 50th anniversary 

season, which provided momentum at the start 

of the run. 

RESEARCH NEWS AT CORNELL 

A major veterinary research development -- the 

first of its kind in the U.S. -- is being introduced 

at Cornell University, and could have major long 

range benefits for racing. The program is designed 

to address a growing shortage of academic 

veterinarians, those who work in laboratories 

studying common diseases and innovative solutions 

and potential cures. Under a new two-year 

course of study, three fellowships of $60,000 a 

year and $15,000 each to fund a research project 

have been awarded to veterinarians. Dr. Sophy 

Jesty, one of the first recipients, explained the 

importance of the program. “Once you train 

clinically, it’s only a small subset of people who 

are then interested in or educated enough to continue 

on to do research. Most go directly into 

veterinary clinical practice. After we’re trained 

as clinicians, it’s the most obvious choice. But 

clinical research is how we advance our diagnostic 

tests and therapies.” Dr. Jesty said finances 

are another part of the problem. When veterinarians 

finish their doctorate, they are often, 

at least $80,000 in debt, and it becomes 

necessary to go to work immediately in 

order to begin to pay off their loans. 

ONLINE IN CONGRESS, AGAIN 

Internet betting is back in Congress, and Information 

Week says a vote on Rep. Barney Frank’s 

new bill to relieve financial service companies 

from implementing bans on Internet bets could 

be considered by the full House as early as next 

week. Frank’s bill would delay implementation 

of bans on Internet gambling. 

GOLDSTEIN TO HALL OF FAME 

Bernard (Bernie) Goldstein, chairman of the 

board and former CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, 

Inc., the parent of HTA member the Isle at Pompano 

Park, has been inducted into the Gaming 

Hall of Fame. Goldstein is known in the industry 

as the father of riverboat gaming. 

ROONEYS SAY NO TO MILLIONS 

After seven months of negotiations on an offer 

of hundreds of millions of dollars for control of 

the Pittsburgh Steelers, four of the five Rooney 

brothers trying to buy out their brother Dan said 

no yesterday to billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller. 

The billionaire financial wizard announced 

following the Rooneys decision that he was withdrawing 

the offer and wishing them the best of 

luck. 

WAITING ON YOUR ART BIDS 

HTA agents are standing by, waiting for bids on 

scholarship art from member tracks. Our 

phone and fax lines are open 24/7.






CRISIS DELAYS BIG A SLOTS 

The New York Post reports this morning that the 

long awaited decision on who gets to run the casino 

at Aqueduct racetrack has again been put 

on a back burner, as New York governor Paterson 

considers calling another special session of 

the legislature next month for budget cuts beyond 

the $400 million grudgingly approved by 

the legislature last month. Paterson has been 

watching events in Massachusetts, where tax receipts 

dropped by $200 million in the first two 

weeks of September, before the full impact of the 

Wall Street crisis. Paterson hopes to have updated 

New York figures by Thursday, and will decide 

by Friday if he will call the legislature back. 

Meanwhile, no decision on Aqueduct’s slot operators, 

the Post’s Frederick Dicker reports. 

KEENELAND SALES DIP 14.6% 

With the Lexington harness yearling sales only 

10 days away, and the HTA art auction less than 

two weeks off, figures at the giant Keeneland 

thoroughbred yearling sales are not comforting. 

Blood-Horse reports figures through yesterday 

at Keeneland, where more than 5,500 horses 

are being offered, down 14.6% in gross, down 

10.9% on average, and down 6% in median 

prices. Everything is relative, of course. With 

3,245 yearlings thru the ring so far, gross sales 

are $325,277,800, average price is $100,240, and 

median price is $47,000. A year ago, with 3,384 

sold in the same number of sessions, gross was 

$380,836,600, average price was $112,540, and 

median was $50,000. 

PENN NAT’L SEEKS $25 MIL 

Penn National Gaming has gone to court in Kansas, 

seeking a return of a $25 million privilege 

fee it paid for the right to operate a casino that it 

decided was a bad deal. Cherokee county, where 

the state-owned casino is to be located, has 

filed a breach of contract suit contesting 

return of the money. 

SBOA NJ BACKS SPORTS BETS 

The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association 

of New Jersey has adopted a formal resolution 

supporting efforts to change federal law 

to allow sport betting in the state. The resolution 

pledges “active support of appropriate legal and 

policy measures” to legalize sports betting in the 

46 states where it now is illegal. The resolution 

was passed in support of efforts of New Jersey 

state senator Raymond J. Lesniak, a Democrat 

who has been leading efforts to end the federal 

ban and allow sports betting at racetracks and 

casinos. The resolution says legalization of professional 

sports betting could revitalize New 

Jersey’s horse racing industry, which the SBOA 

says generates $1.5 billion in economic activity, 

creates 13,000 jobs, and supports activity on 

142,000 acres of open space and farmland in the 

state. 

FLORIDA AG WANTS FED BAN 

Bill McCollum, the attorney general of Florida, 

has asked the National Indian Gaming Commission 

to step in and stop slots and bank card 

games at the Seminole Indians’ Hard Rock Casinos. 

The AG told the commission that Florida 

“is in the untenable position of having a tribal 

gaming operation, which everyone acknowledges 

is unauthorized, ongoing without the jurisdiction 

to stop the illegal activities.” The Seminoles’ 

attorney, Barry Richard, dismissed the action, 

saying McCollum had “no official role” in the 

matter, and said the Seminoles would continue 

operating until Gov. Charles Crist and the legislature 

discuss the issues, probably not until next 

March. “No one is going to be injured if they 

wait a few months to work everything out,” he 

told the Miami Herald. 

13 ART SHOPPING DAYS LEFT 

Note to track operators: there now are just 13 

shopping days left to buy HTA art and support 

our college scholarship fund.






KY ENACTS WHIPPING BAN 

Emerging from an undistinguished past to a 

national leadership role in racing -- at least 

harness racing -- Kentucky yesterday became 

the first state in the nation to enact rules banning 

one-handed whipping. Pompano Park in 

Florida had taken similar action several weeks 

ago, but as a track rule, as opposed to the statewide 

regulation approved yesterday by the Kentucky 

Horse Racing Commission. Its new rules 

not only require drivers to keep a line in each 

hand during the entire course of a race, but also 

banned snappers on the ends of whips. The new 

rules will not go into effect until the spring of 

next year, but when they do, after a public comment 

period, they will provide for fines of $100 

to $13,000 and suspensions of 10 to 30 days for 

a first whipping offense. Use of a snapper carries 

a fine up to $20,000 and suspension for up 

to one year. Alan Leavitt, a commission member 

and operator, with his wife Meg, of Walnut 

Hall Limited, told Janet Patton of the Lexington 

Herald-Leader, “I’ve been in harness racing for 

50 years and over that time I’ve watched abusive 

whipping become a cancer on our business. And 

until we get rid of it, it’s going to be impossible 

to increase our fan base and we’re not going 

to be able to attract new owners. People don’t 

want to see it.” Leavitt, a part owner of Deweycheatumnhowe, 

said owner-trainer-driver Ray 

Schnittker had expressed regret that he hit Dewey 

once in the stretch while fending off Crazed in 

the Hambletonian. Leavitt quoted Schnittker as 

saying, “I shouldn’t have done it. He was giving 

me all that he had.” 

The Hambletonian Society and USTA support 

the new rules, and are urging state racing commissions 

to adopt them. The Ontario Racing 

Commission recently held a forum on the 

subject, and action is expected in that 

quarter as well. 

AND ACTS ON INTERNET BETS 

Kentucky’s governor, Steve Beshear, and his 

justice secretary, J. Michael Brown, have gone 

to court to stop unregulated and illegal Internet 

gambling in the state. They obtained an order 

from a county judge last week to transfer domain 

names to the state, and a hearing on the 

matter is scheduled for Thursday. Brown called 

the move “a first step to blocking the activity,” 

and says if the forfeiture of names is ordered 

Thursday, the state can require the domain registrar 

to transfer their control to the state and 

block Kentucky Internet users from accessing 

the sites. He acknowledged that the action could 

block national access as well. Brown says the 

state can seize any “devices” used in illegal gambling, 

and the Franklin county judge involved, 

Thomas Wingate, accepted the state’s contention 

that domain names constitute devices. The 

transfer involves 141 domain names, including 

sportsbook.com, pokertime.com, and casinobar. 

com, and were differentiated from legal, regulated 

sites like Churchill Downs’ twinspires.com. 

The effort was called “unprecedented in this 

country,” and comes as the U.S. Congress prepares 

to consider moves to weaken Internet bans 

in a bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank. The 

Louisville Courier-Journal, commenting on the 

move, quoted a Washington, DC attorney, David 

Stewart, identified as an expert on gambling law, 

as saying, “This is -- forgive me for being blunt 

-- a stunt.” He said New York and other states 

had tried to prosecute operators of illegal gambling 

sites without success, but others, including 

Jim Quinn, COO of the Off Shore Gaming 

Association, said going after domain names was 

“a new approach to cracking down on Internet 

gambling.” 

12 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT 

Note to track operators: there now are 12 shopping 

days left to buy HTA art and support 

our college scholarship fund,






KOCH NEW BIG M RACE SECY 

Peter Koch, currently racing secretary at Freehold 

Raceway, is moving to larger quarters. He 

has been named racing secretary at the Meadowlands 

by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition 

Authority, and will take over Nov. 1 from 

Tad Stockman, who will assume a new role in 

administration. Koch, president of the American 

Harness Racing Secretaries Association in 

2006-7, is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s 

Race Track Industry Program, and worked 

previously at numerous HTA tracks, including 

the race secretary’s offices at Buffalo Raceway 

and Batavia Downs following graduation. He 

has been assistant racing secretary at the Little 

Brown Jug meeting in Delaware, Ohio, and has 

served as presiding judge at both Freehold and 

the Meadowlands. His wife Cindy is the daughter 

of the late, great Hall of Fame trainer-driver 

John Chapman, and she and Peter are one of the 

most popular and personable couples in officialdom 

in the sport. 

GRIFFIN NEW MTR PRES, CEO 

Robert F. Griffin, senior vice president of operations 

for Isle of Capri Casinos, has been named 

president and CEO of MTR Gaming, owner of 

HTA members Scioto Downs and Running Aces, 

and will succeed retiring Ted Arneault no later 

than Jan. 2 next year. Griffin is a veteran with 

25 years experience in the gaming industry, and 

Arneault called him “a great strategic fit” as his 

successor. Arneault, 61, has run MTR for 13 

years, and was instrumental in its growth with 

development of its flagship Mountaineer Casino 

Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia, 

and its Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

MTR chairman Robert Blatt said Griffin’s 

“track record in multiple jurisdictions makes 

him the best choice to head our company.” Financial 

analyst Nicholas A. Dana said 

Griffin “bodes well for the company.” 

PENN NAT’L JOINS OHIO FIGHT 

The Columbus Dispatch reports this morning 

that “the sponsors of a low-key ballot measure 

to build a casino in southwestern Ohio suddenly 

have a battle on their hands -- both hands.” The 

paper says Penn National Gaming, whose holdings 

include Toledo harness track Raceway Park 

and the Argosy riverboat casino near Cincinnati, 

is providing funding for the No On 6 group opposing 

the casino and that development “could 

upend the dynamics of the race.” No On 6 officially 

entered the battle with the announcement 

that its efforts will be headed by former Cincinnati 

mayor Charlie Luken. No On 6 began its 

television spot opposition to the casino last night, 

and a spokesman, Bob Tenenbaum, said it will 

concentrate on opposition to the casino, and not 

on gambling in general, as another opposition 

group, Vote No Casinos, does. He called the current 

ballot measure “a mess,” claiming the language 

could allow the proposed casino to escape 

the promised 30% tax if an American Indian casino 

were to open in Ohio. 

‘STUNT’ SCARES CASINOS 

Kentucky governor Steve Beshear’s move to 

transfer Internet domain names to the state, 

reported here yesterday, may be “a stunt” to 

Washington lawyers, but Casino News says it has 

“created a hornet’s nest because servers based 

in foreign territory now find their Internet identity 

at risk if the domain name was registered in 

the United States.” The world’s second largest 

provider of domain names, dNom, already has 

complied with a Kentucky judge’s order to turn 

certain domain names over to Kentucky’s state 

Justice Cabinet. Casino News says the matter is 

certain to command attention at this week’s Internet 

gaming conference in Barcelona. 

11 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT 

Track operators: there are only 11 shopping 

days left to buy HTA art. Call now.






HORSEMEN WIN OHIO CASE 

A federal judge in Ohio has ruled that the Interstate 

Horseracing Act takes precedence over Ohio 

state law, and that the Ohio racing commission 

could not overrule the decision of the Ohio thoroughbred 

HBPA to block simulcast signals from 

Beulah Park to Harrah’s Chester Casino and 

Racetrack in Pennsylvania. The Ohio HBPA 

had taken that action two years ago, using the 

federal statute to deny permission for Beulah to 

export the signal, saying it wanted host fee rates 

raised from 3% to 5%. Ohio had passed a law 

allowing tracks to appeal to the racing commission 

in such cases if it found the signal blockage 

unreasonable, which it did in December of 2006, 

overruling the ban of signals from Beulah Park 

and River Downs. The tracks began sending 

their signals to HTA member Chester the following 

month, and this week’s decision by U.S. District 

Court judge Michael Watson says Chester 

violated the Interstate Horseracing Act, and said 

imposition of damages could follow. In a similar 

ongoing challenge involving horsemen’s bans of 

signals using the Interstate Horseracing Act as 

the rationale, Churchill Downs is challenging the 

bans, claiming the horsemen’s group’s actions 

violate antitrust laws. 

RACING WINS ONE IN ILLINOIS 

In another court decision involving a racing legal 

dispute, the Illinois Supreme Court this week 

ruled unanimously, 7-0, for tracks and horsemen 

in the state, denying an appeal from the state’s 

riverboat casinos to invalidate the 3% share of 

revenues imposed to compensate racing. Some 

$68 million is involved and in escrow, pending 

final resolution of the matter. That resolution 

may be far off, however, for the riverboats seem 

certain to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

A victory there for racing would end the 

matter, but if the high court decides to 

hear the case a decision would be many 

months away. 

CASINO CLOUT ON SMOKING 

Detroit’s casinos flexed their muscles in Lansing 

this week, and their strength carried the day as 

the House narrowly rejected a bill to impose a 

smoking ban in all Michigan workplaces. Both 

houses of the Michigan legislature approved a 

ban on smoking earlier this year, but failed to 

reconcile differences over exemptions in conference. 

Gov. Jennifer Granholm did not vacillate 

in her reaction, saying she would sign a smoking 

ban with or without exemptions, but casino 

pressure prevailed and the House agreed, with 

Detroit House members saying the smoking ban 

would hurt casino revenue, in which the city and 

state share, and that the ban “was a government 

overreach into citizens’ lives.” Backers of the ban 

argued the issue was one involving the health of 

non-smokers. The House Speaker, Andy Dillon, 

said after the 50-49 vote, with 11 abstentions or 

absences (56 votes were needed for passage of 

the ban), that the issue could be revisited later 

this year. 

BEN LIEBMAN TO NYRA BOARD 

In a victory for racing and reason over politics, 

Gov. David Paterson of New York has named Ben 

Liebman, executive director of the Albany Law 

School Government Law Center, to the board of 

directors of the New York Racing Association. 

Under terms of the agreement to extend NYRA’s 

racing franchise for 25 years, the state, through 

appointments by the majority party in the Senate 

and Assembly, appoints 11 of the 25 members 

of a new NYRA board, and the appointment of 

Liebman, a former New York racing commissioner 

and tremendously knowledgeable racing 

man, gives racing a strong voice on the NYRA 

board. 

10 SHOPPING DAYS FOR ART 

Only 10 days left for tracks to buy HTA art. Support 

your scholarship fund and call Cindy 

Knox at HTA. The fund needs your help.






HEARING ON DOMAIN GRAB 

A hearing on Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s 

seizure of 141 Internet gambling domain names, 

originally scheduled for yesterday, was delayed 

until 3 p.m. today, without explanation. The governor 

took the unprecedented action alleging the 

sites “promote, conduct and/or advance illegal 

gaming” in Kentucky. The hearing, in Franklin 

County Circuit Court, affects mostly poker sites 

that do not use U.S. issued domains, according 

to Kentucky Online, so the action may have little 

impact even if approved today. The seizure is 

based on Kentucky law that permits forfeiture 

of any gambling device or gaming record that 

aids illegal action in Kentucky, and a Franklin 

county judge ruled last week that the Internet 

sites qualified as gambling devices and said 

probable cause existed demonstrating that they 

were being used illegally. Horse racing and the 

state lottery are the only forms of legal gambling 

in Kentucky. The Interactive Media Entertainment 

and Gaming Association, which has legal 

standing in U.S. courts, was preparing to challenge 

the seizure, according to the news report, 

but the Poker Players Alliance, which claims to 

represent a million poker players, reportedly has 

opted to work thru the Internet Gaming Counsel, 

which has no legal standing in U.S. courts, 

rather than with Interactive Media. 

POLL: MD SLOTS WINNING 

A small telephone poll of 500 Maryland voters, 

conducted by a research firm, shows -- for what 

it may be worth -- that 54% of respondents favor 

the slots bill in the state, while only 35% oppose 

it, and presumably 11% are undecided. Meanwhile, 

the Baltimore Business Journal reports the 

Greater Baltimore Committee is the latest group 

to support slots, joining the Maryland Chamber 

of Commerce and Maryland Association 

of Counties. Magna also has entered the 

fray supporting the slots referendum. 

$60 MILLION NOT TEMPORARY 

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, reporting ontime 

progress in construction of the 350,000 

square-foot, $175 million permanent racino 

scheduled for spring opening at The Meadows, 

also says the temporary racino, four times smaller, 

produced $60 million in profit this fiscal year. 

The current racino may be temporary, but it 

sure isn’t shabby. 

At Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs across the 

state, meanwhile, horsemen received a record 

$14,588,000 in purses during the recently completed 

95-day meeting. Daily average purses, including 

Pocono’s one-season hosting of the Adios 

for the Meadows and three other major stakes -- 

the Hempt Memorial, W. N. Reynolds Memorial 

and Jim Lynch Memorial -- reached $153,500, 

the total including $778,000 in bonuses to Pennsylvania-owned, 

bred and sired horses. The 

president of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s 

Association, Earl Beal Jr., called it “a very 

exciting and successful year for our members.” 

BIG DEAL IN BRITISH HARNESS 

An historic harness racing championship in 

England, a $46,400 pace sponsored -- and televised 

-- by William Hill, one of England’s biggest 

bookmaking firms. The race will be at Wolverhampton, 

a major English thoroughbred track. 

LOWERING THE BOOM IN CAL 

The California Horse Racing Board has finally 

ended the career of oft-suspended jockey Patrick 

Valenzuela in the state, ruling him ineligible 

to hold or reapply for a license. The board also 

fined trainer Jose De La Torre $20,000 and suspended 

him for six months for double use of the 

illegal bronchodilator clenbuterol. 

9 SHOPPING DAYS FOR ART 

Time is running out, track operators, to 

support your college scholarship fund.

Staff in Lexington 

Monday and Tuesday Executive News will be combined 

5 shopping days left till the art auction


HOW TO SAVE THE FUND 

While Washington gropes and fumbles over how 

to save the nation financially, we have developed 

our own plan, on a smaller scale. We have figured 

out a way to save the HTA College Scholarship 

Fund. Send us your money and we will 

invest it for you, in HTA art that will allow us to 

continue sending bright young people to college 

each fall and provide you with very special harness 

racing art. 

You can do it two ways. 

Either pick something out of our HTA art catalogue, 

or go online and check the enlargeable 

photos out on our home Web page, and send us 

your top bid for the item or better yet items, or 

have Cindy in the office arrange for one of our 

phone bid takers to call you Saturday morning 

at a phone of your choice. 

Or, if you trust us and our art taste, simply tell us 

how much you are willing to spend, and we will 

pick something out that we think is high on value 

and beautiful. If your bid isn’t high enough to 

get the piece, you will have helped the bidding 

and it will cost you nothing. 

Here are a few examples: #1 in the program is a 

vertical by Zenon Aniszewski, our most popular 

artist. Its dimensions and subject make it ideal 

for a past performance program cover for next 

season. 

#108 is a truly spectacular oil painting of Dexter, 

and should be hanging at Freehold Raceway 

or the Harness Racing Museum. Numbers 144, 

145 and 169, all original lithographs, also have 

Dexter as subject, with other great horses of the 

period. 

#109-I, a rare George Ford Morris oil 

painting of Dan Patch, belongs in either 

Hoosier Park’s or Indiana Downs’ 





racino. James McAuliffe’s 1872 oil painting of 

Goldsmith Maid, #109, should be hanging in the 

Meadowlands, or Harness Racing Museum. 

#103, a large watercolor by the late Phil Berkeley, 

one of the finest of all HTA artists, is of Stanley 

Dancer’s barn at Pompano Park, and belongs 

there. 

#167, an 1882 Currier & Ives of the pacer Little 

Brown Jug, should be hanging at Delaware. So 

should #16, a fine pencil drawing of one of their 

outriders. 

#67, an exceptional large folio Currier & Ives of 

the champion pacer Johnston from 1884, should 

hang in John Johnston’s office at Balmoral or 

Duke Johnston’s at Maywood Park. 

#4, Doris Turnbaugh’s fine oil done at the Red 

mile, belongs there, and so do #30, Turnbaugh’s 

Red Mile and Groom, and #53, Adrienne Gualco’s 

beautiful watercolor of Sand Vic beating 

Vivid Photo in the Allen Ridge Farm Trot in 

2006 at that track. 

Any of the Currier & Ives matched comic sets 

from #122 thru 137 would make ideal Xmas or 

Chanukah gifts for friends or family or special 

patrons, and if you have equestrians or equestriennes 

in the family, the art of jumping as 

expressed beautifully in woodcarving #121 -- a 

very special piece -- or #190, a colorful work by 

star Canadian artist Alyson Champ, would be 

perfect. 

Ten rare harness racing cartoons by Daily Racing 

Form artist Peb came from Roosevelt Raceway, 

and should be in your office now. 

You get the idea. This a pleasant, productive and 

rewarding way to support our major and 

most worthy cause.





October 1, 2008 

TOUGH TIMES SPREADING 

Another sign of the economic times, in case one 

was needed, comes with the news that Foxwoods 

Resort Casino has announced that it will lay off 

700 employees in the next few weeks, about six 

percent of its workforce. “It’s an across-theboard 

reduction. It’s not focusing on any specific 

department,” Lori Potter, spokeswoman for 

the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which 

owns and operates Foxwoods, told the Hartford 

Courant. Potter said it’s not yet known how 

many workers will be affected at the original 

casino and how many at the newly opened MGM 

Grand resort and casino at Foxwoods. Foxwoods 

employs about 9,000 workers while the MGM 

Grand, which opened less than six months ago, 

employs around 2,000. Tribal officials noted that 

the country’s economic downturn is to blame 

for the layoffs. “Revenues have been fluctuating 

since the summer, but there was a significant 

drop in September” said Potter. 

Elsewhere in Connecticut, the Mohegan tribe, 

owners and operators of the Mohegan Sun 

casino, announced last week that it would delay 

construction of the largest phase of their ongoing 

casino expansion. Citing declining slot revenue, 

nervous customers, tight credit markets and 

huge construction costs, the tribe suspended the 

final $735 million phase of the expansion. 

IN CALIFORNIA, 5,000 MORE SLOTS 

Legislation ratifying an amended compact between 

the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians 

and the State of California allowing for as many 

as 5,000 slot machines at the tribe’s new casino 

has been signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

The compact runs through 2029 and calls for the 

tribe to share a percentage of net win, ranging 

from 20 to 25 percent, with the state, in 

addition to other payments to a fund for 

non-gaming tribes in California. 

MASS. FACING DOG RACE BAN 

If animal welfare activists have their way, greyhound 

racing in Massachusetts will soon come 

to an end. Voters will have their say on the issue 

next month, but an Associated Press article 

characterizes the “real question” as “whether 

the once-popular sport dies a quick death or a 

slow one.” While greyhound track owners fight 

the proposed ban by arguing that the dogs are 

anything but mistreated, some racing executives 

admit that there has been a “cultural shift away 

from the sport.” Gary Guccione, executive director 

of the National Greyhound Association noted 

of the greyhound industry that “it’s certainly 

changing....it has downsized in recent years. 

We’ve seen a decrease in the number of tracks 

and dogs being bred.” The 1980s saw more than 

50,000 greyhounds being bred each year to race 

at the 60 or so racetracks in the United States. 

This year, fewer than 20,000 greyhounds will 

be bred to race at around 30 racetracks. Since 

2004, 13 dog tracks in the U.S. have closed or 

ceased live racing. If the ban passes in Massachusetts, 

the state will join seven others (Idaho, 

Maine, North Carolina, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia, 

and Washington) in prohibiting live greyhound 

racing. 

NEW RACING SEC’Y AT DOVER 

Rod Newhart will assume the duties of racing 

secretary at Dover Downs when the Delaware 

racetrack begins its 40th season of harness racing 

on October 29. 

ONLY TWO SHOPPING DAYS LEFT 

Only two shopping days left until the HTA Scholarship 

Art Auction! Time to decide what you 

want to bid on in order to help support a program 

that has given more than $700,000 in scholarships. 

Contact the HTA office at 520-529-2525 

or e-mail info@harnesstracks.com to bid 

or arrange for telephone bidding.


MORE INTEGRITY, LESS TAKE 

The views of big bettors were solicited again this 

week on widely separate fronts, and the messages 

were the same: we’re not confident or happy 

with racing’s present efforts on integrity and 

takeout. In St. Petersburg, Florida, at the annual 

TRA-HTA Simulcast conference, the speakers 

were former betting syndicate member Michael 

Konik and Larry Higgins, executive VP of the 

Tampa Bay HBPA and a million dollar a year 

bettor. Konik said the technically sophisticated 

computer bettors spurn track takeout and claim 

bookies spurn them because of their smarts. 

Higgins also said he and others could not bet into 

29% takeout rates. He railed against late betting 

and odds changes, a message echoed in Lexington, 

Kentucky, where huge bettor and frequent 

commentator on the subject Mike Maloney told 

Gov. Steve Beshear’s taskforce that greater emphasis 

on those and other integrity issues would 

do more than any ideas he heard at the conference. 

He told the committee Kentucky could be 

transformed into a national leader if it took the 

initiative in ending past posting, saying present 

stop-wagering protocols were not working. He 

called such an initiative “the best marketing we 

could do.” In St. Petersburg, two cooks who 

stir the racing stew -- TRA executive vice president 

Chris Scherf, who runs the simulcast conference, 

and Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group 

vice president Drew Couto -- both called present 

policies “a recipe for disaster” -- but for different 

reasons. Couto was lamenting present ADW 

splits; Scherf was referring to allowing horsemen 

an expanded role in track management 

prerogatives. A third party in these matters also 

was heard from, when Youbet.com attorney Dan 

Perini, speaking from the perspective of a major 

ADW provider, said a proposed ADW three-way 

equal split of takeout would leave Youbet 

and other ADW suppliers “with nothing.” 





Back in Kentucky, the governor’s taskforce, facing 

a Dec. 1 deadline to report to Beshear, heard 

suggestions on diverting tax monies from the 

state’s general fund to financial support of the 

understaffed racing commission, which faces a 

$614,000 shortfall in the next two years as it is. 

NO FEAR OF THIS AT HTA ART 

Halsey Minor, the 43-year-old technology zillionaire 

who was turned away this week in his efforts 

to buy Hialeah from John Brunetti, is hock 

deep in legal problems with the giant art auction 

house Sotheby’s. Sotheby’s sued Minor for $16.8 

million it says he owes for Edward Hicks’ famed 

“Peaceable Kingdom” and two other works of 

art, and the Paulick Report says he in turn is 

suing Sotheby’s in a class action for deceptive 

practices, saying the company failed to divulge it 

had an economic interest in the artwork, and its 

director of American paintings had advised him 

to buy “Kingdom” rather than other works. Minor 

alleges thousands of other buyers also were 

never informed Sotheby’s had undisclosed interests 

in work it sold. 

We promise if you spend $16.8 million at our 

art auction Saturday morning -- or $16,000 or 

$1,600, you won’t have that problem. Today and 

tomorrow are the last two days, however, that 

Cindy Knox will be in the HTA office to arrange 

for telephone bidding. Call her at 520-529-2525, 

fax her at 520-529-3235, or email her at cindy@ 

harnesstracks.com. 

ANOTHER MAGNA SETBACK 

Frank Stronach’s hopes for a huge mall complex 

at Santa Anita received another setback this 

week when a Superior Court judge reaffirmed 

his earlier decision that the city of Arcadia was 

deficient in 11 areas of environmental concern, 

including air quality, traffic and waste. Arcadia 

has not decided whether to appeal.






GOOD NEWS IN NEW ENGLAND 

In a move that should strengthen New England 

harness racing, HTA members Plainridge Racecourse 

in Massachusetts and Rockingham Park 

in New Hampshire have reached an agreement to 

form a coordinated circuit for 37 weeks of harness 

racing. Plainridge will open in mid-March 

and race until early June. Rockingham then will 

race a summer meeting extending through late 

August, after which Plainridge will again take 

over and race until the end of November, racing 

four days a week to fulfill its 100 days a year obligation 

for live racing. Gary Piontkowski, Plainridge 

president, said the circuit is needed to offset 

competition from tracks in surrounding states 

that have slots, which neither Massachusetts nor 

New Hampshire have at present. Rockingham 

president Ed Callahan said, “We are trying to 

do the best thing for horsemen in the area and 

for harness racing in New England.” Horsemen 

agreed. Mike Perpall, president of the Harness 

Horsemen’s Association of New England, said, 

“Our organization is thrilled that the horsemen’s 

suggestion of a New England circuit was approved 

by both tracks.” Under the arrangement 

there will be 150 racing dates without head-tohead 

competition, which existed under the scheduling 

now being proposed, subject to approval 

of racing commissions in both states. Plainridge 

general manager Steve O’Toole, a former driver 

who won almost 1,000 races before switching to 

administration, says the new schedule “is a good 

opportunity to try some unique ideas to generate 

excitement for our sport, such as late closing 

events.” New England Harness Writers veteran 

president Jack Ginetti wrote, “This has been a 

long time in coming, and can only make for better 

racing and improved revenue production under 

the toughest of economic times. I’m thrilled 

the two sides were able to work out this 

agreement.” From this distance, it looks 

like a win-win decision. 

VET TURBULENCE IN KY, IOWA 

Two Ohio veterinarians have been suspended 

indefinitely at HTA member Red Mile in Kentucky, 

and another has been suspended for 

seven months at HTA member Prairie Meadows 

in Iowa. After two Kentucky Horse Racing 

Commission investigators searched their trucks 

Wednesday, veterinarians Rick Rothfuss and 

Rick Mathers, both with practices in Columbus, 

Ohio, were suspended pending results of investigations 

of substances found in the vehicles. The 

Red Mile’s presiding judge imposed the suspension 

after reviewing the physical evidence, and a 

hearing has been scheduled. 

In Iowa, Dr. Robert McFarlin, an Arkansas vet, 

who was suspended in August for treating a 

horse with a drug on race day, was suspended 

again for having Modafinil, a drug used to treat 

narcolepsy in humans, in the stable area. The 

drug was found July 19 in his trailer office in 

the Prairie Meadows stable area, before the race 

day incident, and McFarlin’s attorney claims it 

had been given to McFarlin two years ago by the 

manufacturer for testing, but had been left on a 

shelf for two years, unused. If both penalties are 

sustained after appeals for an administrative law 

judge hearing, McFarlin could be barred from 

practicing for as long as 19 months. 

Back in Kentucky, the state’s chief veterinarian, 

Dr. Lafe Nichols, resigned under fire, after 

he told the racing commission that he had not 

tested for milkshaking at Ellis Park because he 

opted “to put our priorities into the ambulance 

runs we were making there with heat conditions 

and problems.” He said he preferred keeping 

his veterinarians on the track rather than in the 

barn area. The Louisville Courier-Journal said 

neither Nichols nor racing commission executive 

director Lisa Underwood returned email 

inquiries about the issue.


HTA’s scholarship fund and the five young persons 

who benefit from it this year owe a debt of 

gratitude to Silva and Gentry. Without them, 

the auction showed a lack of interest from management, 

media and well-placed owners who 

viewed the art, expressed admiration for what 

was the highest quality collection of oils, watercolors, 

bronzes, and woodcarvings ever offered 

by HTA, and then did not support the venture. 


The show and auction represents a huge undertaking, 

with expensive logistics and an expenditure 

of time and labor from the entire HTA staff 

that is far too large to justify the results. 

HTA’s Scholarship Committee, a group 

of our directors who show deeply ap- 




FINAL ART AUCTION IN BOOKS preciated diligence, care, and sincere interest in 

Thanks in large measure to two buyers with selecting each year’s winners from the lengthy 

good taste and the means to back that up, HTA’s list of impressive young applicants, now can turn 

31st and almost certainly last harness racing art their attention to finding new and alternate ways 

show and auction wound up a success. One was of funding the operation. There were, of course, 

the hugely involved Long Beach, NY, horse owner 

Jerry Silva, a partner on a cavalry brigade of ble support. That list is too long for full men- 

a host of others who did actively provide tangi- 

top horses in the sport, and the other the most tion here, but special thanks go to Gary Foerster 

gratifying surprise of all 31 auctions, the noted and Dave Briggs at Canadian Sportsman, Nicole 

Kraft at Hoof Beats and Ellen Harvey and 

thoroughbred owner and breeder Olin Gentry. 

Silva bought 9 works of art for $53,700, including 

four of the top five high priced items in the Bradford and the four owners of the Red Mile 

Anna Svensson at HRC, to Joe Costa and Donna 

sale, and Gentry, who walked in unannounced, for their generosity in providing the facilities, art 

bid successfully on a carefully selected set of 8 of authority and adviser Richard Stone, columnists 

the best pieces in the sale, spending $27,550 for Dean Hoffman, Ray Paulick and Maryjean Wall, 

them. 

to media rep Dee Stewart and the indefatigable 

Charlie Bowen and photographer Nigel Soult of 

Gentry’s appearance and purchases of the magnificent 

Richard Stone Reeves oil painting of who helped mount the show and to all who pur- 

the Red Mile staff, and to countless volunteers 

Albatross for $15,000 accomplished a longtime chased art last Saturday. I firmly believe the 

hope and desire of the editor: greater cooperation 

and cross breed mutuality between harness this undertaking meant to harness racing until 

sport and industry will not fully appreciate what 

racing and thoroughbred racing, and his participation 

was the most satisfying aspect of the en- 

unlike any in thoroughbred racing in scope and 

they suddenly realize it is gone. It was a project 

tire show and auction. 

offerings, but the shrinking universe of support 

indicates HTA’s energies can better be funneled 

to undertakings that draw greater support and 

appreciation. Here are the five top selling items, 

and buyers: 

$15,000 #101, Albatross, oil painting by Richard 

Stone Reeves. Olin Gentry 

$11,000 #48, Currier & Ives Hartford poster, 

Jerry Silva 

$11,000 #93, Ethan Allen & Dan Mace bronze, 

by Maretta Kennedy, Jerry Silva 

$10,000 #109A, Blackhawk and Lady Suffolk, 

oil painting, George Ford Morris, Jerry Silva 

$10,000 #74, Belgian Show Hitch, John 

Kittelson woodcarving, Jerry Silva


courtroom on Tuesday. According to Poker 

News, “the implications of the hearing seeking 

an order requiring these sites to forfeit their domain 

manes to the state go far beyond the future 

of online gambling, raising significant questions 

regarding the future of all Internet commerce 

and how it may be regulated or controlled by the 

government.” The publication says “nearly every 

major online gambling company is expected 

to be in attendance at Tuesday’s hearing. On behalf 

of the domain name defendants, attorneys 

for the Interactive Media Entertainment and 

Gaming Association (IMEGA) have filed a motion 

to dismiss the state’s action.” Representatives 

of the Internet Gaming Council, Interactive 

Media Entertainment, Internet Commerce 

Association and Americans for Tax Reform have 

indicated their intention of being present at the 

hearing. 

Attorney William C. Hurt Jr., in a brief filed on 

behalf of the state, contends that under Kentucky 

law domain names are “illegal gambling devices” 

and as such may be forfeited to the state. IM- 

EGA contends they are not devices, saying those 

are actual physical objects. The Poker Players 

Assn. contends poker is not a game of chance, 

but a game of skill, and thus not subject to gambling 

laws. Attorney Robert Foote, representing 

Kentucky, contends that no one has standing 

to appear before the court until a person or 

corporation is named, and that a domain name 

has no right to have a lawyer. Joe Brennan Jr., 

president of IMEGA, says, “Robert Foote may 

wish that was true; in fact, it is not.” We 

will find out what judge Thomas Wingate 

thinks tomorrow. 





KY HEARING A BIG DRAW Wingate understands his decision could have 

Tomorrow’s hearing before a county judge in far-reaching consequences, but doubts the defendants’ 

contention that domain names have 

Kentucky on the state’s right to seize 141 gambling 

Internet domain names has drawn international 

attention, and is likely to overflow his neys, “You are going to have to eventually pony 

the protection of confidentiality. He told attor- 

up and say who these people (the domain name 

holders) are.” 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READ 

For some highly entertaining reading on how 

racing is regulated, we strongly recommend you 

go online and access today’s edition of Ray Paulick’s 

absorbing Paulick Report. He leads with a 

live online blog, moment by moment, of yesterday’s 

first meeting of Kentucky governor Steve 

Beshear’s Task Force on the Future of Horseracing’s 

subcommittee on integrity of pari-mutuel 

activities. Paulick writes a fascinating diary of 

events, starting with a note that a quorum was 

not present, so nothing of substance could be 

accomplished. He takes us through pronouncements 

of chairman Ned Bonnie, and of testimony 

starting with Isadore (Izzy) Sobkowski, working 

on a system of wagering security for the Association 

of Racing Commissioners International, 

whose president Ed Martin also appeared. Then 

Paulick, in his flowing humorous style, introduces 

big gambler Mike Maloney, still irate over past 

posting and the lack of off-time technology, who 

explains to Bonnie that “the industry lacks oversight.” 

Then, at 3:30, two and one-half hours into 

the discussion, comes Frank Fabian, president of 

the TRPB and SIS, who Paulick identifies as “a 

smooth talker.” Fabian and Curtis Linnell give 

their pitch for the TRA’s own wagering integrity 

efforts, which Maloney greets with skepticism. 

Thoroughbred breeder Gary Bisantz is even 

more skeptical, and at 5 p.m. Bonnie adjourns 

the meeting, saying “When we have a quorum 

we’ll take some action.” Paulick ends his blog 

by saying, “Let’s hope someone holds the 

commission to that.”


MEGAN JONES, 19, Wayne, Michigan, majoring 

in anthropology at Wayne State University. 

A figure skating instructor for the city of 

Wayne, she is the daughter of Richard C. Jones, 

an assembly line worker at General Motors, and 

Tammy L. Jones, a groom in the Vincent Copeland 

stable. Megan hopes to become a forensic 

anthropologist and college professor teaching the 

subject. She and her mother, father and brother 

operate a small family harness racing stable, and 

Megan has maintained a 3.93 grade point average 

(out of a possible 4) during two years of college, 

with straight A’s in her sophomore year. 

CHELSEA ELIZABETH MASSIE, 17, Sycamore, 

Ohio, a pre vet freshman at the University 

of Findlay. Her father Curtis Massie is a groom in 

the Brian Brown stable, and her mother Jeanne 

is a factory worker for Timken. A member of 

4-H for 10 years and Future Farmers of America 

for 4, Chelsea hopes to attend vet school at Ohio 

State or Michigan State after her four years at 

Findlay. A self-described “barn brat,” she is the 

fourth generation family member involved in 

harness racing. She owns and shows a Quarter 

horse gelding and Paint mare in open and 4-H 

shows. She was a straight A student in her junior 

year at Upper Sandusky high school and 

received 13 A’s and one B+ in her senior 

year, including A’s in biology and anatomy 

and physiology. 





FIVE GET HTA SCHOLARSHIPS ARIANA JOY PELUSO, 21, White Lake, NY, 

Five bright and needy young college students, now attending the University of Tennessee veterinary 

school. She is the daughter of harness 

all from harness racing families or participants 

themselves, have been named recipients of Harness 

Tracks of America’s 2008 college scholartive 

assistant Michele Peluso. A graduate of 

racing trainer Andrew Peluso and administraships 

of $5,000 each. 

Cornell University, where she majored in animal 

sciences, she was a research and teaching assistant. 

She will focus on Equine Sports Medicine 

Selected from more than 30 applicants, the five 

were chosen by the HTA Scholarship Committee at Tennessee. Her family has been involved in 

of 12 directors on the basis of scholastic accomplishment 

and economic need. The five are: as a groom for the immortal Stanley Dancer and 

harness racing for 30 years, her father starting 

now racing and managing Misty Acres farm. 

BRITTANY SCHWARTZ, 21, Strasburg, PA, 

currently a junior majoring in equine studies 

at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA, 

with a minor in business, and serving as an intern 

with Dr. Hurtgen in Nandi Farms and as an 

assistant trainer in the James Groff stable. Her 

father Paul is in sales and her mother Priscilla 

is self-employed in cleaning. A cross-country 

runner, she holds a school track record for 5,000 

meters, and hopes ultimately to operate her own 

training facility specializing in breeding, training 

and boarding standardbred horses. 

KATRINA MARY SHAND, 21, Penns Grove, 

NJ, a junior majoring in radio, television and 

film production at Rowan University in Glassboro, 

NJ. The daughter of harness racing trainer 

Kenneth Shand and horse owner and bookkeeper 

Shirley Shand, Katrina has worked as a 

caterer, cashier and toll collector for the Delaware 

River and Bay Authority to help finance 

her education and has maintained a 3.74 grade 

average while doing so. Her trainer father came 

to America from Australia in 1974 and Katrina 

and her four siblings all have worked with the 

family stable and are involved in various aspects 

of the sport, her brother Ross as a farrier and 

former competitor in HTA’s junior driving 

championships.


WOODBINE PADDOCK A WINNER 

HTA member Woodbine Entertainment Group 

(WEG) unveils its new standardbred paddock 

and retention barn in a ribbon-cutting ceremony 

today. A WEG release describes the 62,000 

square foot facility as having the “look and 

feel of a cupola’ed Kentucky barn.” The new 

barn incorporates 120 stalls, office for industry 

regulators and other racing officials, a new 

broadcast studio and tack shop. A new amenity 

provided for horsemen is a second-floor lounge 

and restaurant that offers a panoramic view of 

the track. The separate 32-stall retention barn 

adjacent to the new paddock facility will serve 

both thoroughbreds and standardbreds and 

function as a quarantine barn when necessary. 

Bruce Murray, vice president of standardbred 

racing at WEG, said, “During the business 

phase of the paddock, we investigated the best 

practice features at other racetrack paddocks 

and incorporated them into this facility to make 

it state of the art.” The new facilities were built 

with “green” in mind. With improved insulation 

and “smart” meters installed throughout to 

monitor electricity consumption, the building 

“will offer unparalleled comfort to horsemen 

and horses in both winter and summer.” Gray 

water from wash stalls and the parking lot 

will be diverted to the infield lagoons and used 

for watering and conditioning the racetracks. 

Recycled products have been employed whenever 

possible, including fans, lights and heaters from 

the old paddock building. Both new facilities are 

wheelchair accessible. 

In recognition of the fact that WEG 

serves as a leading-edge corporation for 

environmental stewardship, it is being awarded 

JohnsonDiversey’s “Sustainable Facility Care 

Award,” the first Canadian corporation 

to receive the distinction. The award is 

to be presented to WEG Chairman and 





CEO David Willmot during the ribbon-cutting 

ceremony for the new paddock. The award 

recognizes facilities that demonstrate a firm 

commitment to environmental sustainability. 

CASE PROBATION PLAN AIRED 

Former driver Walter Case is hoping to be released 

on parole after serving four years of a 

five-year sentence for stabbing his wife with a 

steak knife. Case was in court on Monday in 

Portage County, Ohio, along with his attorney, 

Lawrence Whitney, according to an article in 

the New York Daily News by scribe Dave Little. 

At the hearing, Judge John Enlow saw fit to approve 

an early release for Case, on the condition 

that the State of New York go along with the 

probation plan Case and his attorney proposed. 

Under the plan, Case’s probation supervision 

would be transferred to New York correctional 

authorities and Case would be “released to his 

(trainer) brother (Tim) and work for his brother 

and work his way back -- hopefully -- into the 

good graces of the licensing people,” Whitney 

told Little. His probationary period would run 

two years, during which time he would “have to 

obey all laws and have to undergo counseling for 

alcohol, drugs and anger management, and he 

would have to report to (a probation officer) and 

be under the thumb of that probation officer for 

24 months.” Whitney added, “The judge has set 

another hearing for Oct. 27 and he is going to let 

him out if the folks in Orange County, New York 

will accept him as a probationer.” 

PLEASE SEND IN THOSE SURVEYS 

HTA Executive Assistant Brody Johnson is asking 

that HTA track personnel complete the two 

surveys that were sent to them. The first survey 

concerns Group Sales and is for a joint HTA- 

TRA project. The second survey is all about 

sponsorships. Deadline for returning the 

surveys is October 22, so please hurry!






MAGNA ALL IN ON SLOTS VOTE 

Magna’s main man in Maryland, Tom Chuckas, 

the former boss at Rosecroft Raceway, has made 

clear that Magna will go all out to support an 

affirmative vote on slots at next month’s general 

election. The Baltimore Business Journal quoted 

Tom as saying, “Question 2 (the slot vote) will 

help preserve Maryland racing, which is supported 

by thousands of employees, hundreds 

of horse farms including thousands of acres of 

green space. All of which is at risk of disappearing 

from Maryland’s cultural, financial and historical 

landscape.” 

A bit higher up the Magna ladder, head man 

Frank Stronach, thru his COO Ron Charles 

at Santa Anita, announced that it will welcome 

“only those trainers and owners who have the 

welfare of racehorses as their primary concern.” 

Toward that quest, any trainer or owner transporting 

a horse to a slaughterhouse or an auction 

house engaged in selling horses for slaughter will 

be denied stalls at Magna tracks. 

DEWEY TO DAZZLE ‘EM IN KY 

The brilliant Deweycheatemnhowe, first trotter 

ever to win more than $3 million at 2 and 3, and 

still counting, will stand his first season of stud 

next year at Meg and Alan Leavitt’s Walnut Hall 

Ltd. in Lexington, for a $25,000 stud fee. With 

the Hambletonian, World Trotting Derby, Canadian 

Trotting Classic and Kentucky Futurity 

trophies all now carrying his name, the winner 

of all 10 starts at 2 and 11 of 13 at 3 still has the 

Breeders Crown in sight before season’s end and 

his retirement from racing. He will be bred to no 

more than 140 mares, and if he were to reach a 

75% success rate in settling those mares his stud 

fees for 105 matings could bring $2,625,000 to 

his owners -- trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, Ted 

Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatemnhowe 

stable, and breeder 

Walnut Hall Ltd. 

AND SPEAKING OF ROI 

Two of the six owners of Somebeachsomewhere, 

principal shareholder and trainer Brent 

MacGrath and now retired fellow auto dealer 

Reg Petipas, talked to veteran Atlantic Canada 

harness writer Doug Harkness this week about 

their success. They discussed their initial investments 

of $10,000 each to buy the colt as a 

yearling at the Lexington yearling sale, paying 

$40,000, and revealed that after the colt’s first 

race and first victory, a track record 1:54.2 mile at 

Grand River Raceway in Ontario, they were offered 

$250,000 for Somebeachsomewhere. They 

turned it down, considering they had the best 

horse for the $300,000 final of the race. It was 

a rather wise decision, considering that after the 

colt’s victory last Saturday in the $293,000 Tattersalls 

Pace his earnings stand at $2,603,775. 

JUG WINNER IN WINDY CITY 

Shadow Play, the winner of this year’s Little 

Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio, tries for big city 

laurels tonight in the $275,000 Windy City Pace at 

Maywood Park. It cost his owners, who include 

former Montreal Canadians HNL star Serge 

Savard and his son Serge Jr., $30,000 to supplement 

the colt, who was not originally nominated 

for the rich race. He will face the million-dollar 

winner Badlands Nitro and local favorite Mucho 

Sleazy, over Maywood’s half-mile track. Badlands 

Nitro has won $1,287,184 this year, including 

the Art Rooney and Battle of the Brandywine 

and a second place finish in the Cane Pace 

in his accomplishments. The race takes two of 

the world’s best drivers, Brian Sears and David 

Miller, to Chicago, Sears driving Badlands Nitro 

for trainer George Teague and Miller guiding 

Shadow Play, as he did in the Jug. 

WE KNOW YOU’RE BUSY, BUT... 

Please take the time to return your Group Sales 

and Sponsorship surveys to Brody Johnson 

at HTA by Oct. 22.






TANNER NEW USTA EXEC VP 

Mike Tanner, a veteran of both the harness and 

thoroughbred wars, has been named the new executive 

vice president of the United States Trotting 

Association. Tanner, 42, brings youth and 

creativity to the job, having most recently run 

the racing operations at Harrah’s Chester Casino 

and Racetrack in Pennsylvania and previously 

serving as director of marketing, media 

and simulcasting, assistant to the president and 

director of communications at Magna Entertainment’s 

Gulfstream Park in Florida. In that role 

he served on the National Thoroughbred Racing’s 

Association Technology Group’s Communications 

Task Force. At Chester, he served as 

Action Officer and an alternate on HTA’s Board 

of Directors and a member of its Labor and 

Horsemen’s Relations committee. Tanner and 

his wife Gail will move shortly to Columbus and 

Mike will take charge of the association, which 

has been without a formal day-to-day administrator 

since the departure of Eric Sharbaugh. 

HTA looks forward to working in close cooperation 

with Mike and congratulates him on his new 

role. 

THE FASTEST TROTTER EVER 

The sport has a new trotting king, the first ever 

to break the 1:50 mark for a mile. Enough Talk, 

owned by the Peter Kleinhans Stable and Jerry 

Silva, trained by Kleinhans and driven by Ron 

Pierce, won the $100,000 Patriot Invitational 

at Colonial Downs in Virginia Saturday night 

in 1:49.3, scoring by eight and one-half lengths 

over Vivid Photo. The victory over the mile and 

a quarter Colonial oval vaulted Enough Talk 

into the history books and into totally new time 

territory for trotters, and sent his earnings to 

$948,091, $15,000 more than his sire, the Swedish 

owned Enjoy Lavec, a son of Pine Chip. 

The win marked a major highlight for the 

savvy Kleinhans, a lawyer turned race 

called and trainer-driver. 

ITALIAN RACING IN CHAOS 

Horse racing in Italy -- harness and thoroughbred 

-- is non-existent at the moment, in the 

throes of a 10-day strike by horsemen protesting 

the lack of what they consider adequate purses 

from the nation’s governing racing body, UNI- 

RE. More than 2,000 of them reportedly held 

a protest in Rome last Wednesday, according to 

reports to USTA from its Italian correspondent 

Karsten Bonsdorf, then went on strike, cancelling 

Italy’s biggest weekend of harness racing, 

featuring the Oaks for fillies and Gran Premio 

Gaitano Turilli for colts and Derby Italiano, Europe’s 

richest race for 3-year-old trotters, yesterday. 

All three had been scheduled for the Tordivalle 

track in Rome. 

DEL NORTH IN STRETCH DRIVE 

Two-thirds of the way home in its race for the 

right to run a racino at Aqueduct, given the 

blessings of New York governor David Paterson 

and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver last 

Friday, Delaware North is mounting an all-out 

drive to clinch the deal this week by convincing 

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos it is the 

right company to do the job. The Buffalo News 

Albany bureau writer Tom Precious says Skelos, 

who can veto the deal, is unconvinced, and 

Delaware North president Bill Bissett will try 

to change Skelos’ mind this week. Bissett told 

Precious a Delaware North victory could add 50 

jobs at its Buffalo headquarters and create 1,500 

in Queens. Early Friday reports had said Delaware 

North had won the deal, but Skelos, who 

has taken over Joe Bruno’s powerful role in the 

state Senate, quieted that story later in the day 

when he said too many questions still were unanswered 

in Delaware North’s proposal, including 

a hotel and entertainment complex promised 

by its two competitors. SL Green and its partner 

Hard Rock Enterprises and Capital Play and 

its partner Mohegan Sun. Bissett questions 

the plans and projections of both.






HAWTHORNE SEEKS CASINO 

Daily Racing Form reports this morning that 

Hawthorne Race Course president Tim Carey 

and business associates will submit an ambitious 

bid to the Illinois Gaming Board today for the 

10th and final casino license available in the state. 

The plans, if Hawthorne gets the license, would 

transform the big track into a major entertainment 

destination, with the grandstand to be torn 

down and replaced with a casino suites hotel, a 

water park, a subterranean music theater in the 

infield, and movie theaters and retail space. The 

project, called Champions Resort and Casino, 

will be discussed at a public hearing tomorrow 

at which Hawthorne and other bidders will be 

announced. Three top bidders will be chosen 

within 10 days, and the gaming board hopes to 

announce the winner of the license, which was 

stripped from a disgraced casino in Rosemont, 

seven years ago, before the end of the year. The 

Carey bid, in partnership with Joe Canfora’s 

Merit Management and Ed Pilarz’ Atrium Development, 

has a compelling scenario, located 

as it is seven miles from Chicago’s downtown 

Loop, four miles from Midway airport, and with 

4.2 million people within 30 minutes driving 

time. “The more we talked about slots,” Carey 

told the Form’s Marcus Hersh, “the more we 

thought something needed to happen here over 

and above racing. Racing as it exists here is not 

going to last much longer.” Hawthorne had its 

harness racing dates stripped from it by the Illinois 

Racing Board recently, and Carey says if 

approved the track’s redevelopment would take 

place in two phases, with a major “retrofitting” 

within six months to house the casino, which 

would cover 40,000 square feet with 1,150 slots, 

table games and a poker room. Regardless of 

where the 10th casino license is awarded, legislation 

fortunately requires 15% of adjusted 

gross revenues go the racing industry in 

Illinois. 

A HOTEL FOR POMPANO? 

The South Florida Business Journal says Pompano 

Park will ask the Broward County Commission 

today to approve zoning changes that 

would open the way for owner Isle of Capri 

Casinos to build a 500-room hotel and industrial 

construction on parts of its 162 acres of 

track property. Isle also wants approval to expand 

its casino, currently 46,503 square feet, to 

55,000. Broward’s Environmental Protection 

and Growth Management Development and 

Regulation division has recommended approval 

of the requests. No requests are included 

for changes in the 5,256-seat grandstand, the 

850 stalls on the backstretch, or the track’s 154 

dormitory rooms for grooms. 

DRIVERS GET 60K AT CHESTER 

Harrah’s Chester Racetrack, continuing major 

innovations, conducted its $60,000 Drivers’ 

Challenge Sunday, with 8 top drivers chosen 

randomly from a list of 12 nominees. The winner, 

taking down $15,000, was Daniel Dube, 

with Yannick Gingras winning second prize of 

$12,000 and Tim Tetrick earning $10,000. The 

rest of the field all won money, David Miller 

getting $8,000 for fourth, Cat Manzi $6,000 for 

fifth, Eric Goodall $5,000 for sixth, Dave Palone 

$3,000 for seventh and George Napolitano Jr. 

$1,000 for eighth. All drivers competing donated 

their 5% driving purse shares to Operation 

Warm, a charity that provides warm winter 

clothing to underprivileged children. 

RACING IN FOR $2.6 MIL IN MD 

Racing interests, led by Penn National’s $1 million, 

have pumped $2.6 million into support of 

the slots drive in Maryland, according to a report 

by David Collins of WBAL-TV.






CASINO RACE HEATS UP IN CHI 

The race for the 10th and final casino license in 

Illinois heated up this morning, with Hawthorne 

president Tim Carey announcing Chicago hero 

Mike Ditka, former Bear great and coach, as part 

of the Hawthorne bid package. Rosemont, where 

the old 10th Emerald casino license was nullified 

years ago, also had a major announcement, 

saying it had sold the 7-acre Emerald property 

and another stretch along the Tri-State tollway 

near O’Hare Field to Trilliant Gaming Illinois, 

an offshoot of Los Angeles-based Trilliant whose 

principals include former MGM chairman and 

MGM Grand president Alex Yemenidgian and 

Canadian investment conglomerate Onex Corporation. 

The Illinois Gaming Board will announce 

all applicants today and hopes to narrow 

the field to three finalists in the next week or so. 

WHIPLESS AT INDIANA DOWNS 

In an interesting experiment, Indiana Downs 

race secretary Scott Peine has scheduled Saturday’s 

night’s 7th race, a conditioned event for 

non-winners of $1,501 in their last 5 starts, to be 

raced without whips, and has boosted the purse 

to $8,000 for the event. A full contingent of the 

track’s leading drivers will participate. The HTA 

member has been a leader nationally in punishing 

whip infractions under presiding judge Tim 

Schmitz. Saturday’s card also will include four 

$80,000 Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds of 

both gaits. 

HEY FOLKS - YOU’RE IN HTA 

It has been called to our attention that a number 

of member tracks do not list HTA in the links lists 

on their Web sites. This is an appeal to our general 

managers and contact officers to check your 

Web sites and please have your Web mas- ters 

take care of this immediately. We’re 

proud of our Web site, and you should be 

too. 

OFF-TRACK TESTS FOR CUP 

Horses pre-entered yesterday for the Breeders’ 

Cup races at Santa Anita will be subject to outof-competition 

testing by the California Horse 

Racing Board and Breeders’ Cup. The racing 

board said horses would be selected randomly 

from the pre-entry lists, and the tests would target 

epoetin, darbepoetin and other agents normally 

administered days or weeks before competition 

and not usually detectable in traditional 

drug-tests of post race samples. The Breeders’ 

Cup will assist the racing board in collection of 

samples from pre-entered horses prior to their 

arrival in California. 

BENOIT TRIBUTE TOMORROW 

Oak Tree Racing, currently operating at Santa 

Anita, will host a memorial tribute to Bob Benoit 

tomorrow afternoon. The event will be held immediately 

after the races in Santa Anita’s Turf 

Club Chandelier Room. The popular Benoit, 

who died two months ago, was a former general 

manager and COO of Hollywood Park and operated 

his own public relations and racing photography 

firm, now operated by his partners 

Rayeta Burr and Tom Abahazy. Oak Tree executive 

vice president Sherwood Chillingworth, 

in announcing the memorial tribute, called Bob 

“a dear friend and an incredibly talented guy.” 

The editor, who enjoyed a 55-year friendship 

with Benoit, can echo those sentiments. Further 

details of the Benoit Memorial can be obtained 

from Oak Tree at 626-574-6345. 

A TIMELY SUGGESTION 

Debbie Little, president of the United States Harness 

Writers Assn. has cautioned her members 

not to delay in making air reservations for the 

HTA-TRA-USTA Racing Congress in Las Vegas 

Feb. 2-5. Flights have been reduced in number, 

and seats and rates should be locked in as early 

as possible. Hotel reservations for Bellagio 

should be made through HTA.






WIDE SPREAD IN CHI BIDS 

The Illinois Gaming Board, now preparing to 

narrow seven bids for the last Illinois casino license 

down to three, face a spread ranging from 

$60 million to $435 million in money plans offered 

by the applicants. The board’s attorney, 

Michael Fries, told the Chicago Tribune, “No one 

should assume that any one applicant has an advantage 

over another based solely on the amount 

of the initial application fee offered.” He said 

character and reputation of the applicants and 

their key officials, time needed to get operating, 

and how the new casino would affect existing 

ones, were among the major factors to be considered. 

The high bid came from Trilliant Gaming 

of Los Angeles, which bought the old Emerald 

Casino property and additional real estate from 

the town of Rosemont. The city of Waukegan, 

north of Chicago near the Wisconsin line, was 

second highest bidder at $225 million. Tim Carey 

of Hawthorne bid $150 million. A quick decision 

is expected from the board in narrowing its 

choice to three, with a final decision by the end 

of the year. 

NYRA MUDDY...FROM POLITICS 

The long anticipated racino at Aqueduct Racecourse, 

which seemed close to a decision on the 

operator last Friday when New York governor 

David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon 

Silver spoke for Delaware North, is stalemated 

again, mired in the mud of Albany politics. Senate 

Majority Leader Dean Skelos, despite taking 

part in what was described as “a good meeting” 

at Delaware North’s Buffalo headquarters, still 

will not sign off, and a new twist entered the picture 

yesterday when Senate Minority Leader 

Malcolm Smith said allowing Delaware North to 

modify its proposal would open the entire procedure 

to a lawsuit from the unsuccessful 

applicants. With Thanksgiving ahead, 

be thankful for what you have. 


THE RED MILE is likely to discontinue winter 

training, president and CEO Joe Costa announced, 

declaring it not economically viable. 

The track’s winter training population, he said, 

has dropped from 300 to 100 in the last seven 

years and although horsemen have offered to 

lease the barns and track, Costa told the Lexington 

Herald-Leader’s Janet Patton, “That doesn’t 

really work in the business model to do that.” 

Present plans call for closure from Nov. 15 to 

next July. Costa said he did not think shutting 

down for the winter made the track “any less viable,” 

noting it had always lost money on winter 

training. It will remain open for simulcasting. 

FREEHOLD RACEWAY has announced the appointment 

of Karen Fagliarone as its new race 

secretary, taking over for her longtime boss Peter 

Koch, who moves to the job at the Meadowlands. 

Karen has worked at Freehold for 29 years in a 

variety of roles, from the racing commission to 

publicity to assistant to racing secretaries Frank 

Ferrone and Koch. Her husband Michael is 

Freehold’s track superintendent. 

AT THE MEADOWS, perennial leading driver 

Dave Palone has won his 500th stake at the 

track. 

INDIANA DOWNS has modified conditions of 

its “whipless race” Saturday night. Drivers will 

be allowed to carry whips tucked under their 

arms, but use them only in an emergency. 

HALL OF FAME CEO Gail Cunard has been 

named winner of the Excelsior Award “for untiring 

dedication to the sport.” The award is presented 

by the Monticello-Goshen chapter of the 

U.S. Harness Writer’s Association and will be 

presented at the chapter’s 50th anniversary 

banquet at Kutsher’s Oct. 26.






GOOD NEWS IN CALIFORNIA 

The racing industry in California can breath 

easier today, with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger 

announcing the reappointment of Richard B. 

Shapiro to the California Horse Racing Board. 

Shapiro, former president of Western Harness 

Racing Association and current president of Winco 

Real Estate Services, is from an old-line dual 

breed harness racing and thoroughbred family. 

He has led the board as chairman in recent 

years as an activist, pursuing new reforms that 

have increased the board’s stature and standing 

on the national racing scene. Schwarzenegger 

showed good judgment in reappointing the respected 

and knowledgeable racing leader. 

TWO WORLD MARKS IN WEEK 

Time, which has been assaulted regularly in the 

game this year, was buffeted again -- twice -- in 

the last week. First Peter Kleinhans’ and Jerry 

Silva’s Enough Talk lowered the world trotting 

record for a mile to 1:49.3 in the $100,000 Patriot 

Invitational over Colonial Downs’ mile and 

a quarter one-turn track, beating Vivid Photo 

by eight and one-half lengths with Ron Pierce 

driving. Then, yesterday at the Meadows, the 

2-year-old S J’s Caviar colt Keystone Activator, 

owned by Trillium Racing Stable and Tammie 

Raymer, and driven by trainer Jim Raymer, won 

the $125,389 Keystone Classic, trotting in 1:55.3, 

the fastest mile ever by a 2-year-old on a fiveeighths 

mile track. 

A TAKEOVER AT YOUBET? 

Ryan Conley, writing for Bloodhorse.com, reports 

that Michael Brodsky, president and CEO 

of Youbet.com, could be contemplating a takeover 

of the company by New World Opportunity 

Partners, a firm he also manages. Youbet would 

not comment, but New World mentioned a 

takeover of all shares in a filing with the 

SEC, according to Conley’s story. 

VIGILANTE: HARNESS ON TV 

There is much talk but little action getting harness 

racing on television, but a video production 

company out of the unlikely location of Bozeman, 

Montana, has quietly been doing the best 

job in the industry. Backed by industry sources 

including the Hambletonian Society/Breeders 

Crown, Tioga and Vernon Downs, and the 

Purple Haze Stable, Vigilante Films’ aggressive 

producer-writer Stephen Ellis has landed multiple 

harness shows on TVG. Utilizing the formidable 

talent of TVG announcer Gary Siebel, 

Vigilante has placed a half-hour weekly show 

called Trotters & Pacers on TVG, and its episode 

on the Hambletonian has been playing this 

week, Monday at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday at 1 a.m., 

Wednesday at 10 a.m., and today at 8:30 a.m., 

all times Eastern. It may not be prime time, but 

it is a foothold not available previously. In addition 

to live racing, the show includes interviews, 

handicapping tips, feature stories and race analysis, 

with Siebel performing at his very top form. 

Vigilante also has produced a half-hour show on 

Tioga and Vernon Downs scheduled for showing 

on TVG. It features Tioga’s annual drivers’ 

championship and interviews with defending 

champion Yannick Gingras and the veteran Vernon 

trainer-driver Howard Okusko Jr. 

DISMISSAL DENIED ON DOMAIN 

The judge handling Kentucky’s threat to take 

over 141 Web site domain names the state says 

are operating there illegally, yesterday denied a 

request from the defendants to dismiss the case, 

and set Nov. 17 for a hearing. A review of the 

judge’s reasoning will appear here Monday. 

TAKE HEART AT PA TRACKS 

In a bold proactive move to ensure cardiovascular 

health of horses racing in Pennsylvania, the 

racing commission is implementing a heart testing 

program including on-track electrocardiograms.






BOBBY SOPER A MEDIA STAR 

Gaming & Leisure is a slick, shiny and very expensive 

($15 a copy) quarterly magazine on 

resort and entertainment technology. It was a 

double delight, therefore, to see the cover of its 

Fall issue feature a great full color picture of 

Robert J. (Bobby) Soper, president and CEO 

of HTA member Mohegan Sun at Pocono and 

that track’s representative on the HTA Board of 

Directors. The magazine’s feature story inside 

devotes four full pages, with more four-color illustrations, 

of Soper and the track near Wilkes- 

Barre, PA, selecting him as the subject of the 

gaming industry’s “Top 20 Under 40.” The full 

story will be sent to all other directors as this 

week’s Track Topics, and Bobby’s comments in 

the long interview make interesting reading for 

racing and gaming executives everywhere. 

DELAWARE NORTH BATTLING 

William Bissett, president of Delaware North 

Companies Gaming & Entertainment, met in 

Albany last Friday with the Senate Majority 

staff, explaining in a question-answer session 

his company’s plans for the Aqueduct casino, if 

it gets that plum. Bissett said Delaware North 

was not asked to amend its bid, “nor are we 

able to do so because of legal constraints,” but 

he called the meeting “productive in dispelling 

certain misconceptions regarding our approach, 

chief among them that our proposal does not involve 

economic development.” Bissett said the 

proposal always included “a comprehensive vision 

for a world-class destination attraction that 

would be a catalyst for regional growth.” Gov. 


Silver both have endorsed Delaware North as the 

Aqueduct operator, but Senate Majority Leader 

Dean Skelos so far has refused to grant his needed 

Senate approval. Bissett says Delaware 

North approval would produce 1,200 permanent 

jobs in Queens and up to 100 at 

the company’s Buffalo headquarters. 

BIG PAYDAY FOR ARNEAULT 

Executive pay for departing chieftains -- some 

who run their companies into the ground -- is hot 

news these days, but in the case of Ted Arneault 

it is a different story. Arneault built MTR Gaming 

Group from the ground up in the last 13 

years, and the company acknowledged that last 

week in providing him with some $12 million as 

he prepares to leave. In addition to the corporate 

residence and a $400,000 bonus, he walks 

away with a 30-month consulting contract paying 

$512,000 a year and a compensation trust 

worth $11.9 million before the recent economic 

turbulence. In return, Arneault agreed to a noncompetitive 

clause covering gaming and racing 

properties within 150 miles of any MTR operation. 

MTR’s new president and CEO, Robert F. 

Griffin, will take over from Arneault on Nov. 1. 

CAPELLI SCALES BACK 

Developer Louis Capelli’s $1.1 billion Entertainment 

City in the Catskills in New York is shrinking 

a bit under the pressure of the lending crisis. 

Capelli hired a new architect, and the sweeping 

curves of his proposed 750-room hotel are being 

replaced by a more conventional rectangular 

tower. Capelli also is moving some buildings 

around, but says the project still will be completed 

on schedule by 2010. 

WHICH PAPER DO YOU READ? 

If you live in Maryland, your daily read is likely 

to be either the Baltimore Sun or the Washington 

Post. If you read both, you may be confused 

about the upcoming vote on slots in Maryland. 

Both ran editorials on the issue yesterday, the 

Sun calling slots the best chance for Maryland to 

boost its sagging revenue, the Post calling them 

“a neon mirage” that will enrich owners of race 

horses and the tracks they run on. That issue, 

and Issue 6 in Ohio -- approval or rejection of 

a $600 million casino -- will be decided 

Nov. 4.


On the argument of whether poker is a game 

of luck or skill, Wingate said it made no difference 

in this instance. The Poker Players Alliance 

contended their interests were different from 

others because poker required more skill than 

luck. Wingate said it was immaterial because 

Kentucky’s statute involved in the case was silent 

on the issue, simply indicating an element of 

chance, but not specifying proportions between 

luck and skill. 

As to Kentucky having jurisdiction over domains 

that are not present or maintained in the state, 

Wingate dismissed the argument that a domain 

is where it is owned or housed, and reaffirmed 

a state’s right to adjudicate the matter. He said 

Internet geoblocking was one way of bringing 

the sites into conformity with state law. 

The judge made clear that any of the 141 sites 

that provide information only would be dismissed 

from the case at the Nov. 17 hearing, 

where the state’s action in confiscating the domain 

names of sites that failed to block 

Kentucky residents from participating in 

their gambling action. 





TOUGH JUDGE IN KENTUCKY As for the major organizations contesting Kentucky’s 

right of confiscation of domain names, 

Thomas Wingate, the Franklin county circuit 

court judge handling Kentucky’s battle against Wingate ruled they had no legal standing in the 

141 illegal Web gambling sites, has shown toughness 

and an understanding of the issues in the ance that says it has more than a hundred thou- 

matter. That included the Poker Players Alli- 

ground-breaking case. Gov. Steve Beshear is attempting 

a unique takeover of the Internet dotion; 

and the Interactive Media Entertainment 

sand members; the Internet Commerce Associamains 

of the sites, and so far Wingate has supported 

the governor’s arguments for. Last week and ICA had not claimed standing, but filed am- 

and Gaming Association (IMEGA). The PPA 

he denied a motion for dismissal of the case by icus “friend of the court” briefs. Network Solutions, 

another organization involved, was denied 

lawyers representing the gambling sites, and set 

Nov. 17 for a hearing. In doing so, he spelled standing until it identifies its owners. Online 

out his rationale, and his reasoning is interesting. 

Here are a few of his points, as reported by IMEGA “surprising,” in view of its acceptance 

Casinos called the ruling of no standing against 

Online Casinos: 

in a federal case earlier this year. Wingate made 

it clear that he shares the state’s contention that 

affected domain owners should appear in court 

and identify themselves. 

‘BIG’ DOINGS AT HARRINGTON 

Harness racing’s best older pacer, Joe Muscara’s 

Mister Big, proved his standing again last night, 

scoring his ninth straight victory with a 1:51.1 

triumph in the $317,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial 

at HTA member Harrington Raceway in Delaware. 

The win sent Mister Big’s lifetime earnings 

past $3.2 million. The 5-year-old son of 

Grinfromeartoear is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. 

and was driven by Brian Sears. The race, with a 

standout full field, was Harrington’s richest, and 

honors the track’s former longtime board member 

and state legislator, Bobby Quillen. 

IKE K.O.’S HOUSTON MEETING 

In the “things could be worse” department, 

count your blessings that your track is not on 

the Gulf coast. Sam Houston Park in Houston, 

Texas, had to cancel its 65-day meeting at its 

home track yesterday, unable to complete timely 

repairs to its grandstand and stable area inflicted 

by Hurricane Ike Sept. 13. Discussions are 

underway to move the meeting to another 

Texas track.






YO! EXPRESS YOURSELF 

We now are only 15 weeks away from the 2009 

Racing Congress at Bellagio, and the HTA staff 

has turned its full attention from producing and 

auditing the art auction to arranging and programming 

the Congress, and turning out our 

regular HTA daily, weekly and monthly reports. 

Put another way, you now have only three months 

to make your plane reservations (whichever airline 

you choose); only two months to make your 

Bellagio hotel reservations (thru HTA, not the 

hotel, cutoff December 15); and two days -- or 

today -- to unburden yourself of novel and original 

ideas for new approaches, new speakers, new 

panels, new ideas, for operations and answers to 

the vexing problems of the present. 

Well, we’ll give you a little longer, but the gist of 

the message is don’t delay. Tell us of scintillating 

speakers you have heard, inspiring motivators 

you have met, brilliant ideas you have harbored 

for years. Do it now, before we finalize the agenda, 

which hopefully will both entertain and educate 

in new ways. Those two guys on television 

are not the only ones planning change. And keep 

in mind that TRA, horsemen, writers and other 

racing organizations will be meeting with us. 

JEFF GREGORY UP AT BATAVIA 

Another round tonight in Batavia Downs’ unique 

All-Star Drivers Challenge. Instead of head-tohead 

competition -- often difficult to arrange 

given individual schedules of star drivers -- Batavia 

took a different approach. It scheduled a 

different top driver each week, for eight weeks, 

with each starting from the rail in his first race 

and moving out one post position in each race. 

Points are awarded 9-5-3-2-1 for finishing first 

to fifth. Jody Jamieson of Ontario leads after six 

weeks with 35 points. Jeff Gregory is up 

tonight. Jason Bartlett, who will represent 

the U.S. in the World Driving Championship, 

closes the series next week. 

OHIO COMMISSION SPEAKS UP 

The Ohio State Racing Commission has adopted 

a resolution opposing Issue 6 on the Nov. 4 ballot, 

which would open the way for a mega casino in 

one county, Clinton in the southwest portion of 

the state. The resolution says the commission is 

in favor of increased gaming in the state, but opposes 

Issue 6 “because it does not help the Ohio 

horse racing or agricultural industry, and may 

actually hurt the Ohio horse racing industry.” 

GOOD MOVES AT M’LANDS 

Meadowlands’ new director of racing, Peter 

Koch, is proposing significant changes for 2009. 

The late fall meet will be abandoned in favor of a 

Jan. 1-Aug. 21 schedule, the Hambletonian will 

be moved from the first week in August to the 

second, and the Sweetheart and Woodrow Wilson 

for 2-year-olds will be raced after the Hambletonian. 

Good moves! 

EADINGTON SEES TROUBLE 

Bill Eadington, the director of the Institute for 

the Study of Gaming and Commercial Gaming at 

the University of Nevada Reno, is no stranger to 

HTA. He has forecast problems and dark clouds 

for our game for years. Now the Reno Gazette- 

Journal reports Eadington telling an advanced 

economics class that three major Las Vegas casinos 

-- MGM Mirage, Las Vegas Sands and Boyd 

Gaming -- have been “whip-sawed” by debt 

markets and the global economy, and all three 

could face the prospect of bankruptcy because 

of heavy debt and falling stock prices. Eadington 

noted that MGM Mirage traded at $15 last 

Friday, down from a 52-week high of $95.66; 

Sands was at $13.06, from a high of $128.76; and 

Boyd Gaming traded at $5.22, from a year high 

at $42.85. “Either they are phenomenally good 

(stock) buys, or some of these companies are not 

going to be around,” Eadington said. Boyd Gaming 

called the idea of bankruptcy “preposterous.”






IT’S DELAWARE NORTH 

With Senate Majority leader Dean Skelos relenting 

in his opposition to Delaware North as 

the operator of a racino at Aqueduct, the Buffalo 

sports giant scored what could be the most 

significant contract victory in its long history. 

Barring last minute complications, the longawaited 

and debated project now can get underway. 

Delaware North, already the choice of Gov. 


Silver, got Skelos’ blessing after an important 

key to the issue -- state senator Serpin Maltese 

of Queens, where Aqueduct is located -- asked 

for it. Maltese is in a hot battle for re-election, 

facing a formidable Democrat opponent, and if 

he loses the Republicans could lose control of the 

Senate. Faced with that prospect, Maltese said 

Delaware North had convinced him of its commitment 

to go beyond its $370 million bid for the 

contract and provide other development for the 

Queens community. It is expected that the Aqueduct 

racino will take 15 months or so to build, 

which means it will open eight years after slots 

at tracks were approved in New York state. For 

Delaware North and its president, Bill Bissett, 

who skillfully navigated the mine field of New 

York politics, it was a case of good things happening 

for those who wait. 

In another lesser flap in New York state, the 

Paterson administration has refused to release 

contents of a report on privatization of the state 

lottery that cost taxpayers almost half a million 

dollars. New York paid the global financial services 

firm Rothschild that amount, but refuses to 

disclose what the report says, claiming to do so 

would “infringe on the state’s ability to potentially 

seek bidders to buy the lottery.” Gannett 

News Service was rebuffed in an attempt to access 

the information through the Freedom of Information 

Act, the state saying the report 

was exempt because it was prepared to 

assist state decision makers. 

IMPORTANT! GIVE US A HAND 

HTA executive assistant Brody Johnson has two 

works in the hands of students at the Race Track 

Industry Program at the University of Arizona, 

who help do the projects as part of class assignments. 

Those talented kids face school deadlines, 

and those tracks that have not returned their 

surveys are making life tough on the students 

and on HTA as well. There currently are two 

surveys in your hands -- one on Group Sales and 

the other on Sponsorship -- and all of us here, 

HTA, the RTIP, and particularly the students 

Brody has recruited, hope you will respond this 

week. Take a few minutes to fill them out and return 

them ASAP to enable the kids to get school 

credit and enable us to continue the program so 

helpful in providing additional staff support. 

“INTERNET SKILL” IN SENATE 

To add to the burden of keeping an eye on state 

and federal legislation, now comes a new proposal 

from Robert Menendez, U.S. Democratic 

senator from New Jersey. He has introduced the 

Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act 

of 2008, S. 3616. It would authorize the licensing 

of “Internet skill game facilities” which could 

then offer “Internet skill games.” What are such 

games? Senator Menendez says they are those 

“that use simulated cards, dice or tiles in which 

success is predominantly determined by the 

skill of the players, including poker, bridge and 

mahjong.” His legislation, the American Horse 

Council reports, would allow individuals to compete 

online in games against each other, but not 

in games against the ‘house,’ and not on sports 

events or pari-mutuel racing. All these years we 

apparently have been kidding ourselves, thinking 

handicapping of horse racing, regardless of 

breed, was skill, and raising and racing horses a 

matter of luck. Menendez’ bill has been referred 

to the Senate committee on banking, housing 

and urban affairs, with no action this session, 

but a likely hearing next year.






WHIPPING THE WHIPPERS 

Anti-whipping vigilance is spreading. At HTA 

member Plainridge Racecourse in Massachusetts, 

where former trainer-driver Steve O’Toole 

is general manager and Peter Tomilla is presiding 

judge, the track has banned one-handed 

whipping for months and now is introducing 

some whipless racing, with no whips allowed. 

The first of those appears on Plainridge’s condition 

sheet for next Monday, Oct. 27, offering an 

extra $500 to the purse for low earners. Since 

those horses frequently have difficulty getting 

regular starts, it was a logical move to get a full 

field. The track is serious about the subject. It’s 

leading driver, Jim Hardy, was set down for a 

week and the second leading driver, Mike Eaton, 

was benched for five days and fined $500, both 

for first offenses. 

CROWN VIDEO NEXT ON TVG 

Vigilante Films continues its harness racing 

productions on Television Games Network next 

week, presenting an episode on the Breeders 

Crown in its series Trotters and Pacers. The 

show can be seen on TVG Monday, Oct. 27, at 

9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 1 a.m., Wednesday, 

Oct. 29 at 10 a.m., and Friday, Oct. 31 at 

8:30 a.m., all times eastern. 

ANOTHER GOOD GUY GONE 

Les Ford, former editor of Harness Horse and 

a writer for that magazine for 38 years, died recently 

in Harrisburg, PA. He was 84. Les was a 

low key, highly efficient reporter, and his contributions 

to the sport were recognized by the U.S. 

Harness Writers Association 15 years ago, when 

he was inducted into the Communicators Corner 

of the Hall of Fame in Goshen. He also led 

American tours of European classic events with 

his Trotting Tours. Viewing is tomorrow 

at 10 a.m. at Paxton Presbyterian Church 

in Harrisburg, with services at 11. 

100 YEARS OF HISTORY GOING 

The 800 members who control the New South 

Wales Racing Club in Sydney, Australia, meet 

Sunday to vote on selling the historic Down Under 

track. Located in the heart of Sydney, Australia’s 

biggest city, the real estate value of the 

106-year-old track, and the move of racing to 

a new larger track in the suburb of Menangle, 

make it likely that a sale will be approved by a required 

50% of the club’s members. The Sydney 

Daily Telegraph reports if the sale is approved, 

the track should bring upwards of $150 million. 

The track’s chairman, Rex Horne, predicts that 

if the track is sold, as expected, $10,000 purses 

at Menangle will rise to $20,000, the Australian 

Derby will go from $100,000 to $200,000, and the 

Miracle Mile will be raised from $500,000 to $1 

million. 

MASS, DELAWARE ON BOARD 

Two more racing states have adopted the new steroid 

rules of the Racing Medication and Testing 

Consortium. The Massachusetts Racing Commission 

will institute prohibition of anabolic steroids 

Jan. 1, and the Delaware Harness Racing 

Commission has asked its Rules Committee to 

do the same, with an effective date of April 1, 

2009. Delaware is advising its horsemen, however, 

to cease administration of any and all anabolic 

steroids now. 

IT’S OFFICIAL. 2 VETS BANNED 

Their names and precise penalties have been 

backstretch talk all month, but the $10,000 fines 

and six-month suspensions of Ohio veterinarians 

Rick Mather and Rick Rothfuss from practicing 

in Kentucky were not confirmed until after 

a hearing earlier this week. It did not reach 

print in the Lexington Herald-Leader, however, 

until today. Unlabeled substances were found in 

searches of the vets’ vehicles. Their lawyer said 

they would not appeal. Out of competition 

testing also produced four positive tests.


BIG A OK, BELMONT NEXT 

With Delaware North safely home a winner in 

the battle for the Aqueduct casino, the struggle 

now turns to Belmont Park. In a strange 

turn of events, the alliance that gave Delaware 

North the prize -- New York governor David 

Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, 

overcoming opposition by Senate majority 

leader Dean Skelos -- now has changed, with 

Paterson and Skelos teaming up to push the 

Belmont plans against Silver’s opposition. The 

Associated Press reports that the Paterson- 

Skelos plan for Skelos’ district calls for 4,500 

video slots, a hotel, a spa and a conference and 

events center at Belmont. Whether Delaware 

North fits into the new plan is not clear. John 

Sabini, chairman of the New York State Racing 

and Wagering Board, seemed to be a step 

behind the doings in Albany. He told Newsday, 

“Nothing is off the table, but VLTs certainly 

aren’t going to be a keystone to this either.” 

Seems they are. 





will vote on is whether to allow a big casino in 

the southwestern section of the state. Chances 

are good, given three earlier rejections, that the 

proposal will fail. Its chances were not helped 

over the weekend, when the governor of Ohio, 

Ted Strickland, publicly announced his opposition, 

saying, “I don’t think this is the right thing 

for Ohio.” 

THE BRITISH ARE COMING! 

And American thoroughbred racing had better 

find a Paul Revere to sound the alarm. With 

overseas visitors, four from England and one 

from France, winning Breeders’ Cup races on 

a glorious racing day at Santa Anita Saturday, 

American breeders need to take another look at 

the overall scene. Renowned racing writer and 

handicapper Andy Beyer and others feel synthetic 

tracks, much closer akin to turf than dirt, 

are going to change the face of American racing. 

Whether they do or not, it is clear European 

horses like them, and more will be on the way. 

IT’S OFFICIAL: HAROLD GONE 

While changes at century-old Belmont seem 

certain, another hundred-year-old track will 

be gone within two years. More than 300 

members of the New South Wales Racing Club 

in Sydney, Australia’s largest city, voted 90% 

in favor Sunday to sell venerable Harold Park, 

located in the populous Glebe section of Sydney, 

close to downtown. A sales price of $150 

million is expected, with the University of Sydney 

a potential buyer. Harold Park’s racing 

will move to the newly constructed Menangle 

Park, with purses doubling after the sale. 

OHIO GOV OPPOSES SLOTS 

When Ohio voters go to the polls next 

Tuesday, one of the hot-button items they 

In harness racing, meanwhile, it is the Canadians 

who are coming. The remarkable Somebeachsomewhere 

continued on his brilliant 

way, pacing through a driving windblown rain 

to catch Shadow Play at the wire for a neck 

victory in the $630,000 Messenger Stake, third 

leg of the pacing Triple Crown, over Yonkers 

Raceway’s half-mile track. He now has won 18 

of 19 races and $2.848 million lifetime. While 

the Canadian-owned Somebeachsomewhere 

was winning at Yonkers, Woodbine in Toronto 

saw Hawaiian Drink win the $585,000 Three 

Diamonds for 2-year-old filly pacers; Up 

Front Annika the $616,000 Goldsmith Maid 

for 2-year-old trotting fillies; Federal Flex the 

$718,000 Valley Victory for 2-year-old trotters 

and Nebupanezzer the $820,000 Governor’s 

Cup for colt pacers.






TROUBLES IN MINNESOTA 

Minnesota’s two racetracks -- HTA member 

Running Aces Harness Park and Canterbury 

Park -- have fallen on hard tines. Southwest 

Casino Corporation, operator of Running Aces, 

suffered a $4 million loss in its first season of operation, 

and has transferred its 50% ownership 

interest to Black Diamond Commercial Finance, 

a Connecticut lender that was the source of twothirds 

of the funding that built the $64 million 

track. Thomas Fox, president of Southwest Casino, 

which was listed as equal partner with MTR 

Gaming of West Virginia when the track opened, 

told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Black Diamond 

had provided some $42.2 million of the 

initial investment. MTR announced some time 

ago it was seeking to sell its 50% share, estimated 

to be worth between $9.2 million and $12.5 

million. Operations continue with the track’s 

popular card room in operation and daily harness 

racing simulcasting continuing 7 days and 

nights a week with a sharply reduced staff. The 

53-night 2008 harness race meeting ended in 

July. The ownership transfer reportedly allows 

Southwest to repurchase its 50% ownership 

share as circumstances permit. Southwest CEO 

James Druck said he looked forward ultimately 

to doing that. In the meantime, Southwest will 

provide consulting services to Black Diamond 

for four months. Druck said Southwest Casino 

“remains committed to the success of Running 

Aces and is continuing to contribute to the city 

of Columbus,” where it is located. Canterbury 

Park, the state’s thoroughbred track, announced 

it will be laying off 60 employees, 10% of its staff, 

and will suspend its management bonus plan and 

employee stock ownership plan contribution for 

fiscal 2008. CEO Randy Sampson told the Minneapolis-St. 

Paul Business Journal the downturn 

in the nation’s economy had a significant 

adverse effect on the track’s card room 

and pari-mutuel revenues. 

SAVE LIVES OR SAVE JOBS? 

That was the choice facing the Atlantic City, 

NJ, City Council this week, and it chose, by a 

5-4 vote, to save jobs. It rescinded its two-week 

old ban on smoking in the city’s casinos, and returned 

to a partial smoking ban in which smoking 

is allowed in no more than 25% of a casino 

floor. Employees during the deliberation were 

split, some shouting, “Save Our Jobs!” while 

others chanted, “Save Our Lives!” according 

to newsday.com. Councilman Bruce Ward told 

the news service, “We had to reconcile two very 

compelling sides. No one wants to lose their job 

and certainly no one wants to lose their life. But 

the background of the financial crisis is connected 

to where we are tonight.” The Council acted 

after casinos told of losses close to 20% following 

the ban, and the president of the local chapter 

of the casino hotel, food and beverage workers, 

Bob McDevitt, pushed for the relaxation of the 

ban, saying, “In the current economic environment, 

I don’t think anyone with any intelligence 

would say its a good idea to give people another 

reason not to come to Atlantic City.” Of course 

not. Just don’t breathe while you’re there. 

CAMPBELL & BETAMERICA 

BetAmerica.com, a service of Horse Race North 

Dakota, the charity which conducts live horse 

racing in Fargo ND, in association with Lien 

Games Racing, LLC, successor to Susan Bala’s 

shuttered Fargo operation, has announced a 

sponsorship contract with all-time driving champion 

John Campbell and other leading drivers. 

Campbell is wearing a BetAmerica patch on his 

driving pants and on the pocket of his driving 

jacket, and says he will do some promotional 

spots for the company during the year. In announcing 

the contract deal, BetAmerica said it 

“looks to increase visibility of harness racing 

worldwide.”





ANY IDEA HOW BIG THIS IS? 

Does anyone realize just how huge the Aqueduct 

casino, finally ready to be built, will be? Two 

people who do, clearly, were pictured on the 

front page of the Buffalo News business section 

yesterday: Gov. David Paterson of the state of 

New York and Jeremy Jacobs, chairman and 

CEO of Delaware North, who will develop and 

run the Aqueduct operation. Not only will it 

be the only legal casino in the city of New York, 

but it will have its own subway stop to transport 

thousands to the site. Delaware North is paying 

$370 million upfront, and a minimum $250 

million for development of a world-class gaming 

and entertainment center, and another $200 million 

possible for a hotel and other components 

of the Aqueduct complex. The governor, in the 

Buffalo press conference, said he felt the Aqueduct 

operation would provide the state with 

“new economic resources” in its effort to close 

a multibillion dollar budget gap. He showed a 

sense of relief and humor, too. When a reporter 

asked how long it will take to build, Paterson 

replied, “I guarantee you it will take less than 

seven years,” alluding to the time passed since 

the enabling legislation for the racino was passed 

by the state legislature. The expected construction 

time for the 328,000 square-feet casino is 14 

months. It will be built by the Peebles Corporation, 

the nation’s largest African-American real 

estate development company, headed by R. Donahue 

Peebles. One headline read, “R. Donahue 

Peebles Makes Grand Entrance Into New York.” 

The company has a $4 billion portfolio of luxury 

hotels, high rise residences and commercial developments 

nationwide. In an interesting aside, 

Delaware North Gaming & Entertainment president 

Bill Bissett said the present financial crisis 

and its resulting credit crunch will not represent 

any significant hurdle for the project, casually 

noting that, “If need be, we can finance 

this without the credit markets.” 


FEES NOW, INTEGRITY LATER 

In a clear statement of the priority of things 

in racing, or at least in Kentucky, an interesting 

juxtaposition of events this week. While 

Gov. Steve Beshear was signing an emergency 

regulation to increase all licensing fees for participants 

-- owners, trainers, drivers, jockeys 

veterinarians -- immediately, the commission 

sent a medication violation of Kentucky Derbywinning 

trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. back to a 

hearing officer who had recommended the commission 

overturn a 15-day suspension for excessive 

clenbuterol handed down by the stewards at 

Churchill Downs. A “clerical error” by a testing 

laboratory triggered the further delay. Also delayed 

was a new regulation requiring tracks to 

report all violations, results of investigations and 

security reports to the commission. This one is 

a real surprise, since it would seem a no-brainer 

that tracks should not keep security findings secret 

from the commission entrusted to run racing 

in the state. The tracks did not object to the 

proposal, but to its imprecise language, and the 

commission ordered it back for study and revision. 

It takes a little longer to get things right 

in Kentucky, but they are trying, having come 

a considerable way from the old days, and they 

deserve credit for effort. It was nice to hear attorney 

Ned Bonnie, one of the really good guys 

in Kentucky on things racing, give credit to harness 

racing for vigilance in banning two Ohio 

veterinarians whose trucks turned up with unlabeled 

substances in searches at the Red Mile. He 

implied such actions might be an inspiration for 

the runners. Great idea. 

BE GOOD TO BRODY WEEK 

Brody Johnson is up to 14 responses from HTA 

member tracks for the group sales survey and 

13 responses for the sponsorship survey for his 

monthly reports with the RTIP students. He 

has until Friday, then he’s gone. Save 

Brody. He’s too good to lose.






THE FREEHOLD DISPUTE 

HTA member Freehold Raceway has found itself 

caught in an unpleasant situation -- not of its 

own doing -- with its horsemen, members of the 

SBOA of New Jersey. The horsemen want the 

$1.6 million plus that was negotiated with Atlantic 

City casinos and Freehold would like them, for 

obvious reasons, to have it. At issue, however, at 

higher levels, is a disagreement over whether the 

money can be paid directly to the horsemen, who 

are threatening legal action to get it, including 

a counterproductive threat of cutting off simulcasting 

through the Interstate Horseracing Act, 

a move that would shut down horsemen’s share 

of those funds. Freehold’s owner Pennwood racing, 

a consortium of Penn National Gaming and 

Greenwood, owner of Philadelphia Park, hopes 

to resolve the issue, which also touches on their 

right to continue lobbying for slots during the 

three-year term of the Atlantic City agreement. 

Tom Luchento, president of the SBOA, says all 

the group wants is the money “obtained through 

the good faith efforts of the New Jersey Sports 

and Exposition Authority,” but also claims Pennwood 

has refused to sit down to discuss the issue, 

which Pennwood says is not true. Steps are 

underway today to resolve the issue, and officials 

are optimistic that a mutually agreeable settlement 

will be found without resorting to legal 

challenges. 

OHIO SIRE STAKES IN A JAM 

Doug Thomas, the administrator of the Ohio Sire 

Stakes, told tracks and horsemen yesterday that 

the fund faces a $300,000 deficit because of falling 

pari-mutuel handle. He says sponsorship of 

the Ohio ‘Super Night’ of OSS finals could solve 

the problem, or a cut from $20,000 to $16,000 for 

each leg of the series, with $80,000 finals. The 

fund controlling the stakes will reconvene 

Dec. 9 to vote on proposed budget changes, 

conditions, and dates for 2009. 

BIG WIN FOR WOODBINE LIVE! 

The Toronto City Council yesterday gave overwhelming 

support to a $120 million tax break 

over the next 20 years that helps clear the way 

for the huge $1 billion multiuse development 

of Woodbine Live!, the ambitious project being 

launched by Woodbine Entertainment on 

the spacious grounds surrounding its Woodbine 

track. Toronto mayor David Miller, a strong 

proponent of development of the largest plot of 

undeveloped land in the city, told reporters the 

project ultimately will add $250 million to Toronto’s 

coffers by 2028. Woodbine Live! is expected 

to be fully operational by the spring of 2011. 

AUSSIES PROPOSE HAIR TESTS 

On the eve of Australia’s biggest racing event, the 

Melbourne Cup Carnival, the nation’s largest 

selling daily newspaper, the Herald Sun, blazed 

a headline reading, “EPO rampant in racing: 

claims.” The story, like a Newark Star Ledger 

story a few years ago days before the Hambletonian, 

talked about the drug and not about 

racing, saying Racing Victoria Limited “has 

become increasingly concerned that the drug is 

being widely used in Victorian racing,” despite 

the fact that the RVL CEO, Rob Hines, told the 

Herald Sun’s rival Australian the day before that 

his board was determined Victorian racing was 

conducted without drugs. Hines did acknowledge 

that “It is possible that EPO is being used 

on horses,” said it was tested for randomly in 

blood and urine without one positive, but added 

that “anecdotally, we hear that the use of EPO is 

out there in the industry, so we cannot be certain 

that it is not in use and going undetected.” Victorian 

chief steward Terry Bailey is pushing for 

hair tests, a sophisticated procedure where hairs 

from a horse can show drug use over a prolonged 

period of time. It was used recently in Australia 

to determine that the great Phar Lap died 

of arsenic poisoning 76 years ago, in 1932.






SPOTLIGHT ON CHICAGO 

The nation’s harness racing spotlight falls on 

Chicago this weekend, with Balmoral Park featuring 

the American-National festival of racing. 

The ‘festival’ starts with the $116,000 2-year-old 

filly pace, with the local star Fox Valley Topaz, 

winner of 8 of 11 this year, the likely favorite. 

The $170,000 event for 2-year-old pacing colts 

and geldings is a standout race on paper, with 

Annieswesterncard, Schoolkids and Standupnkissme 

providing fireworks. Western Gritty, 

winner of 10 of 21 and in the money 16 times, 

faces the eastern invader Btwnyurheartnmine, a 

$322,525 winner, in the $165,000 3-year-old filly 

pace. Shadow Play, winner of the Little Brown 

Jug and Windy City, returns as a $28,000 supplemental 

entry in the $300,000 3-year-old colt 

pace. The continent’s best older pacer, Mister 

Big, winner of 11 of 13 and $1.5 million this 

year, figures to win another major victory in the 

$200,000 AmNat, and Enough Talk, a $16,000 

supplemental entry, should win the $190,000 trot 

for older horses. 

ON A SADDER CHICAGO NOTE 

The city of Cicero, home of Sportsman’s Park, 

has awarded a contract for the final demolition of 

the racing landmark. With leveling of the track, 

Sportsman’s joins Roosevelt Raceway on Long 

Island, Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and Brandywine 

Raceway in Wilmington, Delaware as major 

American tracks that are now huge shopping 

malls, or in the case of Sportsman’s soon will be. 

Cicero bought the entire Sportsman’s site for 

$18 million five years ago, found tax increment 

financing, and sold it for $28 million to developer 

John Buck, who will pay Cicero $25 million over 

23 years in installments on the TIF funding. The 

intersection of rising land value and descending 

racing revenues spelled the doom of the 

four giants, all within easy memory of 

current racegoers. 

WHILE ON THAT SUBJECT..... 

The owners of Wonderland Greyhound Park, 

long a fixture on the Boston area scene, came up 

with $752,301 in cash this week to avoid foreclosure. 

The track owed that amount to the city of 

Revere, a Boston suburb, for two years of back 

taxes and utility bills, along with the first two 

quarters of the current tax year, plus interest, 

and came up with it just in time to reapply for an 

operating license for 2009. Dog racing’s future 

rests in the hands of voters next Tuesday. 

AN ALL-AMERICAN POSITIVE 

It now turns out that Stolis Winner, the winner 

of the $1 million All-American Futurity for 

quarter horses at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico 

last month, won with caffeine in his system. The 

substance is not allowed in New Mexico in any 

quantity, and Jerry Windham of College Station, 

Texas, owner of Stolis Winner, may be forced to 

return his share of the million dollar purse. A 

commission hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 

15, and the horse’s trainer, Heath Taylor, has 

been ordered to appear. 

GREGORY WINS BATAVIA PRIZE 

Jeff Gregory, a veteran of the Yonkers-Freehold 

circuit, has won first prize of $10,000 in HTA 

member Batavia Downs’ All-Star Drivers Challenge. 

With a different top driver competing 

each week of the eight-week competition, Gregory 

compiled 39 points on Oct. 22, and that total 

held up as highest in the tournament. Ontario’s 

Jody Jamieson was second with 35 points, 

Saratoga’s Howard Parker third with 34. The 

competition was co-sponsored by Batavia and 

the Purple Haze Stable, which is based nearby. 

Although he did not win, fans were impressed by 

Jason Bartlett, one of the most promising young 

stars in the sport, who finished no worse than 

third in eight drives. The Breast Cancer Coalition 

of Rochester was a beneficiary of the 

charity event.

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

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