HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA
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.
Executive Newsletter
A daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyond
Stanley F. Bergstein, Editor
February 27, 2008
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.”