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
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.