2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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 August 21, 2002
LATEST ROUNDS IN INDIANA Indianpolis Downs planned to race harness only,
They haven’t used bikini-clad lovelies to carry the but the commission, at its latest meeting, said it
round signs as yet, but the heavyweight battle between
the Indiana Racing Commission and under-
or turf, in 2003 and 30 days in 2004. The issue is
could race a 20-day thoroughbred meeting, on dirt
construction Indianapolis Downs took another bizarre
turn when someone broke into the Downs Downs would forfeit one-half of its thoroughbred
important, since without runners Indianapolis
offices early yesterday morning and stole hard simulcasting revenues to Hoosier Park. Both
drives from three corporate computers. Gil Short, tracks must race a total of 120 days to qualify for
the track’s general manager, called the burglary simulcasting.
.
“strictly a fact-finding mission,” and the sheriff’s
department of Shelby county, where the track is NYC OTB TO CARRY RED MILE
located and is just three months from completion, New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation has
is investigating, along with the Indiana State Police.
The Downs filed a lawsuit Monday asking a Circuit meeting at the historic Red Mile in Lex-
announced that it will carry this year’s fall Grand
superior court to halt the commission’s investigation
of alleged improper contacts between the of the meeting on Labor Day, and will include all
ington. The telecasts will begin with the opening
former chairman of the commission and a second sessions with the possible exception of daytime
commissioner with track lobbyists while Indianapolis
Downs’ date application was being considered. card on Saturday, Sept. 28. Under New York law,
racing, which would include the Kentucky Futurity
The track lawyer who filed the suit, Robert W. daytime signals have to be approved by the New
Hammerle, said yesterday that “I feel like I’m York Racing Association, and the Red Mile hopes
representing the Democratic Party during to receive approval from NYRA. The NYCOTB
Watergate,” and added that he will be “fascinated coverage is the latest in its cooperative new simulcasting
approach under president Ray Casey,
to see just how, when and where this stuff surfaces.”
The burglars did not take the computers which includes carrying racing from Del Mar and
themselves, but simply unhooked the hard drives the Breeders’ Cup in addition to the Red Mile simulcasts.
and ransacked file cabinets containing GM Short’s
personal notes. Hammerle said he was not accusing
anyone, “just raising extremely grave concerns.
They have got everything that was on the When racing jobs pay $100,000 a year, politicians
NEW APPOINTEE, OLD STORY
hard drives, every bit of information concerning are drawn to them like flies, and governors are
the records of Indianapolis Downs. There is not a not averse to disbursing them as rewards for political
service. The latest award is in Illinois, where
blasted thing there that is of concern from a legal
standpoint...but it was confidential information, outgoing Gov. George Ryan reportedly has given
personal information to Indianapolis Downs.” The his blessing to the appointment of state senator
track is alleging that commission executive Joe Walter Dudycz as the new executive director of
Gorajec is biased and has exceeded his authority. the Illinois Racing Board for a three-year term. A
Gorajec has recommended that Indy Downs be spokesman for the governor said that lack of racing
experience is not a concern, since Dudycz, a
fined $1.2 million for failing to disclose what
he considers improprieties during the application
process.
of the legislative process, the budget pro-
former Chicago detective, has a knowledge
cess, and “maybe not horse racing but
certainly horse trading.”