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 27, 2002
THE DONALD AND THE BIG M
We’re not sure what an “interactive racing park”
is, but that’s what the Associated Press says
Donald Trump wants to build at the Meadowlands
Sports Complex. We presume it may be carnival
rides under a new-era name, but the AP says Trump
also is working with International Speedway Corporation,
the development arm of NASCAR, to
build a speedway on the Sports Complex grounds.
The “interactive park” would be NASCAR’s version
of Disneyland, according to the story, which
also said International Speedway’s plans for an
auto track around the Meadowlands has been on
hold because the company and the state of New
Jersey have been unable to agree on who would
foot the bill for the $400 million project. Enter
The Donald.
BALMORAL NIPS A PLOT
Balmoral Park, south of Chicago, has held up on
posting final results of last Saturday’s $50,000
handicapping contest in the belief that the winner
and fourth place finisher may have tried to rig the
contest. Track president John Johnston says, “A
couple of people who were in previous contests
thought they could beat the system with fancy paperwork.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, the
plotters entered bets on color-coded sheets of paper
that were numbered for each player. If a
player’s win or exacta bet was successful, the dollar
value was converted to points for the standings,
with a top prize of $15,000. Fourth place was
worth $1,500. Johnston says the suspected cheaters
picked up their entry packets at 6 p.m., left
the track to make photocopies, and then returned
to the track. While the contest was in progress, it
was discovered that there were more ballots used
on a race than there were contestants. Johnston
said the cheaters apparently assumed track
officials would not look at the losing bets,
and said charges will be brought if evidence
warrants.
MORE INSURANCE WOES
HTA has received reports of member track’s starters
having difficulty obtaining liability insurance
coverage for their mobile starting gates. If your
starter has the problem, or if he has successfully
obtained coverage, please let the HTA office know
at once.
In another insurance development, the Blood-
Horse reports that a new captive insurance program,
similar to HTA’s long-standing company,
hopefully will ease the serious workers’ compensation
insurance woes in California racing. Trainers
there have seen huge premium increases in
state coverage, and a new program has been put
together that may provide an alternative. It was
hoped the program might be available Sept. 1, but
Ed Halpern, the executive director of the California
Thoroughbred Trainers said “factors within the
insurance industry changed that,” and said the
group now was not sure when it would have a deal.
In an understatement, Halpern said the success
of the program is dependent on “banding an industry
together that doesn’t usually band together.”
The insurance man trying to put the program
into effect said, “We’re using the power of
the group policing itself for the good of everybody.
It’s a lot like driver’s insurance. You keep a clean
record and your rates will drop. The guys with
bad records, it’s like any other business. Eventually,
they won’t be able to stay in business because
it will be too expensive for them. Their owners
will go elsewhere.”
The example is fine, except it doesn’t always work
quite that way. In the case of harness racing starters,
their loss experience is exemplary, with very
few incidents or problems. Still, some are receiving
non-renewals and are unable to find coverage.
HTA is working on the problem,
and we will appreciate input.