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
A CASE OF TOO MUCH
Herve Filion did well over the weekend in his
double donnybrook against Walter Case at
Northfield Park and Raceway Park, but not well
enough in his return to Ohio racing. Filion
started strong Friday night in the two-night competition
at Northfield, winning three races, finishing
second three times and third four times to
take a 114-to-108 point lead over Case, who won
four races on the card but had only two seconds
in his other 10 drives. Then Case got serious on
Saturday, winning three more races, finishing
second three times and adding one third while
Filion was shut out. Case, a Northfield regular,
and Filion, in town for the special event, were
assigned their mounts by Northfield racing secretary
Gregg Keidel. The pair moved on to Raceway
Park in Toledo Sunday night, and Case completed
the blowout, winning seven races. Filion
didn’t win, but finished in the money in 11 of the
13 races in which he and Case drove. Both drivers
were gracious, signing autographs and exchanging
mutual compliments. Filion said he appreciated
everyone’s hospitality and Case said,
“Herve is great for the sport and I am very happy
he is racing in Ohio. He is a true gentleman.”
Filion, back in action this summer after six and
a half years of enforced absence in New York,
now has won 14,817 races and is determined to
reach the 15,000 plateau. Case has won 10,603
races and at 41 is 21 years younger than Filion,
who had his first 100-win season the year after
Case was born. Filion has won HTA’s Driver of
the Year honor 10 times, Case 3 times.
SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA WINS TWO
On successive days, a federal judge and the International
Trade Commission last week
ruled that Scientific-Atlanta’s Explorer
cable TV set-top boxes did not infringe
on patents held by Gemstar-TV Guide International,
the parent of TVG.
September 3, 2002
It was a good week for Scientific-Atlanta, which
also announced that its Latin American subsidiary
had been chosen to supply instant ticket
games in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico.
WHEN IS A WIN NOT A WIN?
We’re not exactly sure legally, but this might be
a case. A Cook county judge has ruled that a
1999 law that allows a defunct casino company
to keep its license and relocate was not special
legislation, which is barred by the Illinois constitution.
The ruling was a win for the suburb of
Rosemont, which had hoped to be home for the
defunct Emerald casino, which had begun relocating
in Rosemont. The effect of the judge’s
ruling, if any, is unclear, since the Illinois Gaming
Board has ruled the company unfit to hold a
license and is moving to put the license up for
bids. Rosemont has filed suit to stop the bidding.
GET THIS GUY’S STOCK PICKS
Thank God there’s one financial planner out
there who knows what he’s doing. Stephen Smith
is a financial adviser in Ottawa, who in his spare
time trains and grooms his own 2-horse stable.
He advised his father, brother and a friend to
join him and buy a $19,000 trotting colt two years
ago, and yesterday the colt, Thechiefofmontana,
won the $300,000 final of the Coupe de Eleveurs
for 3-year-olds at Hippodrome de Montreal.
That boosted his earnings to over $250,000. “The
horse is an investment for me. I don’t do it just
for my health,” Smith said following the victory.
And all this time we thought that was the motivation
of financial advisers recently. For their
health, not necessarily that of their clients.
HTA ART CATALOGS OUT
The 20-page HTA art catalog for 2002 will be
mailed to directors this week. It also is online
at www.harnesstracks.com and 15,000 will
be mailed as a pullout section in the September
issue of Hoof Beats.