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
TENNIS PROS TO TEST FOR EPO
The Association of Tennis Professionals has voted
to begin testing its players for erothropoiten -- EPO
-- as soon as the World Anti-Doping Agency decides
whether urine testing alone or urine and blood
are preferable. The ATP board of three playing
professionals and three tournament representatives
met during the U.S. Open last week and indicated
they planned to approve the measure after
some wording in the proposal was clarified. Some
pros have been concerned about players who
emerged from gruelling five-set matches fresh and
invigorated, and the association has agreed to attempt
to find out if EPO is involved.
“DOWN A TRAIL TO FAILURE”
Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of the Jockey Club
and a longtime foe of permissive medication, spoke
out on the subject last Friday as he received the
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Industry Service
Award in Versailles, KY. Phipps said racing
“is going down a trail that leads to failure” with its
current liberal medication rules, and he called for
a ban on Salix (Lasix) for 2-year-olds. The current
use of the diuretic for 2-year-olds is a travesty
and a scandal. Supposedly for bleeders, entire
fields of the best juveniles in the sport have
gone to the post in thoroughbred racing’s major
test, the Breeders Cup, without protest or action
from any of the sport’s major groups. Harness
racing’s Hambletonian Society has banned both
Lasix and butazolidin in its premier race, the
Hambletonian, by rule and edict. Phipps, talking
about the fragmented nature of American racing,
said the various groups reminded him “of 12 male
dogs meeting for the first time, all kicking dirt to
establish their territory. Why can’t they understand
that we can achieve more by working together
than separately?” Nice idea, and
it goes for all breeds working together, not
just runners.
September 9, 2002
NTRA OFFERS 9/11 SERVICE
On the subject of all-breed cooperation, the National
Thoroughbred Racing Association, in conjunction
with Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, is offering
a 9/11 memorial satellite feed this Wednesday
afternoon from 4:10 to 4:20. The feed will
include a flag ceremony, moment of silence, playing
of the national anthem, and a video tribute to
the World Trade Center disaster. Decodes are
needed, and the NTRA is proposing that there be
no racing or related activity during the 10-minute
ceremony. Sportscaster Dick Enberg, fresh from
the U.S. Open tennis tournament, will host the presentation.
For further information contact Keith
Chamblin at kchamblin@ntra.com or the NTRA
at 859-245-6872, fax 859-245-6868, or NTRA
Communications at 212-907-9280, fax 212-907-
9281.
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
There has been a rush of USTA bashing in the
wake of a frenzied debate on how many foals to
allow to be registered in a year from embryo transplants.
The arguments have largely been onesided,
and a rebuttal now has been issued by attorney
Joe Faraldo, vice chairman of the USTA
board, joined by president Corwin Nixon and chairman
Tony Abbatiello. At the heart of the problem
is a lawsuit that was brought against the American
Quarter Horse Association, which was settled for
half a million dollars. Faraldo’s long response outlines
the legal position, and the likelihood of a
USTA loss in litigation. It is discussed in this
week’s HTA Track Topics.
In that regard, Track Topics henceforth will be
available only in the Members section of our HTA
Web site, www. harness-tracks.com or by e-mail
to the HTA executive list, as usual. If track personnel
do not have, or have misplaced, their
member’s username or password, contact
Sable Downs at HTA.