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
Paul Joseph Estok, Editor
ONTARIO ACTS ON ROBINSON
Bill Robinson, the leading money-winning trainer
in Canada this year, has been fined Cdn$50,000
and suspended 10 months by the Ontario Racing
Commission (ORC). The ruling came down last
week following a rehearing by the racing commission
on a February 2000 incident at Woodbine
Racetrack. At that time, Robinson was held responsible
for the horse Artistic racing on and testing
positive for the prohibited substance
Propanolamine, a Class III drug. Following a hearing
the ORC imposed a full suspension of two years
and a fine of $25,000. Robinson had the issue of
the penalty judicially reviewed by the courts, which
subsequently quashed the penalty. The matter was
remitted to the ORC for a rehearing on the issue
of the penalty. The ORC, upon rehearing, ruled
that they had “exercised our discretion and considered
Robinson’s overall record of drug offenses.
Having regard to all of the circumstances, we have
concluded that the public interest is duly served in
this case by a penalty of a 10 months full suspension
and a fine of Cdn$50,000. In serving his suspension,
Robinson will be credited with the time
already served.” Counsel for the parties will meet
to determine when the suspension will begin.
NY COURT TO HEAR CASINO SUIT
A New York judge on Tuesday ordered the state to
explain why he shouldn’t stop it from transferring
the Niagara Falls Convention Center to the Seneca
Indian Nation for use as a casino. At the same
time, State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Teresi
refused to block the transfer. The hearing on the
matter is scheduled for Oct. 4. The latest ruling
comes in the battle between gambling foes and the
state’s Indian tribes. Suzanne Morris, New
York Gov. George Pataki’s spokeswoman
on gaming issues, said Pataki is confident
state lawyers will convince Teresi not to block
the project.
September 18, 2002
ISLE TO BUY TWO NEV. CASINOS
Isle of Capri Casinos, owner of HTA member
Pompano Park, announced plans Monday to buy
two bankrupt Nevada casinos for $30 million in
cash. The State Line Silver Smith Casino Resorts,
family owned resorts in Wendover, Nev., on the
Utah-Nevada border, have 750 hotel rooms, 1,600
slot machines and a sports book. Wendover is
about 120 miles west of Salt Lake City, putting
the property in line with Isle’s niche of operating
regional casinos outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic
City. The casinos are owned by the descendants
of William Smith, who opened the State Line in
1933, two years after gambling was legalized in
Nevada. State Line Silver Smith completed a $50
million renovation in 1998, which doubled the size
of the facility. The cost of the renovations, coupled
with the post-Sept. 11 decline in business, forced
the casinos to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection in January. If approved, the State Line
Silver Smith would keep Isle of Capri operating in
Nevada. In July, the company announced plans to
sell the Lady Luck Casino Hotel in downtown Las
Vegas.
MOUTHWASH IN KENTUCKY?
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that the
Kentucky Racing Commission has begun investigating
the appropriateness of the use of herbal
mouthwashes on horses within four hours of a race.
The investigation was sparked by a recent incident
at Turfway Park in which a horse in a stakes
race was scratched after a groom gave the horse
a squirt of a substance used to clear out the horse’s
mouth and throat two hours before a race. Dr.
Rick Sams of Ohio State, who along with Dr. Tom
Tobin of Kentucky has been asked to come up with
a recommendation for the racing commission, said
that as long as the mouthwash includes no
banned substances, the practice is permitted
in Ohio. He knew of no state that bans
the practice.