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 November 1, 2002
A STORY GONE, A STORY HERE Now we find out.
The Breeders’ Cup now is last Saturday’s news,
but the Breeders’ Cup Ultra Pick Six is still very
much with us, on page one of this morning’s New
York Times and in newspapers everywhere else in
North America. Secure computer tote systems, it
turns out, are only as secure as the people operating
them. Scientific Games, parent of Autotote,
announced yesterday it had fired ‘a rogue software
engineer,’ and shortly after that it was reported
that the rogue, identified by other sources
as Chris Harm, 29, who worked in Autotote’s
offices in Newark, Delaware, reportedly had gone
to Drexel University in Philadelphia with Derrick
Davis, also 29, the $3 million Pick Six winner who
had claimed he was an innocent victim who had
just gotten incredibly lucky. Lorne Weil, chairman/CEO
of Scientific Games, said that the “rogue
software engineer” possessed the password to get
into Autotote’s data system and presumably could
A “Wagering Technology working group” was immediately
announced by the NTRA, with an oversight
committee led by old familiar industry faces.
“Industry initiatives” and task forces can, of
course, ultimately announce the upgrades in technology
that Lorne Weil says now are available and
should have been in place all along. Alan Marzelli,
president-elect of the Jockey Club, thinks throwing
money at the problem is the answer, saying
the tote companies are undercapitalized and that
centralization and upgrading of tote software platforms
is a legitimate goal, according to Tom
LaMarra of Blood-Horse. LaMarra reminded
readers that Mark Elliott of IBM Global Services,
addressing the issue of technology two
years ago, said, “I don’t want to be overly abusive,
but as an industry, you are as far behind in
the use of technology to improve your business
have altered the winning ticket after the first as any I’ve ever seen.” Taking action obviously
four races of the Ultra Pick Six had been run.
The revelation brought a torrent of pious pronouncements
and quick egg-wiping off faces that
had rushed to defend the winning bet as handicapping
skill and luck. Donald Groth, president
is needed and should be applauded. What-
ever steps are now taken, and whatever money
spent, needs to be tempered with one question that
looms over all technology: How to address human
frailty and dishonesty.
of Catskill OTB where the bet was made, first
NJ COMMISSION BILL PASSES
was quoted as vouching for the character of the
Assuming governor McGreevey signs the bill that
bettor, although the bet was the first he had
passed both houses yesterday on a vote of 24-7,
made through Catskill. Groth, who originally had
New Jersey will be getting a new racing commission
that will include two thoroughbred horse- men
issued the non-sequiter of “I know why you’re suspicious,
but that’s not my job,” came up with another
beauty yesterday, saying, “This is a big left
and two harness horsemen. The bill had received
a second reading in the Senate on concurrence
turn in the story, I’m afraid. I’m still in shock. It’s
Monday and passed yesterday and now goes to
always regrettable when humans act like the textbooks
say they should.” Scientific Games’ Weil
the governor’s desk. The bill requires that 4 of
the 9 members of the racing commission be owners
or trainers of thoroughbred or standardbred
said, “The industry is going to organize a task force
and look into how to prevent this from happening
horses, and stipulates they cannot hold a license
again. Not immediately transferring data
to race in New Jersey. Nothing precludes them
and letting it sit in limbo was an accident
from racing in any other state, however.
waiting to happen.”
Each commissioner will hold office for six
years.