2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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 GUESS WHO’LL SAVE RACING? The man who saved New York and is going to save Mexico City. Rudy Giuliani himself, and his merry crew that includes his former police commissioner, his former head of economic development, and a whole bunch of other ‘formers’ who were members of his staff at City Hall when he ran the Big Apple. They have found sanctuary in his new firm, Giuliani Partners, and they have been hired by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association for an unannounced but large sum to “manage and oversee the horseracing industry’s review of its electronic wagering systems.” Part of that review will include a “systematic examination” of certain wagers over the past year -- as many as 1,000 -- to identify “whether there are areas requiring additional security measures.” Ernst and Young is on board too, hired a few weeks ago, and they will work under Rudy’s supervision. NTRA Commissioner Tim Smith says Giuliani “brings independence and credibility both to our review of past wagers and our commitment to future improvements.” Feel better? RIGHT PLEA, WRONG GUY A number of good lawyers, including former federal prosecutors in New York, have been suggesting it will be difficult to convict the three Drexel Boys in the Pick Six Affair. Today, however, the New York Times reported that Chris Harn, the “rogue senior programmer” at Autotote, would enter a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and computer fraud and one count of money laundering. This did not sit too well with attorneys for Harn’s Drexel fraternity brothers. Edward Hayes, representing Glen DaSilva, called Harn “the ringleader” and said, “It’s ridiculous to give him credibility. It’s like turning John Gotti to go after the busboys in the restaurant.” November 20, 2002 TRACK SLOTS BILL IN OHIO A bill to introduce 14,000 video slot machines for Ohio’s seven racetracks has been introduced by state senator Louis Blessing and has been given a fast track, with Senate president Dick Finan scheduling hearings for tomorrow before the Senate Agriculture Committee. The bill will be racing uphill, however, facing opposition in the legislature and a certain veto from governor Bob Taft. Despite that, some legislative observers think it will pass before the end of the year. If it does, the Republican majority will need Democratic help to override a veto. Republicans control the House 59-40, and the Senate, 21-12, but 60 votes are needed in the House to override a veto. Twenty are needed in the Senate, so a party line vote there could get the job done, although some observers doubt Republican House members would vote to override their governor. As introduced, the bill calls for 51.1% of proceeds to go to the state lottery, which would regulate the machines at the tracks, as is done in Ontario and elsewhere. In Indiana, however, the state lottery gets 20%, in West Virginia 30% and in New Mexico 25%. Slots, under the proposed bill, could be operated 21 hours a day, being closed only from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., presumably for breakfast. CAPITAL PICKS ONE OF OWN Capital OTB’s search for a new president in Schnectady didn’t cover too much ground geographically. The directors wound up picking one of their own board members, Essex county director Michael Connery, to replace Tom Cholakis, who resigned. Cholakis had offered to stay through January, rather than Dec. 31, to dispel controversy over his pension plan, but the board solved that by having Cholakis resign now and have Connery come on immediately. Cholakis, who earned $150,000 a year, estimated his total pension will be about $78,000 a year.
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 ANOTHER TWO POUNDS Another two pounds of copy on the Pick Six fallout reached the desk this morning, from L.A. to New York, bringing the reading on the Richter Scale of writing over 10, really seismic proportions. Today’s coverage was split about equally between Chris Harn’s confession that he indeed was a fixer of Pick Sixes and other bets to the hiring of racing’s new $3 million man, Rudy Giuliani. The ex-mayor, incidentally, took advantage of the press conference to plug his book, although he apologized and said he did it reluctantly. Settle in for a long haul on this one, folks. You have to keep the pot boiling for that kind of money, so expect progress reports for the next six or eight months, reminding all about the scandal. Rudy says it will take his people that long to properly get this thing under control, so racing will continue reminding readers and listeners and viewers that things are really happening long after Harn and his Drexel buddies are put away and the scan bet loophole is tightly plugged. ADD COLONIAL TO MAGNA The Virginia Racing Commission has approved Magna Entertainment taking over management control of Colonial Downs under its agreement to buy a majority interest in the Maryland Jockey Club. The hearing was cordial and upbeat and the vote unanimous, with chairwoman Robin Traywick Williams of the commission saying, “We’re pleased about the association of Virginia with the visionary group from Canada.” Jim McAlpine, Magna’s president, responded in kind, calling Colonial “one of the hidden jewels” in Magna’s acquisition of control of Pimlico and Laurel. This gives Magna 15 tracks in its march to the seas, Pacific and Atlantic, and beyond. Magna already is control at Flamboro in Ontario, and still is talking about a possible venture in the farmlands of northern California. November 21, 2002 DON’T BET AGAINST HOBBS The dusty little town of Hobbs in southeastern New Mexico may not sound too exciting, but it sits on the Texas border and is 86 miles from the bustling Texas oil cities of Midland and Odessa. Eightysix miles is a walk in western Texas, so there is gold in them thar hills. The outgoing governor of New Mexico canned the racing commission to keep it from voting on giving a track license in Hobbs to either R. D. Hubbard or Shawn Scott or veteran New Mexico track operator Ken Newton. That governor, Gary Johnson, opposes more tracks in the state. But Johnson’s upcoming successor, governor-elect Bill Richardson, likes the idea, and says he’ll give the residents of Hobbs what they want when he takes office. “I happen to think that racing is a positive sport for New Mexico, an economic engine,” he says. If you’re betting, bet on Hobbs. VISA SAYS IT’S ONLINE FRIEND Well, at least not online betting’s enemy. Casey Watson, a spokeswoman for Visa, told Interactive Gaming News, “There have been allegations that we’re trying to shut down the online gambling business, and that is not the case. We do process online gambling transactions today, and we’re simply trying to help our membership do the right thing, obviously, and follow the letter of the law.” She also said that banks must decide whether they want to approve or decline those transactions based on whether Internet gambling is in fact legal or illegal in their jurisdiction. YOUBET INTRODUCES FEES Youbet.com has introduced a new fees schedule, designed to keep non-bettors from getting free information. Non-bettors now will pay $14.95 a month for unlimited access or $7.95 for limited service. Discounts are given for betting, and high-end users bet for free.
Page 1 and 2:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive
Page 3 and 4:
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA THIS OUTF
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive
Page 203 and 204: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Paul Jose
Page 221: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive
Page 249: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive
show all

2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?