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
COAST TO COAST ON PICK SIX
This morning’s report on the Dreyfus Affair -- pardon
me, the Drexel Affair, a Freudian slip -- finds
bulletins from coast to coast. In California, the
racing board refused to go along with Hollywood
Park’s proposal to close all pools two minutes before
off time, saying it would create confusion
among bettors. The 5-1 vote dismayed Hollywood
officials, with track president Rick Baedeker telling
Bill Christine of the Los Angeles Times, “Most
of my comments would be under the heading of
‘expletives deleted’”. Baedeker did say of the
commission vote, “Their complacency is shocking
to me. This was a black and white opportunity
to go on the record and do something for customer
confidence in the sport.” The board, however, took
Baedeker’s words of assurance literally, after he
and Autotote president Brooks Pierce told them,
“There is absolutely no evidence at this time of
any wrongdoing.” Baedeker says his customers
don’t believe him, since the track surveyed 301
patrons Nov. 16 and 17 and 40% of them thought
there was past posting going on, with 68% thinking
it is likely that fraudulent bets take place.
Baedeker denied there was past posting, saying
it can take as long as 86 seconds before all of the
bets from hundreds of remote sites show up on the
Hollywood tote board. “We have a horrible perception
problem in this state,” Baedecker said.
“We need to do something and can’t wait around
six months for a study.” One problem was that, as
usual, racing faced a major issue with no unanimity.
Santa Anita, Golden Gate and Bay Meadows
did not agree with Hollywood’s proposal. Racing
board chairman Alan Landsburg said the proposed
change “is not worth the inconvenience to the relatively
few horseplayers that we’ve been able to
keep coming to the track. This would be a penalty
for the players who like to wait as long as
they can to make their bets.”
November 22, 2002
We have a suggestion that should solve the whole
problem and put all bettors in California, and the
tracks and racing board, at ease.
Have Rudy Giuliani jump on a plane, fly out and
make a grand California appearance. That should
restore calm from Inglewood to theGolden Gate,
and everywere in between.
IN ILLINOIS, DEC. 6 IS PAYDAY
There is more than $3 million laying around somewhere
in Illinois vaults, collecting interest, and the
executive director of the Illinois Racing Board, the
recently appointed Walter Dudcyz, says it is the
board’s call as to what to do with it. The Breeders’
Cup was raced at Arlington Park, of course,
which falls under Illinois Racing Board jurisdiction.
If it is determined that Derrick Davis’ lone
winning ticket on the Pick Six is null and void because
of fraud, then the 108 of 186 consolation
tickets with five winners that he also held would
seem to be null and void. That would leave 78
valid tickets, which would skyrocket in value from
$4,606.20 to $39,331 each, plus accrued interest
on the entire Pick Six bet of more than $3 million.
The Illinois Board will discuss -- and possibly decide
-- what to do about the bonanza at a meeting
two weeks from Monday, on Dec. 9.
In New York, where Chris Harn told prosecutors
that he not only rigged Pick Six bets but also doctored
uncashed tickets that would pass reading by
automated machines, the chairman of the Assembly
Racing and Wagering committee, Alexander
Gromack, is announcing at a press conference today
that he is preparing legislation that will mandate
backup security for every wagering system
in the state. Gromack’s bill would prohibit any
New York track from dealing with any tote company
that did not have backup security in
place.