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
INDIANA DOWNS OPENS TONITE
A 14-year dream turns into reality for developer
Paul Estridge Sr. tonight, when Indiana Downs,
the nation’s newest racetrack, opens for a 19-
night ‘preview’ meeting in Shelbyville, Indiana,
30 miles southeast of Indianapolis. If rave notices
from trainers and drivers are an indication,
the track will be popular with the harness racing
fraternity. Gil Short, the track’s general
manager, promised months ago he would have
the plant ready for action tonight, and the veteran
harness horseman made good on his vow.
The track will share Indiana’s riverboat subsidy
allocation with Hoosier Park, which last year
picked up $6.8 million from that source. The trim
plant will race 19 days of harness racing now,
then will conduct 30 days of thoroughbred racing
from April 11 to May 26, and will return with
100 days of harness racing starting June 3 and
stretching to October 18. Tonight’s feature, appropriately,
is the $15,000 Paul Estridge Inaugural
Handicap. HTA welcomes its newest member
and wishes it good luck with its opening.
CASE BACK AT NORTHFIELD
Keeping up with Walter Case is difficult at best,
but the nation’s current leading race winner will
return to Northfield Park tomorrow night, attributing
his abrupt weeklong absence without
notice or previous explanation to a sore shoulder.
No one at Northfield knew where Case was,
but he told Dave Little of the New York Daily
News , a personal friend, that “It is nobody’s business
where I go.” Northfield’s stewards didn’t
ask, but they insisted that Case pay at least part
of more than $5,000 in fines that he owes for kicking
horses before he could return. He paid $2,175
and promised the remaining $3,000 would be paid
in two weeks. Northfield GM Tom Aldrich did
not elaborate on Case’s absence or return,
but told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “I
have expectations that need to be met and
Walter knows it.”
December 6, 2002
During his absence, Case apparently settled grievances
with trainer Bob Belcher, with whom he had
broken off relations, for he is scheduled to drive
four Belcher-trained horses in his return. Belcher
had said, after Case disappeared, that it wouldn’t
break his heart if Case never came back, but his
recognition of Case as “the best driver I have ever
seen” apparently softened his stand and the two
controversial figures are reunited.
EAST TRACKS BACK IN ACTION
The Meadowlands, Freehold Raceway and Dover
Downs return to action today after winter
weather closings on Thursday. The Meadowlands
gears up for Saturday night’s $1.7 million
Fall Final Four, the $520,000 Governor’s Cup
for 2-year-old pacing colts, the $370,000 Three
Diamonds for 2-year-old pacing fillies, the
$410,000 Valley Victory for 2-year-old trotting
colts, and the $370,000 Goldsmith Maid for 2-
year-old trotting fillies. Allamerican Native is
favored in the Governor’s Cup, Color Me Beachy
is morning line favorite for the Three Diamonds,
Sugar Trader is favored in the Valley Victory,
and Pizza Dolce is the even money favorite in the
Goldsmith Maid.
At Windsor Raceway in Ontario, the top 3-yearold
pacing colts in action meet in two eliminations
Sunday for next week’s $500,000 Provincial
Cup.
SPORT LOSES TWO STARS
Two major figures in harness racing died this
week. Dorothy Pierce Hardy, owner of 1974
Harness Horse of the Year and Prix D’Amerique
winner Delmonica Hanover, died at 79 at her Upper
Saint Clair, PA, home. She was the former wife
of Joe Hardy, owner of 84 Lumber company. In
Ontario, noted breeder Chris Van Bussel
died at 61.