2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.
2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.
2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.
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HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA<br />
Executive Newsletter<br />
A daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North <strong>America</strong> and beyond<br />
Stanley F. Bergstein, Editor<br />
SYMPOSIUM STARTS TODAY<br />
The 29th Symposium on Racing organized by the<br />
Race Track Industry Program <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong><br />
Arizona got underway at 8 a.m. this morning, with<br />
two special sessions kicking <strong>of</strong>f <strong>America</strong>n racing’s<br />
biggest get-together. Some 1,000 members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
racing fraternity -- harness, thoroughbred, quarter<br />
horse and greyhound -- will have attended a<br />
host <strong>of</strong> sessions before the curtain falls on Friday.<br />
Today’s opener is an all-day marathon on insurance,<br />
primarily targeted on the workers’ compensation<br />
issue for horsemen, since it is sponsored by<br />
the <strong>America</strong>n Quarter Horse Association and<br />
Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.<br />
Track insurance is certain to arise during<br />
the day, and Wagering Insurance North<strong>America</strong>,<br />
which evolved from the old HTA Insurance company,<br />
will be represented by its counsel, Chicago<br />
insurance attorney Dan O’Leary. Eight other<br />
speakers are on the morning agenda, followed by<br />
an open discussion session in the afternoon.<br />
Also scheduled for today is a so-called Racing and<br />
Gaming Summit, which starts at 9 and goes on until<br />
4:30. Subjects include The Economic Impact <strong>of</strong><br />
Gaming Machines at Racing Facilities; The Racetrack/Lottery<br />
Partnership; The Politics <strong>of</strong> Racing<br />
and Gaming; a luncheon with Ron Barbaro, chairman<br />
and CEO <strong>of</strong> the Ontario Lottery and Gaming<br />
corporation as keynote speaker; Integrating Gaming<br />
Into the Racetrack Environment; and The<br />
Gaming Product. GEM Communications is sponsoring<br />
the event. Speakers are Jane Holmes <strong>of</strong><br />
Ontario’s OHRIA, Wayne Lemons and Don<br />
Johnson <strong>of</strong> the Delaware Lottery, Gary Loebig <strong>of</strong><br />
Multimedia Games, Dan Bucci <strong>of</strong> Lincoln Park,<br />
Gerald Aubin <strong>of</strong> the Rhode Island Lottery, Bennett<br />
Liebman <strong>of</strong> the Racing and Wagering Law Program<br />
at Albany Law School, consultant<br />
Mike Shagan, Bear Stearns gaming and<br />
leisure analyst Michael Tew, and Marc<br />
Falcone <strong>of</strong> the North <strong>America</strong>n Equity Research<br />
Group.<br />
December 10, <strong>2002</strong><br />
EARLY DATES FOR BIG RACES<br />
The realignment <strong>of</strong> racing dates in Indiana with<br />
the addition <strong>of</strong> Indiana Downs will result in two<br />
major pacing events being conducted early in the<br />
2003 season at Hoosier Park. The $200,000 Dan<br />
Patch Invitational will be raced on Saturday, April<br />
12, and the $500,000 Hoosier Cup for 3-year-olds<br />
will be raced Friday, May 30, which will be closing<br />
night for Hoosier next spring. The shortened Hoosier<br />
Park season will result in cancellation <strong>of</strong> other<br />
major events. The $250,000 Breeders Filly Stake,<br />
the Kentucky Standardbred Sales Company<br />
Stakes and John Simpson Memorial Grand Circuit<br />
races all will be dropped from the Hoosier<br />
stakes schedule next year.<br />
OHIO SEASON TRIMMED, TOO<br />
The Ohio State Racing Commission has approved<br />
shorter 2003 seasons for two tracks, Lebanon<br />
Raceway and Scioto Downs, under an arrangment<br />
requiring 17% reductions if approved by both track<br />
management and horsemen. Those conditions<br />
were met by Lebanon and Scioto, horsemen preferring<br />
shorter seasons rather than purse reductions.<br />
Lebanon will race 94 programs instead <strong>of</strong><br />
the 113 raced this year, and Scioto will shorten its<br />
season from 115 programs to 95. Simulcast agreements<br />
also were approved that will have racing<br />
neighbors Beulah Park and Scioto Downs in Columbus<br />
working cooperatively. Beulah will simulcast<br />
from tracks that begin racing at 4 p.m. and<br />
earlier, and Scioto will simulcast from those with<br />
post times <strong>of</strong> 4 p.m. and later. Either track may<br />
simulcast California afternoon racing that begins<br />
racing after 4 p.m. eastern time. Scioto also will<br />
be able to simulcast on afternoons during the<br />
Grand Circuit meeting at the Delaware County<br />
Fair, home <strong>of</strong> the Little Brown Jug.<br />
SYMPOSIUM REPORTS<br />
The Executive Newsletter will carry news<br />
from the Racing Symposium all week.