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
MIXED NEWS AT YEAR’S END
Depending where you are, there is either good
news or bad as 2002 comes to a close.
If you’re in Toronto, the news is good. Not only
was a shutdown of racing avoided with agreement
between Ontario harness horsemen and
Woodbine for a 90-day contract extension and
cooling off negotiation period, but Wednesday
night racing, considered lost yesterday morning,
was resuscitated last night. Horsemen poured
112 entries into the entry box , which had been
kept open until 7 p.m., and 82 horses were drawn
for a 10-race New Year’s night program.
If you’re in Chicago, the news is not good.
Maywood Park lost its New Year’s night and
Friday night cards, and Balmoral Park lost its
Thursday night card, as the Illinois harness
horsemen’s boycott of live racing continues.
If you’re in Salem, New Hampshire, it’s not a
happy new year either. New England’s thoroughbred
horsemen, who shot themselves in the foot
in negotiations with Rockingham Park and lost
their season to harness racing, now say they will
withhold permission for simulcasting to The
Rock and the state’s three greyhound tracks.
Thoroughbred Times says it obtained the draft
of a letter from the New England HBPA to
Rockingham reading, “Your failure to receive
permission from Suffolk Downs to receive outof-state
signals, and compensate them appropriately,
causes direct economic harm to the track
and the horsemen. The (New England) HBPA
shall not provide its approval to transmit the
Suffolk Downs signal into your venue, until such
time as you are in compliance with the Interstate
Horse Racing Act.” Ed Callahan, general
manager of Rockingham, called the move
“a serious threat if they are attempting to
close down the four pari-mutuel tracks.” No
word yet from his lawyers.
December 31, 2002
If you’re in Vernon, New York, you can take a little
cheer into the new year. With a 30-day judicial
simulcasting reprieve in effect from the New York
Racing and Wagering Board’s decision not to license
Vernon Downs, Shawn Scott’s chief lieutenant,
Hoolae Paoa, showed up as promised at the
Oneida county finance office and paid $250,000
down on Vernon’s back taxes. He promised to pay
another $250,000 by the end of January, which still
would leave another $200,000 or so unpaid. Paoa,
who now is president, CEO and board chairman of
Vernon, said he thought the track’s regulatory issues
would be resolved “in the next few weeks.”
The state racing and wagering board said it will
meet with Paoa and other Vernon officials sometime
in January. Paoa said the issue of licensing
of John Baldwin, another Scott associate who is
not directly connected with Vernon Downs, would
be resolved by a court decision. He said it cost
Scott $250,000 to get licensed in New York, and
“it’s going to cost a lot more for John Baldwin.”
Paoa said he thought Vernon’s employees “are
going to be assured of longevity,” although one of
the longest tenured of all, publicity chief, announcer
and former track spokesman Jim Moran,
already is gone after 35 years.
If you’re in Philadelphia, better news. Thoroughbred
horsemen and Philadelphia Park avoided a
stable area eviction and other unpleasantness
when they signed a one-year contract for live
racing. By the time the contract expires, slots
should be in place at Philadelphia Park.
If you’re in Pompano Beach, Florida, there is
sorrow over the death of 69-year-old veteran
trainer Eldon Harner, killed when a horse
trampled him as it bolted its stall.
Wherever you are, Happy New Year. We’ll
be back next year, on Thursday.