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
IT’S A GIRL!
Moni Maker, winner of $5,589,256 in the U.S.
and Europe and twice Harness Horse of the Year,
and her consort Valley Victory, considered by
many to be the top trotting sire in America, are
happy to announce the birth of a daughter, born
at 7:30 yesterday morning. Mother and daughter
are doing well, and are expected to make their
first public appearance today. No name as yet.
MAGNA TO ADD LONE STAR?
No one on either side is confirming it, but the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning
News both are reporting that Magna Entertainment
is buying Lone Star Park’s interest in the
Texas track, and that the sale could be consummated
in the next two weeks. The city of Grand
Prairie, where Lone Star is located, is the owner
of the track, and leases it to a management company
headed by chairman Bob Kaminski and the
Trammel Crow family, which owns huge segments
of Dallas real estate. The management
company holds the racing license, which presumably
is what Magna would be buying, with Grand
Prairie remaining as a partner. The Morning
News points out that majority ownership of any
class 1 track in Texas must be held by residents,
but the restriction does not apply to public companies
like Magna. As owner, the city of Grand
Prairie could block the sale, but statements by
the mayor indicate that won’t happen. He said
that a sale would be “a good deal for Lone Star,”
and said he would not stand in the way. It seems
unlikely that the Texas Racing Commission would
object, but executive secretary Paula Flowerday
said the commission had not yet been notified of
any sale. If the sale closes, it would be the eleventh
track acquisition for Magna, the others being
Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields,
Great Lakes Downs, Gulfstream Park,
Multnomah Greyhounds, Portland
Meadows, Remington Park, Santa Anita,
The Meadows, and Thistledown.
February 11, 2002
WASHINGTON STATE SAYS NO
There will be no expansion of gambling in Washington
state. A senate committee chairwoman
told Gov. Gary Locke that she did not have
enough votes to get his measure doing that out of
the Labor, Commerce and Financial Institutions
committee. Dying with the proposal of more gambling
was the governor’s proposal for a 10% state
tax on non-tribal gaming, a move Locke said
would close $75 million of the state’s billion dollar
budget shortfall. The Recreational Gaming
Association, which represents non-tribal gambling
in Washington, said the tax would drive its
members out of business, and countered with a
proposal to include casino games as well as poker
and blackjack now allowed. Margarita Prentice,
chairwoman of the Labor, Commercial and Financial
Institutions committee, did not even bring
that proposal up for a vote.
In another Washington state development, the
state auditor claimed the horse racing commission
failed to collect nearly $1 million in simulcasting
satellite fees between 1999 and 2001. The
state auditor has no authority to issue performance
audits in Washington, and the governor
vetoed legislation to give the auditor that authority
last year when he signed the budget, saying
there was “no compelling reason” to do so.
IN THE OTHER WASHINGTON...
It appears there is a split between two of the
staunchest foes of Internet gambling on the shores
of the Potomac. Rep. Jim Leach, the Iowa Republican
who wants to outlaw Internet gambling
payments by credit cards, checks and electronic
funds transfers, has sent out a letter saying his
bill is a more workable mechanism with better
chance of passage than Bob Goodlatte’s more
sweeping bill introduced last November.
The Leach bill has two co-sponsors;
Goodlatte’s bill has 155.