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
THE AXE FALLS ON NJ SUBSIDY
New Jersey’s new governor, James E. McGreevey,
made it official yesterday, telling the legislature
that among his budget cuts was the $6 million
purse subsidy for the state’s racetracks. Talking
about a state constitutional requirement that the
governor close any gaps between revenues and
spending by the end of the fiscal year June 30,
McGreevey said, “I didn’t create this problem,
but I’m determined to work with you to fix it.
We’re going to do what it takes to balance our
budget, and we’re going to do it right. Tough
and fair.” With that pronouncement, the die is
cast in the differences between the state’s thoroughbred
horsemen and the New Jersey Sports
and Exposition Authority. NJSEA senior executive
vice president for racing Bruce Garland has
said all along that to maintain quality thoroughbred
purses at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands
without the subsidy a shorter schedule
was absolutely necessary. The thoroughbred
horsemen want 141 days of racing rather than
120, and are tossing lawsuits at the state and
threatening simulcasting bans.
A HARNESS HORSE SHEEP DOG
With racing coverage as tough as it is to get these
days, good features are more important than ever.
Harness Racing Communications landed one
with Associated Press, and it’s easy to see why.
It’s a story about a retired pacing mare who was
known on the race track as La Nena Cierva when
she raced at Monticello Raceway and now is
known as Muzzie, in her new career as a sheep
dog. She only won 1 race in 33 starts and earned
a paltry $3,706 as a pacer, but guarding sheep
she has proved invaluable to farmer Sam (Mad
Sammy) Phelps in Walden, NY. Phelps has a
problem with coyotes killing his sheep,
and his sheep dogs gave up the battle
after several were seriously injured fighting
the coyotes.
February 12, 2002
Enter Muzzie. After Mad Sammy sold her foal,
she turned her maternal instincts toward Phelps’
15 sheep, and herds them home whenever coyotes
show up. She then heads back to confront
the coyotes. Phelps, who told the AP “the only
good coyote is a dead coyote,” has offered a
bounty on them, with two payoffs. With Muzzie,
he doesn’t expect to have to pay many more.
CHARLIE WANTS A SMOKE
Charlie Juravinski, the colorful and controversial
owner of Flamboro Downs in Ontario, is in
the news again. Never one to duck a fight, Charlie
now is battling a Dundas city ordinance banning
smoking in public places, including his race track.
He reminded city councillors that Flamboro generates
some $5 million a year in commission and
realty taxes for Dundas, and he thinks a smoking
ban would cut Flamboro business by a fifth. He
said he has spent $5 million in ventilation improvements
and that out of an annual customer
base of 1.8 million he has received only 48 complaints.
Charlie thinks he has addressed concerns
by providing smoking and non-smoking dining
rooms, and he does not want to partition his
grandstand because “it would certainly ruin the
place.” He did not address health issues.
A LONG REACH FOR SLOTS
Hawaii’s legislature said no again recently to
gambling, but a former and current candidate
for mayor of Honolulu thinks he has an answer.
He wants Congress to turn over Midway Island
to Hawaii or Honolulu and let either build a resort
casino there. Midway is 1,200 miles northwest
of Hawaii.
AGENDA ON OUR WEB SITE
The agenda for next Tuesday’s HTA Committee
of the Whole meeting in Las Vegas is
now posted on our members’Web site.