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
DOWN AND DIRTY IN ARIZONA
The bitter battle reported here yesterday and previously
between Jane Hull, the governor of Arizona,
and the president of the state Senate, Randall
Gnant, over awarding slots to the state’s thoroughbred
and greyhound tracks took another surprising,
and perhaps alarming, turn yesterday afternoon.
The governor has opposed giving the tracks
slots, saying she preferred to keep them where
they currently are, on land of 17 Indian tribes in
the state. Gnant sponsored a bill that would have
continued Indian gaming but also would have put
casino style games at the state’s racetracks. That
bill was killed Tuesday by the Senate Government
Committee.
Rather than accept that defeat, Gnant -- who professes
to oppose political maneuvers to hamstring
legislation -- used a rarely used procedural move
to kill the governor’s bill late yesterday by having
the Senate Rules Committee announce that the
bill did meet constitutional standards. The ominous
part of the move was that the Senate’s rules
attorney and the state attorney general both told
the committee that it did. Gnant cast the decisive
vote for the measure, creating a 4-4 tie which in
Arizona is tantamount to a defeat. Democrats were
enraged, and one of them, Herb Guenther -- the
sponsor of the governor’s bill -- quickly rounded
up 18 signatures on a discharge petition to force a
vote by the full Senate. He also said, “It demonstrates
a part-time morality. We violated one of
our own internal policies. When that happens, I
lose faith.” The Arizona Republic reported that
Gnant was deluged with angry calls and e-mails,
and in a remarkably insensitive and racially tinged
remark he told the newspaper, “I’ve been called
everything but a white man.” He also said, “This
is a message to the governor that the Senate
runs the Senate, not the governor.” Or
perhaps Randall Gnant.
April 18, 2002
MORE TROUBLE FOR PRAIRIE
The troubles for Prairie Meadows Racetrack and
Casino, which seemed over with the drafting of a
five-year, $100 million agreement with Polk county
three weeks ago, fell apart Tuesday when the Polk
county Board of Supervisors voted not to ratify
the deal. The county has been concerned about
getting enough from the lease to pay for a new,
$200 million Iowa Events Center in Des Moines,
and the county supervisors decided the $20 million
a year might not be adequate to cover payments
on the Events Center and other projects in
downtown Des Moines if track and casino profits
lag. The agreement calls for $1 million a month in
rent, plus a quarterly share of net profits that would
total $8 million a year. Track officials could opt to
pay less than that if business expenses exceeded
gaming revenues. The supervisors say they will
meet with RACI in two weeks, but the association
says arbitration may be the next step.
ACCORD IN NEW JERSEY
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
and New Jersey horsemen’s groups have reached
accord on resolution of date differences for 2002,
and will announce the settlement Friday afteroon
at 1:30 at a press conference at Monmouth Park
in which Governor James E. McGreevey, NJSEA
president/CEO George Zoffinger, New Jersey thoroughbred
attorney Dennis Drazin and harness
counsel Joel Sterns will speak.
YOUBET AUDITOR PESSIMISTIC
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Youbet says it is confident it can improve cash
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