2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, Editor January 14, 2005PLENTY OF NEWS..MOSTLY BAD headline over Campbell’s letter read, “IntegrityRacing was in the news today, coast to coast, and No Easy Task.” Of course it’s not. But if it is anthe headlines and stories were not pleasant reading.In New York, a successful thoroughbred and head out.impossible task, we had better all pack our bagstrainer, Greg Martin, and a longtime harnessdriver, Rene Poulin, were included in those As New York headlines were hammering racing,charged with milkshaking at Aqueduct in a race those in California and elsewhere were indictingmore than a year ago. The front page of the New it as well. Jockey Pat Valenzuela, with one ofYork Post read, “Race Fix: Gambler doping scandalshocks Big A, Belmont.” The Daily News cov-Neil Papiano, leading the way, was back in rac-California’s smartest and best known lawyers,ered its entire front page with “Mob Day At The ing. Bill Christine, the Los Angeles Times’ awardwinningracing writer, wrote that PapianoRaces.” Not surprisingly, the assistant U.S. attorneyhandling the case also made bold type, “painted witnesses into a corner and left themsaying, “This is not a one-time deal. This is somethingthat was happening regularly.” He also said Christine called “little choice” after an adminis-there.” The California racing board, with whatthe mixture was “impossible to detect in trative law judge’s ruling, relicensed Valenzuela,Aqueduct’s postrace drug tests.” Milkshakes are who has had 11 drug-related suspensions fromsuccessfully tested for all over the nation, and if riding since first testing positive for cocaine inthey are not tested for at Aqueduct, New York 1988. Gary West, the star racing writer of theracing should be ashamed. According to the New Fort Worth Star-Telegram, led his story with,York Daily News Poulin and Martin, the son of “After several drug-related suspensions, jockeyHall of Fame trainer Frank (Pancho) Martin, face Pat Valenzuela is set to resume riding, and horseup to 20 years behind bars on federal gambling, racing is set to resume its role as an enabler.”race-doping and fraud charges.The headline on West’s story read, “Jockey’s returntaking the sport for a ride.”It has long been predicted here that one of thesedays racing figures would wind up behind barsas a result of the medication mess. This may ormay not be the case that results in that. Eitherway, the news arrived on the same day prominentthoroughbred owner Cot Campbell, defendingthe toothless Code of Ethics on horse auctionspresented last month by a committee hechaired, said in a letter to the Blood-Horse that“developing a practical, legally feasible organizationfor accomplishing this is close toimpossible.....Start with an industry that has nocentral power for punishing anyone in respect tocriminal issues. Add the legal ramifications arisingfrom matters of libel, and throw inthe complications of 50 states, with eachhaving its own set of unique laws.” TheBAD NEWS IN ONTARIO, TOOThere was bad news in Ontario as well, althoughnot a scandal. The Ontario Harness Horse Association,with some 200 members meeting inWindsor, “strongly rejected” Windsor Raceway’slatest date application offering to race 124 days.The OHHA is insisting that Windsor be made torace 153 days. The Ontario Racing Commissionannounced it would consider the Windsor applicationat a meeting in Toronto next Tuesday, Jan.18, at 4 p.m.ONE LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINEOhio governor Bob Taft has appointed NormBarron as interim chairman of the OhioState Racing Commission.
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, Editor January 17, 2005GURAL SIGNS TO BUY VERNON FALLOUT WIDE AND FARJeff Gural, one of New York City’s most importantreal estate magnates and a major owner and New York in the Aqueduct milkshaking case andRepercussions from the federal indictments inbreeder in harness racing, has signed a deal to betting ring surrounding it have been felt acrossbuy Vernon Downs. Gural, who bought Tioga the country. In Manchester, New Hampshire, twoPark earlier this year, agreed to invest $8.5 millionin Vernon and assume its mortgage held by general manager Richard Hart and assistant GMexecutives of Lakes Region Greyhound Park --Vestin of Las Vegas, but he put a large conditionalstamp on the purchase. Gural says he will with the case involving alleged associates of theJonathan Broome -- were indicted in connectionbuy the track only if the state of New York increasesthe amount racetracks keep from video charged with money laundering and participat-Gambino organized crime family. Both weregaming machines, and he has helped get a bill ing in a gambling conspiracy, but Allan Hart, generalpartner in the operation and uncle of Rich-introduced in Albany that would double theamount that tracks receive, from 20% to 40%. ard Hart, said both men were “100% legitimatePaul Noyes, chairman of the board of directors guys” and tried to distance the track, which hasof Vernon’s parent Mid-State Raceway, called pursued outside bettors vigorously, from InternationalPlayers Association, the organizationGural’s agreement “a new dawn for VernonDowns,” saying Gural would give the track instantcredibility because he is so well known in sonal involvement with it. He called the indict-directly involved, but would not discuss his per-the harness racing industry. Noyes said Gural ments “a totally separate issue” that have nothingto do with Lakes Region Greyhound.would invest $1.2 million into Vernon immediatelyto get the track up and operating. The salehas to receive approval from the U.S. Bankruptcycourt, since Mid-State filed for bankruptcy August11. A Syracuse lawyer representing VestinMortgage said he had not yet seen terms of theagreement as yet, so he could not comment. Publishedreports have put the value of that mortgageat $26 million, but a major stockholder ofMid-State disputes that amount and said Vestincould be owed half that amount.SIMULCAST OF THE PRIXThe Meadowlands and Hippodrome de Montrealwill simulcast Europe’s greatest trotting race, thePrix d’Amerique from Vincennes in Paris, onSunday morning, Jan. 30. Post time for the 84threnewal of the classic will be 9:40 a.m. easterntime. For a contract or more information, contactYvon Giguere, simulcast manager, at514-739-2741, ext. 2361, fax 514-340-2025, email ygiguere@sonacc.com.In Fargo, North Dakota, where Susan Bala’s defunctRacing Services was named as part of theNew York betting scheme, and where a trial onan earlier indictment on running an illegal gamblingoperation is to start tomorrow, there was astartling development. Raymundo Diaz Jr., a vicepresident of Racing Services and a close confidanteof Bala’s and fellow defendant in the 12-felony count case, reportedly will change his pleato guilty on some counts and testify for the government.When asked if his testimony will hurtthe case, Bala told the Associated Press that “thetruth will carry the day.”In Lexington, KY, the National ThoroughbredRacing Association urged its member tracks tocut off rebate betting shops unless they disclosetheir ownership and allow review of their wageringdata.
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2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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