2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorFARALDO ATTACKS “THEY”Wearing his hat as lawyer for Vernon Downs’horsemen, USTA chairman Joe Faraldo leveled ablistering attack in the Oneida (NY) Daily Dispatchthis week on unnamed “theys,” scoldingthem for not stepping up and buying the track.Although Faraldo did not mention major New YorkCity realtor and owner-breeder Jeff Gural or majorityshareholder Shawn Scott by name, the reporterwho did the interview with Faraldo --Rachael Protzman -- did, a number of times, makingit appear that Gural was Faraldo’s target. Thiswould be strange, because Faraldo recently wasquoted as lauding Gural for his legislative effortsin Albany in getting the VLT issue resolved. Inthe long story, Protzman identified Faraldo as “attorneyfor the Harness Horsemen’s Associationof Central New York,” who told her, “They’re sayingthat they’re doing everything they can to makesure there is a racing season, but they don’t seemto be doing what they need to do. It seems to methat there are people that have an ownership interestin Vernon Downs and they say they are goingto create all these wonderful things for thehorsemen. But instead they’re doing all they canto scare away competitors that are interested inbuying the place, and all that’s doing is setting usback. I think somebody’s got to step up and buyVernon Downs. Until that happens everything elseis, unfortunately, just a waste of everybody’s time.It’s raising a lot of people’s hopes. They knowwhat they’re doing. They’ve calculated everypenny and dime. They’ve calculated the risks thatthey’re willing to take and not take.” That’s finetalk for clients, but perhaps a bit of oversimplification,particularly when someone has to figureout how to handle Vernon’s $26 million or more indebt. It would seem to an outsider that calculatingthe risks is a prudent course when tens of millionsof dollars are involved. Gural toldProtzman, “Everything’s still up in the airat bankruptcy court.June 3, 2005“We intend to submit a revised plan in the nextfew days. We’re working on it with attorneysas we speak. There’s growing concern that thedelay is just costing everybody money. We’rehoping there will be a racing season. We’reworking on it with Racing and Wagering.”Faraldo said, “If it was in our hands, we woulddo everything that we can. But because of thismaneuver of putting this place in bankruptcy,because of the maneuvering by potential suitors,the horsemen are caught in the middle.”That’s true, but talk is cheap. Buying VernonDowns is not.BIG CHANGES ON THE COASTIn what is characterized as one of many changes,the California Horse Racing Board is not renewingthe contracts of three veteran Californiastewards. Board executive director IngridFermin, who formerly worked with the three asa steward, announced that senior steward PetePedersen; former harness racing driver andsteward Jack Williams; and MerlinVolzke,were being replaced. Petersen, 84, is in his 50thyear as a California steward. Fermin saidchanges also were being made to the racingboard investigative staff, including adding newemployees and rotating some present ones fromtrack to track. Pedersen said “I’ve been luckyto be on the track this long. It’s not the end ofthe world.”THE STORY IS EVEN BETTERWe recounted here yesterday thoroughbredbreeder Garrett Redmond suing The JockeyClub for refusing the name Sally Hemings, thereported slave mistress of Thomas Jefferson.The Club first requested Redmond to get her permission,then decided she was notorious or famous.We neglected the real jewel of the story,however. The filly in question is out ofJefferson’s Secret, who was by ColonialAffair.