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, EditorHORSE SLAUGHTER: ONE DOWNDespite strong opposition by House AgricultureCommittee chairman Bob Goodlatte, Republicanof Virginia, proponents of ending commercial horseslaughter in the U.S. won a resounding victory yesterdaywhen Rep. John Sweeney, Republican ofNew York, outmaneuvered Goodlatte and theHouse passed, 269-158, a bill to strip funding frominspecting horse meat, effectively barring commercialslaughter, even though the meat is not sold inthe United States.The measure now goes to the Senate, where JohnEnsign, the Nevada Republican and a veterinarian,leads the fight to get a similar bill passed.Sponsors of the House bill, in addition to Sweeney,included Rep. Ed Whitfield, husband of ConnieWhitfield, vice chair of the Kentucky Racing Authorityand chairwoman of the state’s Drug TestingCouncil; Jack Spratt, Democrat of SouthCarolina; and Nick Rahall II, Democrat of WestVirginia. The ban as passed will force a yearlongshutdown of two commercial slaughterhousesin Texas and one in Illinois, where some65,000 horses a year are slaughtered for theoverseas market. If the Senate approves, themeasure will become effective October 1, thestart of a new fiscal year. That timing is theresult of Sweeney getting the measure attachedas an amendment to a Department of Agriculturespending bill. Sweeney and Whitfield havebeen stymied for two and one-half years byGoodlatte, who again argued -- this time unsuccessfully-- against the measure. The presidentof the Humane Society of the United States,Wayne Pacelle, said of yesterday’s vote, “Thisis the beginning of the end of horse slaughterfor human consumption in the United States. Weknew it had tremendous support. It wasalways just a question of getting a vote.”Yesterday Sweeney, Whitfield and theircolleagues got it.June 9, 2005A COMPROMISE IN MAINE?Maine is not Florida, where legislators and thegovernor ignore voters’ wishes and go their ownmerry way. The governor in Maine, John Baldacci,dislikes gambling, like Jeb Bush, but apparentlyis willing to let voters make their voices heard.Baldacci indicates he still plans to veto the measurepassed by the legislature to allow a tribalracino and harness track in depressed Washingtoncounty, but after nearly two hours oftalks with tribal leaders he appears willing tohave the people vote on a referendum on theissue. The tribal leaders were jubilant afterthe meeting, which they called “fruitful andpositive,” and said they looked forward “to returningto the table.” Without a veto, the bill -- LD1573 -- would require only a local vote beforea racetrack casino with as many as 1,500slots could open in a community. The Housepassed the measure 87-46, but the Senate votewas 19-15, not enough for a veto override.Baldacci said he would postpone his veto untillater this week as “a reflection of respect.”Washington county is the poorest in Maine, andthe Passamaquoddy tribe proposes to split anygaming revenue with other tribes in the state.One state senator, former Speaker of the HouseLibby Mitchell, said, “For the life of me, I can’tunderstand why it’s OK to have a racino in Bangorbut not in Washington county and for our tribes.” ARepublican senator from Washington county saidthere was “stunned disbelief” that the governor, whoco-sponsored a casino bill 10 years ago as a statesenator, has changed his mind on gambling.“HANDS OFF INTERNET BETS”Nearly 30 states, including California, NewYork, Kentucky, Michigan and Delaware, arejoining forces to urge the federal governmentto keep Internet betting out of internationaltrade agreements. Their attorneys generalare petitioning to protect states’ rights onthe issue.