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, 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.
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICACOURT ORDER ON EMERALDAn Illinois county judge has ruled that the IllinoisGaming Board must renew the bankrupt EmeraldCasino’s gaming license and allow it to relocate toRosemont. Cook County Judge Sophia Hall issuedan order that says the Illinois AppellateCourt’s decision in 2003 that gambling regulatorswere required to renew Emerald’s license shouldbe followed. Emerald’s attorney says the rulingmeans a hearing aimed at revoking the casino’slicense should stop. But Gaming Board attorneyscontend the ruling does nothing to stop that hearing.The board has been trying to revokeEmerald’s license since 2001 over concerns thatcompany officials lied to regulators and some investorsallegedly have ties to organized crime.VLT BILL MOVES TO NJ SENATEA bill that would allow as many as 5,000 video lotteryterminals at the Meadowlands Racetrackmoved to the full state Senate on Thursday. TheSenate Wagering, Tourism and Historic PreservationCommittee heard three hours of testimony,including presentations of contrasting studies thatestimated how many customers would bedrawn away from Atlantic City by slots inNew York, Pennsylvania and at the Meadowlands.Acting Gov. Richard Codey andExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley Paul J. Estok, F. Bergstein, Editor Editor June 10, 2005MAINE GOV. VETOES RACINO other northern New Jersey Democrats have ledMaine Gov. John Baldacci on Thursday vetoed the push for VLTs at the Meadowlands. So muchthe bill that would have allowed a tribal-run harnesstrack with slot machines in the state’s Washmates$150 million in revenue to the state this yearso that Codey’s proposed budget for 2005 estiingtonCounty. Under the legislation, the and $300 million next year. A study by ChristiansenPassamaquoddy Tribe would have been permitted Capital Advisors found that VLTs at the Meadowlandswould have minimal impact on Atlantic Cityto operate a racetrack with up to 1,500 slot machines.When the legislature approved the bill compared to the expected damage from slot machinesin neighboring states. “It’s a changed mar-last week, neither the House of Representativesnor the Senate had the two-thirds majority needed ket for Atlantic City and nothing can reverse that,”to override a gubernatorial veto. Supporters of Eugene Christiansen said. “Meadowlands VLTsthe racino now are pushing for a statewide referendumon the issue.crossing the state borders into New York and Penn-will help prevent the New Jersey population fromsylvania.” A study performed byPricewatershouseCoopers, commissioned by theNew Jersey Casino Association, found exactly theopposite. For now, the bill is stuck in the Senateand facing an uncertain future in the House. Thesponsor of the bill, Paul Sarlo of Bergen County,believes a compromise could still be reached.“This budget still relies on $110 million fromVLTs,” Sarlo said. “Where are the alternatives?”YONKERS TO CLOSE JUNE 25?According to a report in the New York Daily News,Yonkers Raceway has filed a request with the NewYork State Racing and Wagering Board to end liveracing at the conclusion of the program on June25 and simulcasting following the last race on June26. The plan is to stay shut down four months inorder to complete the massive reconstruction necessaryfor VLTs to be installed. The request willbe presented to the Board as part of its regularlyscheduled monthly meeting on June 16.MAGNA & ODS SETTLE IN MD.The Baltimore Sun reports that a lawsuit betweenMagna Entertainment and ODS Technologies wassettled out of court this week. The suit stemmedfrom Magna’s desire to be released from its contractwith TVG. Although terms were not disclosed,current broadcast and wagering practiceswill continue.
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2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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