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 20, 2005MINNESOTA OKS HARNESS NEW MICHIGAN COMMISSIONERThe Minnesota Racing Commission yesterday Thoroughbred Times.com reported this morningvoted, 5-3, to approve a combined harness track that Christine C. White, currently director of agriculturepolicy at the Michigan Department ofand card room that it previously denied. Theapproval on reconsideration, after an earlier turndownbecause of concerns of competition with terim Racing Commissioner in Michigan by gov-Agriculture, was to be announced today as in-Canterbury Downs, apparently clears the way ernor Jennifer Granholm. Ms. White would succeedRobert Geake, whose term expired Dec. 31.for the North Metro Initiative, a group headedby CEO James B. Druck, to move forward with White is a Notre Dame graduate in political science,and a daughter of former Michigan con-plans to build its proposed $47 million complexstarting next spring, with racing in 2006. A 7- gressman Donald Albosta. The Times story, byday, 24-hour cardroom could open during the Greg Forde, was unconfirmed at press time, butfirst full year of racing. The license was granted rumors of White’s appointment had been heardafter a memo to the commission from the MinnesotaHBPA saying it had “a basis for agree-known on how long White will serve.in Michigan. The story said no details werement” with Southwest Casino, one of NorthMetro’s partners, for a fail-safe provision on thoroughbredand quarter horse purses at Canterbury,to be backed by a percentage of gross cardclub revenues against any purse losses at the runningtrack.VERNON SAYS NO TO SCOTTVernon Downs parent, Mid-State Raceway, yesterdaysaid “No thanks” to its former “savior,”Shawn Scott, and his partner Vestin Mortgageof Las Vegas. Scott and Vestin had offered toinvest another $9 million to get the track up andrunning, as opposed to the $8.5 million offeredby harness horse owner and breeder and real estatemagnate Jeff Gural, but Vernon said it preferredto deal with Gural, who should have noproblems getting licensed in New York State,where Scott already has been denied a license.Gural’s bid is contingent on getting legislationchanged in New York to increase track share fromVLTs, while Scott’s is not, but Scott’s ability toget licensed was a major consideration, accordingto Mid-State chairman Paul Noyes.Vernon is hoping to be able to reopen inApril for live harness racing, and get itsracino open as soon as possible.WINDSOR ISSUES STATEMENTHTA member Windsor Raceway resumes racingSunday with a 6 p.m. post time, and will race131 days in 2005 with 1,965 live races. In announcingthe schedule, track president JohnMillson said the model validation “clearly establishes”the commitment of track owner TandemEntertainment to live horse racing through innovation.Millson said he believed the understandingwill lead to “a new decision processwhereby race dates can be determined onbenchmarked data and not on unsubstantiatedclaims.”TRACKS SHARE FLORIDA COSTSIt is illegal in Florida for special interests to payfor an election, but it is perfectly legal to pay forexpenses that may be incurred by the result.Florida tracks in Broward and Miami-Dade apparentlyhave agreed to pay a total of $6.5 millionfor expenses such as added security and roadimprovements that may be necessary as a resultof the March 8 elections in both counties thatcould open the way for slots at tracks in thosecounties. State legislation can impact theoutcome regardless of the vote.
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 21, 2005GOOD NEWS ON MEDICATION $250 MILLION UP FRONT?With the approval of model rules of the Racing That’s the number kicked around this morningMedication and Testing Consortium by seven majorracing states, and California moving to legaldentfor the Albany Times Union, as the up-frontby James Odato, the Capitol bureau corresponizemilkshake testing, the sky is brightening on franchise fee for the New York Racinguniform medication policies. Six mid-Atlantic Association’s license, which expires Dec. 31, 2007.consortium states -- Delaware, Maryland, New Odato says governor George Pataki plans to bidJersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia -- out the NYRA franchise as early as this year, andadopted the RMTC rules yesterday, along with wants bidders to come up with a one-time franchisefee on or before March 31, 2007, with an-Ohio, and in California the racing board approvedTC02 testing subject to a legislative nual payments after that. A Pataki spokesmanchange allowing such testing without split said the $250 million is not set, and could be lowersamples. It took California almost a year to get or higher, but any number of that magnitudeto this point, according to the board’s vice chairman,but at least they are there. They don’t have NYRA’s CFO, William Byrne, said, “NYRA as itcould present serious problems for NYRA.any penalties yet for offenses, other than loss of exists today certainly doesn’t have $250 millionpurse, but commissioner Richard Shapiro is campaigningfor minimum penalties, including ex-with $250 million.”to write a check to the governor. I can’t come upclusion for a second offense. Arkansas, which hasbeen testing for milkshakes after racing, now isdiscussing a change to test for them before racing.The noose is tightening.SPEAKER: NO INDY SLOTSThe Speaker of the Indiana House, Brian Bosma,announced yesterday that there was no hope forIndianapolis mayor Bart Peterson’s plan for acasino in that city to finance a new football stadiumfor the Indianapolis Colts, and that themeasure was dead on arrival. The House minorityleader, Democrat Pat Bauer, said he thoughtthere might be alternatives, saying, “We have tofind another horse to ride.” Hopefully, the horsemight be stabled at HTA’s Hoosier Park and IndianaDowns, both of which have expressed interestin helping fund a stadium if they were givenpull-tab slots. The proposed stadium, plannedto replace the RCA Dome, the smallest in theNFL, would seat 63,000, with a retractable roofand expansion capabilities to 70,000 fora Super Bowl, and would cost between$550 and $700 million.SUSAN SAYS SHE DIDN’T KNOWThe Racing Services federal trial began yesterdayin Fargo, ND, and Susan Bala’s defense attorneysaid Susan didn’t know about problemswith more than $99 million in bets being unreportedbecause none of her employees told her.“She didn’t see any of this unfold before her,”her attorney said.A REALLY TOP MAN AVAILABLEIf you are looking for a really experienced andskilled general manager or mutuel manager, oneof the very best in the business is available forwork immediately. He has worked at top levelsin both areas, and is an indefatigble worker. Forfurther information, contact Stan Bergstein at theHTA office.RESERVATION DEADLINE NEARYou have two weeks to make room reservationsfor the joint HTA/TRA meeting, after whichit’s open season. Contact Cindy at HTA toassure a soft bed.
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2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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