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, EditorGARLAND, MITCHELL HONOREDBruce Garland, senior VP for racing industry relationsfor the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park,and Hugh Mitchell, now COO of Western FairRaceway in Ontario after seven years as seniorVP for harness racing at Woodbine Entertainment,have been honored by the Hambletonian Society.The pair shared honors as recipients of the 2005Frederick Van Lennep Memorial Award for “exceptionalsupport of the harness racing industryin general and specifically their endorsement andsupport of classic racing events owned by the Society.”Garland was honored in particular forhis staunch support of the Hambletonian at theMeadowlands during his tenure as senior VP forracing of the New Jersey Sports and ExpositionAuthority, and Mitchell for his support of theBreeders Crown championships. In anotherMeadowlands development, it was revealed thatnearly $1 million of the more than $9 millionrecord handle on last Saturday’s Hambletonianday program came from international betting. TheNordic Pool consisting of Sweden, Finland, Norwayand Denmark bet on five of the Meadowlands’15 races, including of course theHambletonian, and added $213,876 to the totalpool. Canada contributed another $711,075 onthe full program. Big M vice president for racingoperations Chris McErlean said the trackhoped that both Europe and Canada would bebetting directly into Meadowlands pools nextyear.A CLASSIC DUMB DECISIONBay Meadows Land Company may or may notmake it as a racing operation in its new role asowners of Hollywood Park, but they are off to astupid start. As one of its first moves, Bay MeadowsLand cut loose one of racing’s all-time toppublicity men, Allen Gutterman, whoserved in the same capacity previously atboth the Meadowlands and New York RacingAssociation.August 12, 2005Gutterman is not likely to remain idle long, as heknows and handles publicity and PR as well as anyonein world racing, and horse racing executives -- if not Bay Meadows Land Company -- has knownthat for years.IT’S NOT ALL WINE AND ROSESYesterday’s Executive Newsletter chronicled therecord new numbers being posted by casinos nationwide,and today Nevada joined the cast, announcingrecord June winnings of $954.2 million,up 11.7% from last year. Gambling on the LasVegas strip was up 16.4%.The casino picture was not all pleasant, however.In Connecticut, the state Division of Special Revenueruled that the Foxwoods Resort Casino’s newInternet-based PlayAway game violated state andfederal gambling laws.In Florida, former Washington bigwig and TomDeLay buddy Jack Abramoff was indicted, alongwith his business associate Adam Kidan, by afederal grand jury on five counts of wire fraudand one count of conspiracy for their purchaseof the SunCruz fleet of gambling boats fromKonstantinos (Gus) Boulis, a multimillionaireowner of the Miami Subs chain of sandwichshops. Boulis accused Kidan of connections withorganized crime, according to the WashingtonPost, and he later was killed in gangland styledriving home from a business meeting.In Tasmania, the Turf Club says it is confidentit can persuade the Premier not to grant a licenseto the online betting exchange Betfair,which is trying to reach the Australian marketthrough the Tasmanian back door. Officials fromthe Australian Racing Board and RacingVictoria, who bitterly oppose Betfair, metyesterday with Tasmanian horsemen andTurf Club members.