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, EditorORC SAYS NO TO CANYON WINDMarty Granoff and Howard Schoor got the badnews this morning: the Ontario Racing Commissiondenied their appeal to allow Canyon Wind torace in the $560,000 Breeders Crown for olderpacers. Granoff’s Val d’Or Farms and Schoor’sSchoor Racing Stable own Canyon Wind, who couldhave wound up favored in the Crown. The conditionsof the Crown are clear, specifying that entryand supplementary checks had to accompany theentry and, in this case, were due by noon Monday.Trainer Steve Elliott showed up a few minutes latewith the check, and the entry was refused. Granoffand Schoor appealed, and in turning down theirappeal the Ontario commission chairwoman, attorneyLynda Tanaka, noted that prudent horsemenhad the responsibility to keep themselvesinformed of conditions and regulations governingevents.ADD ANOTHER CASINO TO MIXEarlier in the week we mused about the new partnersin racing, casino interests now involved fromgiants like the New York Racing Association’sracino operation to the latest, little Tioga Downsnear Binghampton, NY. Nevada Gold and Casinos,Inc., headed by president W. Thomas Winn,has announced his company wants to buy a 50%interest in Tioga Downs, owned jointly by JeffGural and Trackpower, Inc. Beyond that, Winnsays he wants to partner with the two in their pursuitof Vernon Downs, where proposed financialplans went under court scrutiny today. Winn saidNevada Gold and Casinos would invest in Vernon-- he did not say how much -- if Gural’s bankruptcyplan is accepted by the court. If not, he said NevadaGold will proceed with Tioga Downs alone.“Two would be better,” Winn said. “It would begood synergy and give us economy of scale.” EricSpector of California also is in the chasefor Vernon, along with Shawn Scott andfriends.August 26, 2005KATY’S GONE, POMPANO BACKWith Hurricane Katrina come and gone, PompanoPark resumes simulcasting this afternoon at 4:30p.m. The track, which cancelled simulcasting yesterday,suffered only minor structural damage, butlots of debris, from Katrina’s visit. Calder RaceCourse, also escaping with minor property damagebut much debris, cancelled today’s card buthopes to resume racing tomorrow afternoon.A PR PAYOFF AT AMERICATABAmericaTab, the Ohio-owned, Oregon-hubbedbetting service, which informed a bettor hisbet was accepted but then refunded it after aglitch in which the company’s bet processingsystem did not connect with Del Mar’s tote,has decided to pay the bettor the $540 his winningpick four paid. AmericaTab refunded allbets on the fifth race at Del Mar Monday afterthe malfunction, but Tom Ranftie, a Syracuse,NY, bettor using AmericaTab, declinedthe refund and demanded payment.AmericaTab said it had no obligation to pay,but did so, according to Ranftie, “as strictly acustomer-service courtesy.” And, we suspect,to avert a PR disaster.TO ALL PUBLICITY DIRECTORSIMPORTANT NOTICE: HTA is updating andrevising its computerized database, including themailing lists for individual HTA track mediasources. If you have a current list of media youwould like to receive Track Topics, HTA news releases,and other materials distributed to mediaby this office, please send them ASAP to JessicaCarner at the HTA office. Also, to aid Jessica inher compilation of Promotions at HTA Tracks,please ask your program department to add herto their mailing list. And if you have a promotionyou would like mentioned or think noteworthy,let Jess know at jess@ harnesstracks.com,and send graphics.