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, EditorHTA JOINS NTRA RELIEF FUNDHarness Tracks of America will join the Racingto the Rescue Fund being established by the NationalThoroughbred Racing Association as an industry-wideresponse to the national disaster inLouisiana. HTA chairman Chris McErlean notifiedKeith Chamblin, who is organizing the NTRAfund, that HTA will be part of the effort. Plansare being formulated for an Oct. 8 special “Racingto the Rescue Day,” with tracks and horsemenparticipating in a fundraising drive that willinclude on-site donation centers where track patronsalso may make contributions. HTA trackmembers that wish to contribute or participatethrough the HTA effort should contact the HTAoffice, 520-529-2525 and ask for general counselPaul Estok or Stan Bergstein. The problems ofracing pale into insignificance in comparison withthe devastation, misery and chaotic anarchy rampantin New Orleans, but the racing industryneeds to join the rest of the nation in attemptingto alleviate the suffering that better national, stateand local planning could have averted to a largedegree with any foresight.HEARING TODAY ON KY CRYINGA Kentucky circuit court judge will continue ahearing today prompted by thoroughbred horsemenand veterinarians in Kentucky who want tocontinue to play by their liberal rules rather thanjoin the rest of the country in uniform medicationreform. The hearing began yesterday andwas expected to end around 2 p.m., but attorneysrepresenting several groups were permittedto cross-examine witnesses, dragging out theproceedings. Circuit Judge Roger Crittendenof the Franklin County Court called a halt andsaid the hearing would continue at 1 p.m. today.A veiled threat arose about a boycott at TurfwayPark, with HBPA chief Marty Malinequickly pointing out that his group couldnot promote a boycott, but that he wasmerely repeating what he had heard.September 2, 2005SETTLEMENT OF SORTS IN OHIOWith River Downs’ biggest weekend of racing comingup, members of the Ohio HBPA have struckan agreement with River Downs and Beulah Parkthat will at least allow River Downs to offer itssignal to account wagering services, includingBeulah’s America Tab operation. No details wereavailable, but Beulah general manager MikeWeiss minimized the arrangement, telling theBlood-Horse that “It wasn’t anything that drastic.We just ended up sitting down and coming to anagreement.” What impact the temporary fix mighthave on Ohio racing in general was not known atpress time.AND RECOMMENDATION IN KYThe state appointed panel in Kentucky named toattempt to break the impasse on compensationinsurance for jockeys yesterday unanimouslyagreed that a three-way split would be the mostequitable approach. Under the 11-memberpanel’s recommendation, tracks, horse ownersand jockeys themselves would share the cost.Tracks would pay what they are currently contributingtoward accident insurance, estimated tobe $400,000 to $450,000 a year. Horse ownerswould be assessed $20 for every starter theyowned. First place money paid to jocks woulddecrease from 10% to 9%, with the differencegoing to the fund. All trainers would have to havea workers’ comp policy to cover exercise riders,whether the rider was a salaried employee or independentcontractor. The panel, the LouisvilleCourier-Journal reports, wants to formalize thesplits rather than dollar amounts, but estimatesthat at present premium rates the plan would costbetween $1.25 and $1.5 million. The head of theJockeys’ Guild, not surprisingly, did not like thesolution. He said that “to say that the jockeysneed to pay into the system flies in the face ofthe definition of workers’ comp. Jockeysshouldn’t be paying a penny.”