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, Editor September 26, 2005FUMBLING AROUND IN PA AND CHECKING UP IN NYRacing is working at solving its many problems Still smarting under attacks of inaction by the courtthese days, and the Pennsylvania Harness RacingCommission has a very big one, whether it ciation, the New York Racing and Wagering Boardappointed monitor of the New York Racing Asso-knows it or not. It is communications, or more announced over the weekend that it would seek aaccurately the lack of them. The commission issueda suspension order dated last Wednesday for as possible” to review the licenses of themeeting with the attorney general’s office “as soonthe nation’s leading money-winning driver, Brian unindicted coconspirators in the latest NYRA problem,that of inaccurate jockey weights. A spokes-Sears, saying he would have to undergo six monthsof rehabilitation on drug matters and that he was man for the board said it would go over any informationattorney general Eliot Spitzer might havebarred from racing or its premises in the meantime.Sears then drove last Thursday in the halfmilliondollar Little Brown Jug, and on Saturday and perhaps four others who the AG’s office re-on five jockeys already named, but not charged,at both Freehold in the afternoon and at Mohawk ported rode more than five pounds over announcedthat night in the Canadian Trotting Classic, worth weights. NYRA issued a statement that “at this$1 million in Canadian dollars. He drove, presumably,under appeal. We say “presumably” because on the allegations contained in the indictment con-time, it is NYRA’s intention to reserve judgmentwhen we called the Pennsylvania Harness Racing cerning the named jockeys until more facts andCommission this morning trying to find out what information become known through the Racing andthe story was, we were given gobbledygook and Wagering Board’s investigation. Meanwhile,the runaround, both inappropriate for a racing commissionanywhere, and particularly for a state cluding the right to deny access to the NYRA race-NYRA reserves all of its rights in this matter, in-about to become a major power when slots kick in. tracks on anyone whose actions or reputations aredeemed to be detrimental to the sport of thoroughbredracing.” NYRA already fired its clerk ofscales, Mario Sclafani, and his assistant, Hall ofFame jockey Braulio Baeza.Anton Leppler, the executive director of the commission,was “too busy with meetings” to talk withus. The commission’s director of enforcement, WaltRemmert, took our call and said the commissionwas in the process of “sorting things out” and hadno comment, that we should call back later in theday. Meanwhile, the USTA Web site carried thesuspension, and chat lines all over North Americawere buzzing with the story. This involved thesport’s leading driver, not some minor light. Asthis is written, Sears has driven the winners of$11,508,612, this year, and the racing commissionthat issued a suspension notice on him five daysearlier was still sorting things out and has no commenton the situation. We hope they get itfigured out before the Grand Circuit meetingstarts tomorrow at the Red Mile in Lexington.CANDOR IN DELAWAREThe Delaware Harness Racing Commission alsowas in the news, in a lengthy interview of chairwomanBeth Steele by the Wilmington News-Journal’s veteran racing writer Jack Ireland. Askedabout reducing the use of illegal drugs, Ms. Steele -- who has been a racing commissioner for 12 years-- said, “All we get to do is put our finger in thedike. There is no quick fix, but I think racing iscleaner and safer in Delaware right now. The horsementell us they want things cleaned up, but theydon’t want us coming on the farm to investigate.We can’t do anything to stop the drug problemuntil we can get on the farms and the trainingcenters.” She is 100% correct.