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, EditorA LOT OF NEWS...MOSTLY BADThe nation knows by now that very strange thingsgo on politically in Florida, and it received moreevidence yesterday. The governor, Jeb Bush,says it is wrong not to make a good-faith effortto have the slots bill for Broward county implemented,since the voters of Broward voted forit, but that once it is implemented he will moveto have it repealed. Bush was joined by Senatepresident Tom Lee and House Speaker AllanBense, who told activists for the Christian Coalitionof South Florida they support asking votersin November, 2006, to repeal the citizen initiativethat was voted in by constitutional amendmentlast November and affirmed by Browardcounty voters last March. This affront to publicwill is one more sign of political arrogance inFlorida, and effectively postpones any chanceof slots at Broward’s four pari-mutuel operationsunless they choose to follow a state appeals courtdecision that ruled they could install slots anytime they choose. To go to that expense now, inthe face of Bush’s actions and his legislative support,would seem unlikely as well as unfortunate.MORE ON JOE GERRITYYesterday’s bare-bones obituary notice on JoeGerrity, chairman of the board of Saratoga Gamingand Raceway, needs amplification. Gerritydied Monday at 89, a longtime owner and breederof both trotters and pacers and runners. AHarvard graduate who was involved in horseseven in his college days as manager of theHarvard polo team, he later earned a license asa harness driver and drove occasionally atSaratoga. He owned two Little Farms, one atKinderhook, NY, and another at his home inLoudonville, where he personally cared for his21-year-old pride and joy, the pacer Sunset Warrior,which gave him his greatest racingthrill winning the $819,600 BreedersCrown as a 2-year-old at Garden StatePark in 1986.October 12, 2005Still actively involved at the time of his death,Gerrity had 6 standardbreds at Vernon Downsand 12 thoroughbreds at Belmont Park and FingerLakes, including the stakes winner Dave,which captured the $113,000 West Point handicapat Saratoga Racetrack this year. He wasmajority owner of Saratoga Gaming and Raceway,personally helping finance its opening asthe first racino in New York state when legalchallenges to the law made conventional financingdifficult, and he was that HTA track’s chairmanfor the last 18 years. A philanthropist withbusiness interests including real estate, investmentsand a car dealership, he loved horse racingwith a passion to the day he died. HTA extendsits deepest sympathy to his son Daniel,involved in management of Saratoga, to fiveother sons and daughters, and the entireGerrity family.VERNON DEALS CHALLENGEDCarl Greenberg, a minority shareholder in Mid-State Raceway, has filed objections with the AssistantU.S. Trustee handling the Vernon Downssales transactions, complaining that the majorityshareholder, Shawn Scott, is receiving preferentialtreatment under the purchase plan offered byJeff Gural, and alleging that undesirables are involvedwith the proposal. Greenberg, whose familyhas owned Vernon Downs stock for 40 years,says he also is “uncomfortable” with the secondpurchase plan under consideration, questioning therationale for the proposed $4 a share value offeredfor the minority shareholders’ holdings.MLANDS, BELMONT CANCELHeavy rains in the New York area have forcedcancellation of thoroughbred racing at both theMeadowlands and Belmont Park. The Meadowlandsran only one race Saturday night and threeon Tuesday afternoon before cancellingtoday’s card.