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 January 31, 2005NEWS FROM ALL FRONTSA very busy day in the world of racing.In New York, the state Racing and WageringBoard withdrew its approval for state racetracksto engage in simulcasting with 10 outlets previouslysingled out by individual tracks, thus barringall tracks in New York state from doing businesswith them. It also was announced thatNYRA and the New York ThoroughbredHorsemen’s Association were funding the freezingof urine samples at Dr. George Maylin’s laboratoryat Cornell, keeping them on hand for useas new tests for performance enhancing substancesare developed.At Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Gaming andRaceway announced it was eliminating its giftshop as part of an expansion of higher stakes slotsfor high rollers. Up to 20 new machines withbets ranging from $5 to $25 will be installed.Shawn Scott, suing again, now is seeking to havefive directors who run Vernon Downs disqualifiedfor incompetence. Justice Cheney, one ofthe five and the track’s interim CEO, said Scottwas “grasping at straws.”In Kentucky, the Horse Racing Authority is expectedto vote this week to recommend legislationto create a Kentucky Injury CompensationFund for licensed jockeys, apprentice jockeysand exercise riders in the state. The action cameat the request of governor Ernie Fletcher, andpresumably was inspired in part by a blisteringfour-part article in the Lexington Herald-Leaderby writer Janet Patton on conditions on backstretchesin the state. We presume, although thoroughbredjournals might not report it in anyevent, that the state fund would coverharness drivers and grooms as well asjockeys and thoroughbred employees.In Paris, France, trotting fans have a new nationalhero after Jag de Bellouet won the world’srichest trotting race, the Prix d’Amerique, withroughly $650,000 to the winner, just one weekafter winning the $900,000 Prix de Cornulier, theworld’s richest race for trotters under saddle. Nohorse had been able to accomplish that doubletriumph in 30 years. The Hambletonian, scheduledto go for a purse of $1.5 million this year,will regain it status as the world’s premier trottingrace. Jag de Bellouet’s owner, incidentally,expressed no interest in racing his champion inthe U.S. this year, at least while basking in theglory of his double classic victory in France.In Iowa, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casinowas forced to return an unsolicited $10,000 checkto AmericaTab after the state attorney generalruled it is illegal for Prairie Meadows to take paymentsfrom sites that offer Internet or phone bettingto Iowa residents. Jack Ketterer, executivedirector of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission,said the thought was that it “would betaking fruit from a forbidden tree.”In Maine, Penn National Gaming is consideringthe possibility of building its $75 million racinoat a location other than Bangor Raceway, thecity’s historic downtown harness track. Thestate’s slot law allows the racino to be built withina roughly half-mile radius of the center of theracetrack. Asked if Penn National was engagedin negotiations with any particular landowner,spokesman Eric Schippers said, “That’s probablytoo strong a way to put it. We have had somediscussions.”In Pennsylvania, the director of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport thinks it should have 100 to 150slots “to improve our bottom line, big time,” butlegislators from both parties, who fought for ayear over the slots bill, said in essence, “nodice.”