2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

More documents

Recommendations

Info

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorTHIS DECISION CANNOT STANDThat was the pronouncement of Pennsylvania staterepresentative Mike Veon of Beaver Falls, whohosted a meeting of legislative officials in westernPennsylvania to increase pressure on Gov. EdRendell regarding the state harness racingcommission’s decision not to grant either of twolicense applications to build a track in the region.HTA, meanwhile, has published the full 87-pagecommission report denying the two licenses on thehome page of our Web site, for the entertainmentof our readers.The commission wrote that “neither applicant’sproject will best serve the interests, convenienceand necessity of the public by developing a firstclassgaming facility with integrated harness racing.”It based its decision on the Bedford Downsapplication on financing and alleged past associationswith undesirables, and the Centaur ValleyView Downs proposal because it was concernedabout the design of the track, a traffic entranceand topography of the land, as well as “what appearsto be ongoing compliance/regulatory problemswith Valley View’s parent corporation.” It didnot, however, find evidence “of any improper orillegal activity.” Centaur said it spent $3.2 millionto buy 217 acres for its proposed five-eighths miletrack. Rep. Veon said the commission operated“with a double standard and an undeniable biastoward eastern Pennsylvania when it comes toawarding licenses.” He noted that the commissionhad licensed Chester Downs, which sits on 60acres, a little more than one-fourth the size of theCentaur property.CONGRATULATIONS, ERICUSTA executive vice president Eric M. Sharbaughwas married Sunday to his longtime love,Mary Ann McNally. HTA extends itswarmest good wishes.November 10, 2005TOUGH TALK IN BOSTONMassachusetts state representative Brian Wallacehas blasted the state’s Catholic Conference forsending letters to legislators urging them to voteagainst slots for tracks. Wallace told the BostonHerald, “For an organization which raised millionsof dollars through bingo to now say they are againstgambling is hypocritical and shortsighted.”MORE ON THE MEADOWS SALEMillenium Gaming, one of the purchasers ofHTA’s member track The Meadows, is aLakewood, Colorado-based partnership of LasVegas casino executives William Paulos andWilliam Wortman. Millenium’s partner in the$225 million purchase from Magna Entertainmentis the Los Angeles investment managementfirm Oaktree Capital Management, andThe Meadows’ five OTB parlors in the Pittsburgharea are included in the sale. Paulos,who met with horsemen at The Meadows yesterday,said plans are to build a temporary60,000-square foot slots facility, which wouldbe timed as closely as possible with the state’sgranting of a temporary license. Don’t growold waiting for that, Mr. Paulos. The commissiondoesn’t work on a very fast schedule, asValley View Downs and Bedford Downs cantestify.TWO JOBS OPEN IN DELAWAREThe Delaware Harness Racing Commission is seekingan experienced presiding judge and associatejudge. Applicants must have previous harness racingexperience of not less than 45 days during 3 ofthe past 5 years, or 5 years experience as a driverwho has served as a licensed official for more than 1year, or 10 years as a trainer who has served as anofficial for a year. The job carries competitive salaryand benefits. Applications to Hugh Gallagher, DelawareHarness Racing Commission, 2320 S.Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, to be receivedby Nov. 25.
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorAROUND THE CIRCUIT...In MICHIGAN, all three Detroit casinos reportedincreasing revenues, with a total to date in 2005 ofmore than $1.025 billion.In PENNSYLVANIA, in the wake of the harnessracing commission’s denial of track licenses toValley View Downs and Bedford Downs and thesubsequent call by legislators and others for theremoval of the members of the racing commission,Gov. Ed Rendell issued a statement saying thathe and his staff are reviewing the actions of thecommission. In responding to cries that the commissionwas showing an “eastern Pennsylvaniabias,” Rendell said that he believes “it is in thebest interest of Pennsylvania that this harness licensebe awarded to a location in western Pennsylvania.”Also in the Keystone State, public hearingson two proposals to establish thoroughbredtracks in western Pennsylvania are scheduled fornext Tuesday. Commissioners will first hear from1935 Inc., which proposes to build a one-mile dirttrack in South Versailles, Pennsylvania. The track,to be named Oak Park, is being proposed by theBiros family, who envisions a small track with agrandstand seating 1,800 customers. The secondproposal comes from businessman Charles Betters,who wants to build a racetrack in the Pittsburghneighborhood of Hays on a bluff overlookingthe Monongahela River. Should Betters’ applicationfor Pittsburgh Palisades Park be approved,the track would be run by Churchill Downs.In one other note from PENNSYLVANIA, thePennsylvania Harness Racing Commission reportsthat on Thursday, the state’s Secretary of Agriculture,Dennis Wolff, became the “newest of new”standardbred owners after agreeing to purchasethe Balanced Image broodmare Yankee Dallas for$22,000. The mare, in foal to 2004 championWindsong’s Legacy, had been consignedby Hempt Farms to the StandardbredNovember 11, 2005Horse Sale at Pennsylvania’s Farm Show Complex.Paul Spears bought the mare but later soldher to Wolff.The National Cattle Congress closed the WaterlooGreyhound Park in 1996 after experiencing financialdifficulties. It’s been trying for severalyears to get a license to reopen the Waterloo,IOWA, track. Now the group is suing the IowaRacing and Gaming Commission, alleging it shouldget a license under expanded gambling measuresin the state. The lawsuit comes a month after theCommission voted unanimously to deny the group’sapplication to reopen.Darrell Haire, a leading member of the Jockeys’Guild, called for the immediate resignation of embattledorganization president Wayne Gertmenian,whom Haire had previously supported. The Guildboard also imposed strict financial controls on theorganization’s officers and staff.FORMER DRF STAFFER DIESArt Krawitz, a former advertising executive for theDaily Racing Form, died Wednesday at his homein Santa Monica, California. The cause of deathwas cancer. Krawitz was 53.HTA DIRECTORS, ACTION OFFICERSHTA Directors and Action Officers are remindedthat update information for the 2006 HTA WorldRacing Directory currently is being collected.Forms have been sent to HTA members as well asracing commissions and other organizations; pleasemake necessary changes and get them back toHTA as soon as possible.In addition, registration materials for the 2006Harness Racing Congress are in the mail. Thedeadline for hotel reservations if December 30,2005, so make your plans now. Fax registrationsto HTA at 520-529-3235, or call 520-529-2525.
Page 1 and 2:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 3 and 4:
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA‘FRIENDS
Page 122 and 123:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAINDIAN CLA
Page 124 and 125:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAStanley F.
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICABALA SENTE
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
show all

2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?