2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorFLORIDA: SIX MONTHS, MAYBEThe Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering hassix months to produce rules for slots in Browardcounty, now that the legislature has finally signedoff on the bill and Gov. Jeb Bush says he will signit, reluctantly. But at least one authority on thesubject is skeptical. Florida senator Steve Geller,founder and president of the National Council ofLegislators from Gaming States, says he expectsBush to make the rule-making process as difficultas possible for the pari-mutuel operations.“The governor’s already said he’d try to throwup all the regulatory roadblocks he can,” Gellertold the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. A spokesmanfor Bush told the paper that Bush wouldnot be involved in preparation of the rules. Bushhimself said, “I’d rather be creating jobs in wayspeople’s lives are improved, but the voters didvote for this.” Those voters apparently thinkgambling is one of the pleasures of life and doesimprove it in a country where grimness has becomecommonplace. Dan Adkins of HollywoodGreyhound, who has been speaking for theBroward tracks through all this mess, is an optimist.“I’m not concerned,” he says. “I thinkthere will be a good-faith effort.” We hopeyou’re right, Doug.The entire Florida racing bill is online on thehome page of our HTA Web site, for those whomay wish to download and peruse it.IN MAINE, VINDICATIONIt is rare when a newspaper gives gambling thebenefit of the doubt, but the Bangor News didover the weekend when it acknowledged thatthe promises of slots as a possible salvationfor Maine’s harness racing industry and othersocial, cultural and educational needs are beingfulfilled. The paper said that official figuresshow that in the first five weeks ofoperation, the slots in Bangor have generated$775,000 for the 10 beneficiariesspelled out in the slots law.December 12, 2005Under the Maine formula, Hollywood Slots -- thename Penn National Gaming gave its operation --pays 1% of total slots wagering to the state. Eightninepercent is returned to players. Of the remaining10%, 39% goes to the state for distributionamong the 10 beneficiaries, 10% goes to supplementpurses, and 3% goes to the Maine SireStakes. The executive director of the Maine HarnessRacing Commission, Henry Jackson, says heexpects purses will rise from $1.3 million in 2004to $2.1 million next year.FAIL SAFES ARE JUST THATOr at least that’s what they are supposed to be.The New York Times has a big story today onYonkers Raceway continuing to receive paymentsfrom New York City OTB even though there isno live racing at Yonkers. OTB chairman DavidCornstein called it a disgrace. Bob Galterio, Yonkers’general manager, saw it a bit differently.“I’m not arguing that it’s right or wrong,” he said.“I’m just arguing that they have a responsibilityto pay.” The original legislation that created thesituation was a fail safe arrangement under whichOTB was given the right to broadcast fewer racesfrom Yonkers and Monticello but in return forbringing in simulcast signals from thoroughbredtracks around the country, but continue to paythe tracks the same amount as previously. In arare display of courage on the part of a legislatureon a gambling matter, state senator NicholasA. Spano defended his actions against critics.Spano noted that Yonkers Raceway was one ofthe city’s largest employers, and said, “I will continueto work as hard as I can to make sure thetrack remains economically viable. I am proudof the fact that they think I am the protector ofYonkers Raceway, because in fact I am.” Manof the Year material.If you haven’t already sent your room reservationsfor the Bellagio, or your HTA Directoryinformation, please do so.
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorDAYS OF DECISION AT VERNONThe first of two days of hearings got underwaytoday on the fate of Vernon Downs, with the secondscheduled for Friday. The bankruptcy judgewho has been handling the contentious issue willlisten to more testimony today, then again on Friday,and presumably will announce then who getsthe track, the Jeff Gural group or one fronted byEric Spector of California, who ran Vernon for ashort time earlier in the proceedings. The judgemust determine, under federal bankruptcy law,that the successful applicant meets 13 criteria,including having creditors support the plan, goodfaith intent, and assurances that the plan won’tlead to another bankruptcy. Gural, who receivedheavy creditor support, wants to link Vernon andhis fledgling Tioga Downs meeting as a centralNew York racing circuit.PR THAT GARNERS SPACELuc Ouellette is one of harness racing’s greatestdrivers, but he is far more than that. He consistentlyhas championed charitable causes, workingwith various groups and on his own. Thisweek his latest initiative gained exceptionallypositive space for harness racing in the toughto-crackToronto Star. Ouellette rounded upWoodbine’s leading drivers, including ChrisChristoforou, Rick Zeron and Paul MacDonnell,then added Jody Jamieson, Phil Hudon and redhot Mark MacDonald to the mix, getting themto donate their driving fees for one night to theJim Proudfoot corner of the newspaper’s SantaClaus Fund, which for 100 years has been providinggift boxes to kids at Christmas. Some45,000 will be handed out this year. Proudfootwas a widely read sports columnist for the Star,and today’s story on contributions to his fundincluded not only the Woodbine drivers but alist of other contributors from the worldof Woodbine Racing. Good stuff, thebest possible kind of PR.December 13, 2005ELECTRONIC PROP BETSRacing hasn’t adopted much in the way of propositionbetting, but Las Vegas is moving forwardwith technology geared to that end. The WallStreet Journal reported last Friday on a systemcalled Rapid Bet Live, which allows gamblersto bet on individual plays throughout a game.As the Journal’s Peter Sanders put it, “Gamblerswatching an Indianapolis Colts game inVegas may have a hunch that, on the next play,Peyton Manning will throw a long bomb to receiverMarvin Harrison for a touchdown. Butright now there is nothing they can do about it -- casino sports books don’t accept bets on individualplays.” The Palms Hotel and Casino saysit is in final negotiations to test Rapid Bet Live’stouch screen kiosks which will enable them tobet on scoring, punts, whatever. A companycalled Progressive Gaming International hasdeveloped the system, one more move linkingVegas with technology.GOODRICH LEAVES ARLINGTONCliff Goodrich has announced he is leaving hispresidency of Arlington Park to take it easy andspend a little happy time with his family.Goodrich, 62, told Daily Racing Form, “Sometimes,it got to the point where I really felt I haddone as much as I could do. We had a brand newgranddaughter, and I asked, ‘Do I really need towork this hard?’ He answered no, and ends anactive racing management career that included19 years at Santa Anita Park as president andCOO and 3 years at Arlington.D-DAY IN MARYLAND TODAYThe Maryland Racing Commission meets today,a week after its deadline demand on an agreementbetween management and horsemen passed withoutresolution. Commissioner John Franzone saidthe commission could “beat up an industry thatalready is in dire straits,” but he preferredreasoning.
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2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

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