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 December 19, 2005DO THEY KNOW, OR CARE?The U.S. Harness Writers have announced somerecipients of their Dan Patch awards over theweekend, and their winners include Mr.Muscleman, trained by Noel Daley, who is undersix-month suspension for the use of illegal medication.HTA will not honor the horse or its owneror trainer with its Nova award, pursuant to our associationpolicy of not presenting awards to ownersof horses trained by trainers under suspension,or by their second trainers acting as “suspension”trainers. To do so and talk or write aboutintegrity seems an anomaly.LAYOFFS IN MASSACHUSETTS?Internecine warfare in Massachusetts, with onetrack operator endangering all others with his refusalto reason or negotiate, has brought threatsof layoffs for hundreds of track employees nextmonth. In the face of what the Boston Heraldcalls “a fierce battle over an extension of lucrativesimulcasting laws,” Wonderland Dog Trackand Suffolk Downs are preparing letters, to besent out after Christmas, informing employeesof imminent layoffs unless the simulcasting disputeis resolved. It does not appear to be an idlethreat or bluff. HTA’s Plainridge Racecourse isholding off on letters, but said it would have topink slip 130 employees if a simulcast deal cannotbe cut. The current law expires Dec. 31, andits renewal has been stymied by George Carney,owner of the Raynham/Taunton dog track, whoclaims the current simulcasting laws are unfairto his track. Carney calls his obstinance “a matterof principle” and complains that the otherthree track owners “are trying to make it looklike I am the bad guy.” He is able to forestallrenewal of the simulcasting laws because of legislativerules that require unanimous consentfor any bill to be passed in “informalsession.” The legislature does notreconvene officially until January.Plainridge, Suffolk Downs and Wonderland calledon the legislature Friday to correct the situation,calling Carney’s move “special interest legislation”that would unfairly impact their three tracks.Their letter to legislators noted that their tracks“already are facing financial difficulties from decliningrevenues as a result of billions of Massachusettsdollars that are annually flooding over theborder to Connecticut, Rhode Island and nowMaine.” The House Ways and Means Committeeendorsed an extension of the current simulcastinglegislation Dec. 14, but legislation introducedby Rep. David Flynn on Carney’s behalfthrew a monkey wrench into the proceedings.President Richard Dalton of Wonderland said,“It’s outrageous that one man could cavalierly putthousands of people out of work.”NO DECISION YET ON VERNONAfter a day of tough questioning of prospectiveowner Jeff Gural by a lawyer for a rival group, thehearing on the future of Vernon Downs was continueduntil after Christmas, resuming Wednesday,Dec. 28. Gural acknowledged to the lawyer that hedid not have $70 million to reopen Vernon and openhis Tioga Park, and get their racinos operating, buthe pointed out that he did have a commitment for a$15 million temporary loan that could get Vernonunderway, since some $45 million of Vernon debtwould not come up for a year under his plan. Hetold his questioner, “A year from now this casino isgoing to be up and running, and I would expect itwon’t be very difficult to get that money. We allthink Vernon Downs is going to be a success. Yourclient wouldn’t be here if they didn’t think so.” Guralsays he plans on racing in the spring, and that hehas broken off talks with the current horsemen’sassociation after their attorney, Joe Faraldo, fileda suit demanding $9.5 million reimbursement forlost purses. “If the horsemen want to keep mediocreracing, if they want to keep Vernon Downsthe way it is, I guess they have to hope I don’tget Vernon Downs,” Gural said.