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, Editor January 4, 2005WHO’S ON FIRST IN CATSKILLS ALL’S CLEAR FOR MTR IN ERIEThere’s a tempest in the teepee in the Catskills, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has cleared theas conflicting signals pour forth from the mountains.The Oneidas, who have the money from racetrack in Erie, and MTR CEO Ted Arneaultway for MTR Gaming to build a thoroughbredTurning Stone, are supporting and advising the says construction will begin on the track, to beCayugas, telling them to keep the so-called Seneca-Cayugasout of New York and back in Okla-had earlier announced he would not build at theknown as Presque Isle Downs, in April. Arneaulthoma. The spokesman for the Cayugas, at least site of the old International Paper Mill, a 200-until now, Clint Halftown, made headlines today acre property he bought earlier but abandonedby announcing that the tribe was “walking away” after the mayor of Erie became involved in afrom its deal with Empire Resorts, which owns messy conflict of interest proceeding. MTR mayMonticello Raceway, and would not renew its develop that property into a retail, residential orcontract with them to build a $500 million casinothere. Charles Degliomini, speaking for Summit Township along highway I-90, a fewlight industrial project, but will build its track inEmpire, said Halftown didn’t know what he was miles south of Erie’s downtown. Arneault is planninga $100 million project, a track, a racino withtalking about, that the Cayugas already had senta letter saying they intended to renew their contract,which expired Dec. 31, for another six Supreme Court, in rejecting the appeal of Pitts-1,500 or 2,000 slots, and perhaps a hotel. Themonths. Halftown is not just some supernumerary.He was the one who arranged the deal to tence decision, ended objections that had beenburgh developer Charles Betters in a one sen-settle a nearly $258 million land claim in return expressed not only by Betters, who wanted to developa complex with slots in Pittsburgh, but alsofor the casino deal, and it appears Ray Halbritter,the Harvard grad who runs the Oneidas, has his by Magna Racing Pennsylvania, owner of Theear. Degliomini called Halftown’s actions “bizarre”and not to be taken seriously. “We haveMeadows.every confidence the Cayuga nation is going tomove forward and build a casino at Monticello,”Degliomini says, noting that a tribal council member,Gary Wheeler, not Halftown, signed the letterof intent to renew. Stay tuned for tomorrow’sexciting half-hour of “As the Catskills Turn.”SLOTS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE?The president of the New Hampshire Senate, TomEaton, says he supports legalizing video poker atthe state’s four racetracks, and that a bill is in theworks to legalize the machines. Eaton and senatorLou D’Allesandro, who is introducing the legislation,think it can raise $200 million a year forthe state. The governor-elect, John Lynch,faces a $300 million budget shortfall, butis concerned about slots changing “thequality of life.”FRINZI HITS HIGH C IN OPERAFra Noi, an Italian newspaper, conducts an annualopera quiz -- a tough one with 40 questions -- and no one has ever had a perfect score in answeringit. Until now, when the president of HarnessHorsemen International, opera buff DominicFrinzi, aced the test in winning the competitionfor the third time. The operatic score was notFrinzi’s only recent triumph, however. He alsowas presented with the Ray Cannon JusticeAward, presented by the Federal Defender Servicesof Wisconsin. The award noted Frinzi’s “lifetimededication to the cause of justice,” and mentionedthe qualities that those in harness racingknow so well: fairness, intelligence, forcefulness,a consensus seeker, and a peacemaker. HTAconcurs, and congratulates its good friend.
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 5, 2005OFFERS FOR TRACKS, SORT OF Duff noted in his story that there is no indication,despite the current dates controversy, thatIn New York, Jeff Gural, one of New York City’sbiggest real estate executives and a major player Windsor Raceway is for sale.in harness racing, says he is interested in buyingVernon Downs, but with a condition that may be In regards to the dates issue, the Ontario Racingvery hard to meet. Gural, who bought abandonedTioga Park last year and is preparing it dates from Windsor Raceway as of today. TheCommission says it has no new application forfor a harness meeting, is willing to buy Vernon, commission also advises HTA that our report inas he has tried to do in the past, but only if the this newsletter that the commission had proposedracino proceeds are doubled from 20% to 40%. a 153-date schedule was erroneous, and that atGetting that done may be difficult in a legislaturethat can’t even come up with a state budget ule for Windsor for 2005.no time did the commission propose such a sched-on time. Gural told the Syracuse Post-Standard,“You can’t possibly make a go of it at 20%. Theonly way I’m interested would be if we’re able toget the legislation changed.” Gural also said heis talking with another bidder for Vernon,Casinopartners Management Group, but EddieLynn, the COO of that company, declined to commenton a possible deal with Gural. Lynn wasgeneral manager of Fort Erie Racetrack and Slotsin Ontario for five years. Lee Woodward, bankruptcylawyer for Mid-State Raceway, whichowns Vernon Downs, confirmed talks with bothpotential buyers.In Windsor, Ontario, columnist Bob Duff of theWindsor Star quoted seven-time Canadian trainingchampion Bob McIntosh of nearby LaSalle,as saying a group of Michigan owners have contactedhim offering to buy Windsor Raceway.Windsor currently is closed for racing in a disputewith the Ontario Racing Commission andOntario Harness Horse Association over numberof racing dates. McIntosh said he understoodthat Tandem Entertainment, part of the WindsorbasedToldo Group of companies, had bought thetrack by assuming $36 million of debt last year,and said the potential Michigan investors -- ownersin his stable who wished to remainanonymous -- were not fazed by thatnumber. “They’ve got that kind ofmoney,” McIntosh said of the group.INDIANA TRACKS GET BOOSTIt remains to be seen how far it goes, but a keyRepublican lawmaker in Indiana -- Luke Messerof Shelbyville -- says he will introduce legislationthat calls for 2,500 slots at both HTA tracks inthe state, Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs.Messer says his bill will not include a casino indowntown Indianapolis, but acknowledged thatwhile it limits the expansion of gambling “it won’tbe the last version. In the end, it will likely lookmuch different,” since he is open to compromiseon a casino in Indianapolis. Messer says the legislationis intended to help keep the IndianapolisColts in that city by building a new stadium, amove proposed by the mayor of Indianapolis,Bart Peterson, who also wants the stadium paidfor by slots at the state’s two tracks and a casinoin the heart of the city.HANOVER ACTS ON OWNERSHanover Shoe Farms has announced it will sponsorsix of the USTA-staffed seminars for new owners.Run by Harness Racing Communications’Ellen Harvey, the seminars have produced some140 new owners in the sport, and 60% of themhave bought more than one horse. More than 600people in 11 states have attended the seminars.Hanover president Jim Simpson said the farmwants to help give new owners tools for successin the sport.
Page 1: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 5 and 6: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 16: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 53 and 54:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
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:
Page 166 and 167:
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
Page 186 and 187:
Page 188 and 189:
Page 190 and 191:
Page 192 and 193:
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
Page 198 and 199:
Page 200 and 201:
Page 202 and 203:
Page 204 and 205:
Page 206 and 207:
Page 208 and 209:
Page 210 and 211:
Page 212 and 213:
Page 214 and 215:
Page 216 and 217:
Page 218 and 219:
Page 220 and 221:
Page 222 and 223:
Page 224 and 225:
Page 226 and 227:
Page 228 and 229:
Page 230 and 231:
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
Page 238 and 239:
Page 240 and 241:
Page 242 and 243:
Page 244 and 245:
Page 246 and 247:
show all

2005 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?