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 February 17, 2005MD SENATE OK, HOUSE NOT BALA WANTS VERDICT TOSSEDRosecroft Raceway’s agonizing fight to get slot Susan Bala, found guilty on 12 counts of illegalmachines took two new turns yesterday, one good gambling and money laundering charges in federalcourt, now says the government did not proveand one bad. The Maryland Senate rejected attemptsto strip Prince George’s county, where its case and wants the judge to throw out herRosecroft is located, out of the slots bill it is expectedto pass. But the Prince George’s delegaingBala should be acquitted on all counts, butconviction. Bala’s attorney filed an appeal, saytionin the House, where speaker Michael Busch the U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case said,has been able to kill the bill in the last two sessions,are determined to make sure any slots bill Bala’s appeal said, “The only question that re-“These motions come as a matter of course.”excludes the county. Senate budget and taxationcommittee chairman Ulysses Currie, who criminal offense because of the manner of bookmainsis whether Bala should be convicted of astrongly supports slots, told the Prince George’s keeping relating to her Racing Service’s parimutuelactivities.” The jury ordered Racing Ser-county Gazette that “the leadership of PrinceGeorge’s county has said quite clearly that they vices to forfeit $99 million to the government, including$19.7 million from Bala individually.do not want slots in Prince George’s county,” andsuggested that perhaps “we don’t do Prince Each of the 9 money laundering charges carriesGeorge’s this year and revisit the issue in future a maximum charge of 20 years in prison, and theyears.” The Senate bill, expected to pass today other three counts have a maximum penalty ofor tomorrow, would allow 15,500 slots at four 12 years. No date has been set for sentencing.tracks, including Rosecroft, and three offtracklocations. The bill as proposed would providemore than $800 million a year for public schools,including $150 million for school construction.The president of the Senate, Mike Miller, said,“I’m fairly certain we’re going to get somethingthis year. If you care about kids and you careabout them going to school in quality facilities,you’re going to vote for this bill.”SCOTT GETS LICENSE, FOR NOWA state Supreme Court judge in New York hasreinstated the racing license of Vernon Downs’majority owner, Shawn Scott, and has orderedthe New York State Racing and Wagering Boardto show cause at a March 11 hearing why Scottis unfit to hold such a license. Scott was issued atemporary license after he bought 52% controlof Vernon in 2002, but it was revoked in December,2003, when the board said he had liedon his application. Vernon Downs managementrecently opted to be bought byharness breeder Jeff Gural rather than Scott.CAL CONSIDERS TOUGH STEPSWith three thoroughbred trainers already facingdetention barns for their horses as a result ofhigh milkshake readings, California’s racingboard is considering tougher steps in regulation.The board’s medication committee, during amore than three-hour meeting, considered theillicit use of shock wave therapy; increased inspectionof vehicles in the stable area; expandingthe retention of frozen blood and/or urinesamples for future testing as more sophisticatedand sensitive tests are established; and clearerpenalty guidelines, one of the prime goals of theRacing Medication and Testing Consortium.KY TRACKS BOOST INSURANCETurfway Park and Keeneland have purchasedpolicies from AIG covering jockeys for up to $1million in medical bills for accidents. ChurchillDowns is expected to follow, up from $100,000limits at a 40% increase in premiums.
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, Editor February 18, 2005JOHANSSON GROOM OF YEAR charges. As a result of the success of her horsesEmma Johansson, the first groom ever to care and the accompanying publicity, Emma has beenfor two HTA champions in the same season, has placed in the public spotlight. Not only has shebeen named Caretaker of the Year, the annual acquitted herself well in that role, but her cheerfuldemeanor and visible emotions and conducthonor awarded jointly by Harness Tracks ofAmerica and Hanover Shoe Farms. Ms. have resulted in highly visible favorable publicityfor both harness racing in general and theJohansson, a native of Columbia but raised inSweden, not only groomed the first Triple Crown role of the caretaker in particular.” Ms.of Trotting winner in 32 years, Windsong’s Johansson will receive an oil painting of herselfLegacy, but also cared for Housethatruthbuilt, and her two champions by renowned Pennsylvaniaartist James Ponter, and the blue and goldHTA’s champion 3-year-old trotting filly of 2004,both racing in the remarkable trotting stable of jacket awarded to all nominees by Hanover Shoetrainer Trond Smedshammer.Farms.The Caretaker of the Year award is symbolic ofthe key role played by all grooms, the unsungheroes of the sport, in the success of their charges.It was first suggested in 1982 by the late DelvinMiller, winner of HTA’s Messenger Award thatyear, in his acceptance “State of the Sport” speechdelivered by all Messenger winners, when henoted that harness racing did nothing to honorthese stars of the backstretch. HTA respondedthat year by naming Odell Short, caretaker ofFan Hanover, which the previous year had becomethe first and only female pacer to win theLittle Brown Jug. In nominating Ms. Johansson,Ted Gewertz, co-owner of both Windsong’sLegacy and Housethatruthbuilt, wrote, “While Iam certain that each of the nominees has displayedthe same hard work, dedication, care, attentionand affection for the horse or horses inhis or her care that Emma has exhibited, Emma’scredentials and achievements in 2004 go far beyondthose admirable qualities. Neither of hertwo champions was in the forefront for divisionalhonors at the beginning of the racing season. Thefact that both horses were able to remain soundand healthy for the entire season and achieve theirremarkable results was due in substantialpart to Emma’s efforts…..But her credentialsdo not end with the success of herBACHRAD WINS DAN PATCHMarv Bachrad, who for the better part of fourdecades has been synonymous with the best inharness racing publicity, first at BrandywineRaceway and Garden State Park and for the lastnine years at Dover Downs, has won HarnessTracks of America’s Dan Patch Award for exceptionalmedia, publicity and public relations contributionsto the sport. A former sportswriterand sportscaster known throughout the Philadelphiaand Delaware Valley area, Bachrad currentlyhosts a daily harness racing news programtelecast to up to 500 off-track and simulcastingfacilities in the United States and Canada. Amember of the Communicators’ Corner of theHall of Fame in Goshen and the PennsylvaniaSports Hall of Fame, he also is a past winner ofthe harness writer’s coveted Proximity Award,the Publicists’ Golden Pen Award, the UnitedStates Trotting Association’s John Hervey awardfor writing, and the Harness Horse YouthFoundation’s Service to Youth Award. He is apast president of both the U.S. Harness Writersand North American Harness Publicists’ Associations.Bachrad will receive his Dan Patchaward at HTA’s annual Nova Awards Dinner atHyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells,California, Friday night, March 11.
Page 1 and 2: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 16: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 33: HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
Page 85 and 86:
HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive
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.

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?