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 February 22, 2005KY BITES THE BULLET TODAYThe Kentucky Horse Racing Authority meets thisafternoon, and hopefully its members will act onthe recommendation of the state Equine DrugResearch Council and endorse the national policiesof the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium,and ask for state legislation enablingpenalties for milkshake positives with readingshigher than 37 millimoles of carbon dioxide perliter of blood plasma. If the matter passes andthe legislature concurs, Kentucky could join thegrowing number of states adopting the RMTCrules, moving the sport closer to the goal of uniformmedication rules and penalties.In another Kentucky development, the KentuckyHouse passed, 96-4, a bill that diverts taxes onstud fees paid in Kentucky from the state’s budgetto breeding funds for horses. The bill has thesupport of governor Ernie Fletcher, and is expectedto pass in the Senate as well. The amountinvolved is not insignificant: $14 million wasgenerated by the sales tax on stud fees last year.The monies will be divided 80% to thoroughbredbreeders, 13% to harness horse breeders, and 7%to other breeds.OHHA TACKLES MEMBER ISSUEThe Ontario Harness Horse Association meetstonight to discuss its recently passed rule that itsmembership be limited to Ontario residents. Thechange triggered enough negative response --including one from John Campbell and apparentlyfrom Ottawa members -- that the well informedHarness Edge predicts tonight’s meetingwill be “a contentious affair.” According to thatpublication, Ottawa horsemen signed a contractwith Rideau Carleton Raceway to stage a wintermeeting, a move not endorsed by OHHA. Theissue led to formation of the NationalCapital Region Harness Horse Association,a further fractionalization of racing.PLAIN GIRL WITH RICH DADDYThat was the characterization by TomWinebrener, president of the Cloverleaf StandardbredOwners’ Association, which ownsRosecroft Raceway, after losing its third promisingsuitor in two years. Winebrener was quotedby David Snyder in the Washington Post as saying,“We’ve had two broken engagements andwe’ve been left at the altar once. We’re startingto feel like the plain girl with the rich daddy, andthe rich daddy is slots. If Mr. Slots is home, wehave a lot of suitors. When Mr. Slots leaves, we’releft in the dust.” If all sides in the Maryland politicalmess cared as much about racing in Marylandas Cloverleaf and Rosecroft do, the state’sracing industry, once a pride and joy, would bein far better shape than it is. Being a plain girl intoday’s world -- or a political football -- is no fun.BIG M CONTEST TURNING BIGThe Meadowlands’ National Harness HandicappingChampionship, scheduled for April 2, isturning out to be a big promotion. Five tracksalready have qualified entrants, and 13 more arescheduled to hold qualifying events this monthand next. The winner will receive a $50,000 guaranteedprize, a Continental airline voucher fortwo anywhere in the United States, a guest shoton Fox Sports New York’s Racing from the Meadowlands,and his or her handicapping picks andpicture on the Meadowlands Web site every Saturdayfor the remainder of the year. Freehold,Northfield Park, Mohegan Sun, The Meadowsand WinTicket.com already have qualified finalists.Qualifying contests are scheduled forBalmoral Park, Buffalo Raceway, Cal-Expo,Capital OTB, Flamboro Downs, The HarnessEdge, Hazel Park, Maywood Park, the Meadowlandsitself, Northville Downs, Saratoga Gamingand Racing, Woodbine Entertainment,Youbet.com and Xpressbet.com.