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 beyondPaul J. Estok, Editor January 7, 2005BAD READ ON PLAINRIDGE CASE Providence murder,” which involved the track beingrobbed and the perpetrator being found deadYesterday’s Boston Herald ran a story under theheadline “Ex-partner is back in the race” that purportedto report on a Massachusetts appeals court word yet on whether the Herald has responded totwo years later after an unrelated drug deal. Nodecision involving litigation between Plainridge Piontkowski’s letter.Racecourse President and CEO Gary Piontkowskiand Rhode Island developer and former NYRA ’04 LOSS WILL TOP $10Mhorsemen’s association officer Lou Giuliano. But Despite a reported $12 million worth of operatingthe story that followed was so full of inaccuracies cost reductions, losses by the New York Racingthat by the end of the day, lawyers for Piontkowski Association will top $10 million for 2004. Spendingreductions involved everything from payrollhad sent the Herald a three-page letter detailingthe errors and demanding a retraction and correction.The story stated that “a state Appeals Court employees. NYRA CFO William Byrne said somecuts to outsourcing jobs previously done by NYRAjudge has cleared the way for a possible ownership of the aggressive cost-saving measures NYRA haschange at Plainridge Racecourse by confirming that taken include hiring an all-new fiscal staff, eliminatingconsultants hired to assist departments suchan original investor cut out of the business is entitledto stock shares.” The article also contained as human resources, and trimming the payroll bythe statement that “the Appeals Court denied an 150-200 people. “Over the years, a certain amountappeal by track boss Gary Piontkowski that of waste was built up in all departments,” saidclaimed Giuliano wasn’t entitled to stock in the Byrne. “There are still opportunities to reducecompany.” As a final insult, the story ended with acosts. There’s a lot more to go.” A $3 million federalfine and the high cost of paying for a court-paragraph saying that “Plainridge has long beenmired in scandal....” As Piontkowski’s lawyersappointed monitor offset some of NYRA’s financialgains.noted in their letter to the Herald, the story’s author,David Wedge, seems not to have even readthe court’s decision. In fact, as Piontkowski’s attorneyspoint out, the decision, issued on Decem-GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWSIn the good news category comes word that Donber 30, 2004, “simply found that the minority shareholdersin Plainville Racing Company were not per-Fuller, who retired from United Tote in 2002, hasbeen named executive vice president of AmTotemitted to intervene in an underlying piece of litigationwhich was tried...last year. A decision in thatInternational. In other news, StandardbredCanada has announced that Armstrong Bros.underlying litigation has not been rendered. TheFarms of Inglewood, Ontario, is the 2004 winnerAppeals Court decision contains no statement, implicitor otherwise, that Mr. Giuliano is entitled toof the Cam Fella Award. The award, establishedin 1997 in honor of the legendary pacer Cam Fella,purchase anything.... The decision decided no substantiverights of any kind.” All of which wouldrecognizes meritorious service to the Canadianhave been perfectly clear if reporter Wedge hadharness racing industry.bothered to read the first three sentences of the decision.As for the reporter’s claim that Plainridgehas been “mired in scandal,” the list of supposed“scandals” featured an allegation of “wiretapping”that turned out to be a wiringproblem and a “money-room heist tied to aThe bad news is the report of the death of BertramSarafan, formerly chairman of the New York Racingand Wagering Board. Sarafan, who spent 40years as a public servant and who served on theNew York racing board from 1975 to 1976,died at the age of 91 on December 5.