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 March 25, 2005MONMOUTH COULD LOSE CUP In other California news, the board ended its 50-Unless the New Jersey Racing Commission and year relationship with Truesdail Laboratories,New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s BenevolentAssociation settle their long-simmering grievingon July 1 to the Ken Maddy Equine Testingwhich has done its testing, and will switch all testancesin the next two weeks, there is a good Laboratory at the University of California atchance that Monmouth Park may lose its chance Davis, which has been doing about a third of theto host the Breeders’ Cup in 2007. Cup presidentD. G. Van Clief says the commitment to North America accredited by the Internationalstate’s testing. One of only two laboratories inMonmouth is firm at the moment, but unless Organization for Standardization, the Maddy isthere is a resolution to the dispute by April 9 the named for the late state senator Ken Maddy, whocommitment will expire. “Barring a resolution was instrumental in supporting virtually all racinglegislation in the state during his tenure.by that date,” Van Clief said, “we will officiallycommence the search for an alternate site on thatdate.” Van Clief said the Cup “could not take Finally, after almost five years, the racing boardsomething that already has inherent risks and dismissed the 2000 morphine positive of the Bobexacerbate that with a long-standing dispute that Baffert-trained Nautical Look, supporting theis not yet resolved.” The Asbury Park Press, commentingon the dispute between commission and who ruled that the facts as presented andrecommendation of an administrative law judgehorsemen, said the two sides “are mad at each Baffert’s “success as a trainer support the conclusionhe had nothing to gain and a great dealother over stuff that happened so long ago nobodyeven remembers who threw the first rock.” to lose by the use of a banned substance on thisThe paper headlined its story, “Fighting over horse.”peanuts with steak on the table.”AH YES, THE JOCKEYS’ GUILDIt is back on the hot seat in California, where theracing board voted 5-0 to require a forensic auditof the Jockeys’ Guild before it resumes issuingsome $1 million a year to the Guild’s jockeyhealth coverage from uncashed winning tickets.Commissioner Richard Shapiro, whose motionthe board adopted, said, “There have been allegationsthat many jockeys have claims that havenot been paid and bills that were sent to collectioninstead. Until we get satisfaction that themoney is being spent correctly, we will withholdthe funds.” Disabled jockey Ron Warren toldthe board he had documented 17 cases wherejocks’ benefit bills that supposedly were coveredby the Guild had been turned over to collectionagencies, and he asked the boardto redirect the funds to a new group herecently helped incorporate.OHIO SLOTS: STUDY IT MORESome sixty important people interested in bringingslots to Ohio met in Columbus yesterday, andafter three hours decided to conduct academicresearch on the economic impact of gambling,along with a statewide poll to see how voters feelabout the issue. Track lobbyist Neil Clark saidafter the meeting it marked the first time thatcompeting groups were willing to work together.A NEW BUSCH IN FLORIDANo, not Jeb. This one, a spitting legislative imageof Michael Busch of Maryland, is the chairmanof the House Business Regulation Committee,Frank Attkisson, and he wants to makeBroward county pay all $438 million that waspromised by Broward and Dade toward educationif slots were approved. They were, inBroward, and Attkisson wants to make thetracks there pay dearly.