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 April 6, 2005SENATE BOOST FOR POMPANO RACING THRU THE COURTSThere was good news in Florida, where a key Attendance may be down at tracks, but it is upSenate leader said Pompano Park, Gulfsteam in courts across the land, keeping squadrons ofPark, Hollywood Greyhound and Dania Jai-Alai lawyers busy fighting either for or against developmentsaffecting racing.in Broward county should get just what votersthere voted for: slots, and not electronic bingomachines. Senator Dennis Jones, chairman of the In New Jersey, the New York Giants have suedRegulated Industries Committee, made it clear the state, seeking to halt construction of the $1.3he intends to push for slots, saying, “The constitutionalamendment clearly says they were vot-parking and “tailgating,” a popular pastime atbillion Xanadu project because of its impact oning for slot machines. Nowhere did it say bingo Giants Stadium where fans prepare sometimesor video machines. The governor or House just lavish pre-game snacks and meals on the stadiumdreamed that up.” Jones’ committee yesterday parking lots. The Giants also are trying to forceapproved, by a 6-2 vote, a bill that would let the New Jersey Sports and Exposition AuthorityBroward county tracks operate slots 16 hours a to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to turnday, 7 days a week, with a tax ranging from 30% 29-year-old Giants Stadium into a “state-of-theart”facility. On the tailgating issue, Giants ex-to 35%, as opposed to a House bill calling for a35% to 45% tax based on number of machines, ecutive Steve Tisch rejected the idea of the multilevelparking garage proposed as a parking so-with a maximum of 3,000 at each facility. TheSenate bill sets no limits on the number of machinesa track could have. Jones indicated nego-fan experience, and I can’t imagine tailgating onlution at Xanadu, saying, “Tailgating is a greattiation will be needed, but he said, “There are the sixth floor of an eight-floor parking structure.”Also in New Jersey, leading trainer Noelgoing to be entertainment centers and this bill isbuilt to help them be successful. If we can’t work Daley’s attorney received a second continuanceout our differences this year, we’ll work them out on charges following Daley’s arrest for possessionof prescription drugs without prescriptionsnext year.” Dan Adkins, vice president of HollywoodGreyhound who speaks for Broward’s and possession of hypodermic needles and syringesat his Magical Acres training headquar-tracks, called the Senate bill “a very good businessplan...and it will allow us to produce what ters. A new court date was set for May 4 to allowwe promised the people.” The Senate slots bill for completion of testing on vials found in Daley’spassed with no debate, few amendments and only possession.brief public testimony.In Minnesota, Canterbury Park had less luck.The Senate committee on Agriculture, Gamingand Veterans Affairs voted 10-4 against allowinga racino at the track. Canterbury presidentRandy Sampson said he was not surprised by thecommittee’s vote, and said he fully expected thegaming debate to continue in both theSenate and the House this year. The billis still alive in the House.In North Dakota, beleaguered Susan Bala, facingsentencing April 29 on charges of operatingan illegal gambling site at her Racing Servicesoperation, was ordered to return a $50,000 loanshe made from her company to buy a life insurancepolicy in 1995 and borrow against its cashvalue in November, months after Racing Servicesdeclared bankruptcy. A federal bankruptcy judgealso ordered her to turn over $14,000 in furnitureshe had bought with Racing Servicesfunds.