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, EditorTHE DALEY DIARYThe doings of Noel Daley continue in New Jersey.The state racing commission yesterday granted“an extension of time concerning the start date ofhis license suspension,” from April 21 to April 27,running to Oct. 23. While New Jersey granted anextension, Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden,home of the famed Elitlopp, did not waitaround. It announced that it had withdrawn theinvitation of Mr. Muscleman, trained by Daley andpreviously invited to the Elitlopp, given “the turbulencesurrounding” Daley, who also facescharges of possessing hypodermic needles andunauthorized prescription drugs at his training baseat Magical Acres in New Jersey.In another controversial racing situation, thenot-so-sweet Sweet Catomine mess in California,a suit, that could turn into a class action,has been filed against Santa Anita, Magna Entertainment,owners Marty and Pam Wygod andtrainer Julio Canani by a bettor who says he lostmoney on the filly in the Santa Anita Derby. Theattorney who filed the action said the suit wasfiled for one Arthur Mota and “the thousandsthat bet on Sweet Catomine in the Santa AnitaDerby without knowledge of the true facts of thehorse’s condition for the race.” SweetCatomine, beaten favorite in the race, has beenretired after veterinary “evaluation” and will bebred.NEW QUIZ IN WAYNE’S WORLDU.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield of Kentucky,chairman of the House of Representatives Subcommitteeon Oversight and Investigations andhusband of Connie Whitfield, vice chair of theKentucky Horse Racing Authority, has askedWayne Gertmenian, president of the Jockeys’Guild, for information on accounting andoversight of all Guild funds and documentationon health insurance.April 20, 2005OUELLETTE THERE, OR NEARIf you live in Canada, where Standardbred Canadarecords prevail, Luc Ouellette has become thefourth driver to guide the winners of more than$100 million. If you live in the United States, whereUSTA rules govern, he still has four million to winbefore reaching that milestone. StandardbredCanada announced Ouellette went over the $100million mark in winning last night’s fourth race atWoodbine with Crown Caper, but the USTA recordsshow him with $95,933,387 as of today. Whetherthere or merely close, Luc remains one of thesport’s great drivers.BATAVIA ALMOST READYAt least for VLTs, if not live racing. The tracksays it will open its doors for the first time intwo years on May 18, with 580 VLTs ready towhir. Live harness racing will not return toBatavia until August 3, and Western OTB, whichowns Batavia, expects it will be operating on asound financial basis by then. The track willrace, starting with four nights and then reducingto three and finally to Fridays and Saturdays,from August until Nov. 19.THE FEDS READ ESQUIREGuys, and maybe gals too, at the Justice Departmentapparently read Esquire magazine.The Department is unhappy over five pages ofads for offshore online gambling in the April issueof the magazine, and the New York Post saysEsquire “publisher Kevin O’Malley may be gettingcaught in the crosshairs of a federal investigationinto illegal offshore gambling operations.”The ads were supposed to run again inthe June edition, which started printing last Saturday,but there are differing opinions as towhether they will. One source said Hearst executivesmay replace the ads with public servicespots, but a Hearst spokeswoman yesterdaysaid they will run, with $1 million at stakein the next three issues.