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 28, 2005HOOSIER GETS TEN STARSHoosier Park’s $200,000 Dan Patch this Saturdaynight has attracted an exceptional 10-horse fieldto HTA’s member in Anderson, Indiana. Althoughthe morning line maker has installed He Wants ItAll as favorite, the field includes Canyon Wind,coming off three straight wins at the Meadowlandswith David Miller; Maltese Artist, with red hotRon Pierce driving; Toronto’s popular 9-year old“Gray Gladiator,” Admiral’s Express;Whosurboy; Escape the Wind; Eaton Road Kill;Casimir Commotion; Life Source and Johnny BeCool N. Top field, major attraction.SLOTS DIMMING IN FLORIDAWith time running out, the president of the FloridaSenate said yesterday he doubts the legislaturewill pass bills that would allow slot machines inBroward county this year, this despite the factthat residents of Broward have twice voted thatthey favored them. Senate president Tom Leetold the Sun-Sentinel that he thought slots legislation“is less than a 50-50 chance right now.”The danger of this situation became apparentlast November, when in the euphoria of a successfulvote on the issue supporters lost sightof the fact that it was up to the legislature toagree on rules and regulations. With the Houseand Senate furlongs apart on a tax rate, and lessthan two weeks left in the session, Lee said hecould see “nothing happening until there is a newgovernor.” He said, “It’s so much easier to killa bill in this town (Tallahassee) than to pass one.”If Lee proves right, the four Broward countytracks have little option but to go to court. GovernorJeb Bush said yesterday that an agreementwas still possible, but according to the Sun-Sentinel “he gave little indication he was willingto change his position to make it happen.”Pompano Park, meanwhile, called on its patronsand supporters to make their views known, loudand clear, to the legislature.“HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE”After the Supreme Court ruled recently that toomany years had passed for the Oneida Indiansto claim their reacquired former reservationlands were again sovereign and tax-exempt, thetown of Verona, where the Oneidas own theTurning Stone Casino, had the casino and sixother properties owned by the Oneida Nationappraised. The total appraisal came in at $384million, and the town supervisor hand deliveredit to the Oneidas yesterday. He saidthey didn’t indicate whether they wouldpay taxes, but offered him a cup of coffee.PEOPLE ON THE MOVEJohn G. Cansdale, a Saratoga Springs attorneywho has served previously as director of industrydevelopment with Empire State Development, generalcounsel to the Olympic Regional DevelopmentAuthority in Lake Placid, and a negotiatorfor other international events, succeeds Ed Martinas executive director of the New York StateRacing and Wagering Board. Martin now is presidentand CEO of the Association of Racing CommissionersInternational.......Timothy (Ted)Connors, chairman of the New Hampshire RacingCommission and the longest-serving racing commissionerin the country, having first been appointedin 1968, is the new chairman of the commissioners’organization....... Steve Molnar hasbeen named Executive Vice President-StrategicMarkets, and Bruce Benedict has been namedExecutive Vice President-International Sales, atUnited Tote.......Lisa Narotsky, the softball pitchingdemon daughter of Illinois racing secretaryEliot (Doc) Narotsky, has won five games -- two ofthem complete game shutouts -- at Hinsdale Southhigh school. Her ERA is 0.42.JOB OPEN AT ROSECROFTRosecroft Raceway is looking for an experiencedAssistant Track Superintendent. Call 877-818-9467 for information.