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, EditorNYRA ZAPS 59 MUTUEL CLERKSAfter 89 mutuel clerks called in sick at BelmontPark on Preakness day, an angry NYRA fired 59of them for participating in an illegal job action.Under terms of the relevant collective bargainingagreement between NYRA and the mutuel clerks,15 days notice is required for any strike or jobaction. None was given Saturday, and Bill Nader,senior vice president of NYRA, said as late asFriday night Belmont was told no job action wouldbe taken. The absence of 89 of the 180 clerksscheduled to work the Preakness card left the9,221 on hand at Belmont irate over long linesand short tempers, and NYRA announced todayit would offer free grandstand admission and reducedclubhouse admission as a good will gesture.NYRA president and CEO Charles Haywardcalled the absenteeism “a blatant and illegalaction to embarrass NYRA on an importantrace day,” and said it was both disappointing anddisruptive. The clerks’ union chairman SalZammitto said the union did not sanction any typeof walkout or strike Saturday, and that all of theclerks who did not show up either called in sickor went to work the Preakness in Baltimore. Theclerks have been working without a contract sincethe end of 2003, operating under provisions of aprior agreement. Although Zammitto claimedNYRA backed out of an agreement reached threeweeks ago that he said had been signed by bothparties, Nader denied that. He also said therewere “hundreds” of people in training to be mutuelclerks and 800 would be working for the Belmonton June 11.MAGEE 5TH TO REACH 10,000Dave Magee, HTA’s Driver of the Year in 1994and a winner of more than 200 races for 27 consecutiveseasons on the Chicago circuit, joinedHerve Filion, Cat Manzi, Walter CaseJr. and Dave Palone in the exclusive10,000-win club at Balmoral Saturdaynight.May 23, 2005STRANGLES AT INDY DOWNSHTA member Indiana Downs, currently in themiddle of its spring thoroughbred meeting, hasquarantined its receiving barn for the remainderof the session that runs through June 18 after anoutbreak of the highly contagious respiratory diseasestrangles. General manager Jon Schustersaid, “Our concern is for our equine athletes. Thehorses and their safety have been considered inevery decision that has been made and will continueto be our primary concern.” The track andthe Indiana HBPA have made alternate arrangementsfor receiving horses.OHIO VOTERS NOW LIKE SLOTSOhioans voted down slots in 1990 and 1996, but aCleveland Plain Dealer poll now shows that 55%of voters polled say they favor Cleveland mayorJane Campbell’s effort to change the Ohio constitutionto let the state’s major cities decide if theywant casino gambling. The telephone poll covered1,500 voters, and revealed that one third of therespondents had gone to another state to gamblein the last year.MARINO, JEWELS & POMPANOCity and Shore, an up-upscale magazine whose sloganis “Savoring the Good Life in South Florida,”and is about as posh as publications get, featuresDan Marino enjoying the good life on thecover, pictures of Donald Trump’s new$41,350,000 home in Palm Beach inside, and,opposite the inside back cover, a full page featureand great picture of Pompano Park. Thearticle, by Stuart McIver, tells of Pompano’s historyfrom 1926 to the time Francis and Fred VanLennep bought it and rebuilt it in 1964, and showsthe track as it looks today. The article concludes,“The vote in favor of slot machines in Browardcounty will bring big changes again to thetrack...and, more than likely, a big crowdagain.”