HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorTuesday, June 15, 2010NOW WHAT FOR LONG ISLAND?The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs thismorning notified the Shinnecock IndianNation that it has been granted federalrecognition, opening the way for a chanceto offer casino gambling in the rarefiedair of outer Long Island. A federal courtlast fall had ordered the Bureau to issue afinal determination on the matter by June21, and it complied this morning, providing30 days for public comment andobjections to be filed, the latter seemingcertain. Once finalized, the Shinnecockscan legally pursue a casino, and the tribealready has picked one possible site, a95-acre property formerly used for testflights by Grumman aircraft. The tribealso owns 800 acres in fancy Southampton,home of some of New York’s fanciestand most expensive resort homes, and ithas not ruled out the possibility of buildingthere.RI VOTERS GET A CHOICEThe Rhode Island legislature, closing itscurrent session, has provided a choice onexpanded gambling for state residents.Both House and Senate passed bills to allowa referendum on converting the TwinRiver facility in Lincoln and the NewportGrand in Newport into full fledgedcasinos. Both currently offer video slotsand blackjack machines, but would beable to offer table games if the public voteapproves. Twin River once offeredgreyhound racing, but the sportwas banned in RI last year.WHAT’S THIS? OPENING EARLYBuilding projects these days normallyopen late, or rarely on time. It came as ajolt, therefore, to learn that Penn NationalGaming says it will open its new $89 millionHollywood Casino Perryville in CecilCounty in western Maryland on Sept. 30,a month ahead of schedule. The 75,000square-foot facility will house 1,500 videoslots, and will be the first to open in Maryland.Penn National also is scheduled toopen Hollywood Casinos in Kansas Cityand Ohio in 2012.FULL CASINOS BACK AT SPA?If S-8119 picks up traction and getspassed, bringing table games to four upstateNew York locations, it could mark areturn of the good old days for SaratogaSprings. Jeff Gural has been pushing thelegislation, which would put table gamesat his Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs aswell as Saratoga Harness and Monticello,and could restore Saratoga Springs to itsonce-dominant role as a summer gamblingresort and boost the fortunes of theharness tracks, and the state, as well.NO TICKEE, NO LAUNDRY IN ILWinners of major harness racing stakesraces at the Illinois State Fair in Springfieldhave waited a year for their pursechecks. Under those circumstances, theyhave been reluctant to enter this year, andoperators also have been scarce. The possibilityof no racing in Springfield,long a sport stronghold, is likely.