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, EditorThursday, June 17, 2010POLS WHO KILLED IT NOW SADHouse legislators and other officials inMaryland, who stood by ignoring pleasfor help from Rosecroft Raceway, noware expressing sadness at the demiseof the track. Gov. Mike O’Malley, whostood by during the track’s decliningyears, now says he is “saddened and disappointed”to see the track close, and isasking his secretary of state “to find away forward that can protect the 200 jobsat Rosecroft.” Thomas Cooke, Presidentof the Cloverleaf Standardbred OwnersAssociation, said it is the first time hehas heard O’Malley mention Rosecroftsince he talked about visiting it as a kidduring a Maryland Horse Forum lastyear. State Senator C. Anthony Muse, aDemocrat from Prince George’s Countywhere Rosecroft is located, said -- referringto Maryland legislators in Annapolis-- “They talk about jobs, jobs, jobs, andwhen the Preakness and Pimlico werein trouble, the governor and others randownstairs to save them. Here we have200 jobs on the line and they have doneabsolutely nothing.” Kelley Rogers, presidentof Cloverleaf Enterprises, the horsemen’sgroup that owns the track, said, “Itjust makes me sick. The legislature sat ontheir butt and didn’t do anything to savethese jobs.” With the closure of Rosecroftand cessation of racing at Ocean Downsfor summer construction, Maryland-- a once major racing state -- hasno harness racing this year.RUNNING ACES RUNNING FASTThe first week of the third year of racingat HTA member Running Aces HarnessPark in Columbus, Minnesota, is lookingas bright as the situation in Maryland islooking bleak. With racing opportunitieslimited elsewhere, Director of RacingGregg Keidel has assembled a solid mixof horsemen and average field size is upfrom 7.1 to 8.5 for its Tuesday, Wednesday,Saturday and Sunday schedule of racing.Handle for the first week was up 150%over a year ago, and General ManagerBob Farinella and Mutuel Director BenBlum are seeking new simulcast partnersfor the track’s 7 p.m. weekday and Saturdayschedule and Sunday’s 5 p.m. centralmatinees.RI GOV HAS CASINO CONCERNThe governor of Rhode Island, Don Carcieri,has expressed “major concerns” overa proposed bill that would give state votersan opportunity to decide whether or notRhode Island’s two slot facilities should beallowed to convert into full scale casinos.The governor is meeting with his staff todayto consider the measure’s details, andhe indicated he would make a decisionnext week whether he would sign or vetothe legislation as proposed. Carcieri sayshe is concerned about constitutional issueson city home rule. Lincoln has expressed awillingness to expand its Twin River operationwith table games, but Newport leaders,including state Senate PresidentTeresa Paiva-Weed, have not.