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, July 6, 2010You are receiving two newsletters today, as we SIGNS OF THE TIMESwere unable to send yesterday’s because of technicaldifficulties. It is being sent today. Our apolo-In this Age of Turbulence, some interestingdevelopments.gies.MASS HOUSE, SENATE CONFERWith the Massachusetts House and Senatenow having their own bills on expandedgaming, the fate of slots at the state’sfour racetracks, including HTA memberPlainridge Racecourse, now moves to thecritical stage: conference committee. Asix-member committee is to be named today,and will meet in private closed sessionto discuss a compromise bill. The Senatebill excludes track slots and provides forthree casinos. The House bill approvestwo casinos and 750 slots at Plainridgeand other tracks. The bill faces scrutiny,and a possible veto, from Gov. Deval Patrick,who favors the Senate version.HAPPENINGS AT THE HALLHanover Shoe Farms president Jim Simpsonand veteran legendary presiding judgeWalter Russell have been nominated forHarness Hall of Fame recognition. Theirelection will require a 75% favorable voteby members of the U.S. Harness WritersAssociation next month. HTA six-timedriving champion Dave Palone, inductedinto the Hall Sunday night, is locked ina see-saw battle with Cat Manzi for secondplace in all-time wins. Manzi edgedahead last night, with one at Yonkers. Henow has 13,796 wins, Palone 13,795.Herve Filion leads with 15,179.Harrah’s Atlantic City resort had to closedown its bars and nightclubs Sundaynight, and cancel another concert scheduledfor yesterday, after an unruly mobwithout tickets tried to crash an appearanceof hip-hop star Sean (Daddy) Combsand boxer Floyd Mayweather. Policeevicted 1,800 in Harrah’s The Pool, madeone arrest, and restored order.Hollywood Park cancelled racing for thethird time this meeting, without enoughhorses to race a Thursday card.Japan’s public broadcasting network hascancelled live coverage of six championshipsumo wrestling tournaments -- thefirst time that has happened in 57 years-- in the face of a growing scandal in thesport that has been front page news andfeatured on television and radio storiesfor weeks.Keeneland has cut its purses for its fallmeeting by a million dollars, including a15% reduction in stakes purses.WOODBINE BANS TWOWoodbine has banned veteran harnessdriver Kevin Wallis after he was suspendedin Michigan, and thoroughbred ownerBruno Schickedanz after his former CanadianHorse of the Year, Wake at Noon,now 13, was euthanized while training,in violation of Woodbine rules.