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, EditorWednesday, January 20, 2010HARNESS GUY TO THE SENATERegardless of your political affiliation, it’s niceto know we have a U.S. Senator who knows andloves harness racing. Scott Brown, who upsetMartha Coakley to score a once-in-a-lifetimewin for Republicans in traditionally DemocraticMassachusetts in yesterday’s special electionthere to replace Ted Kennedy, has driven awinner in a charity race at Plainridge, and hisyoungest daughter Arianna has been part ownerof a trotter.KY GUV COUNTS ON SLOTSThe governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, hasput the challenge of passing slots at tracks directlyinto the hands of his legislature. Beshearproposed a two-year budget to that group yesterdaythat includes $780 million in revenuefrom expanded gambling, which the LouisvilleCourier-Journal says key legislators have said isunlikely to pass. If it doesn’t, Beshear told thelegislature it would have to find other ways to cutthe budget by more than $850 million in the nexttwo years. “Gaming revenue is the only practicaloption to begin funding long-term prioritieswith recurring revenue,” he said last nightto a joint session of the General Assembly. Hisproposed $18.4 billion budget includes no tax increasesor wide layoffs of state employees, butBeshear said, “If the legislature chooses not togo in that direction in terms of gaming revenuesthey have other options. There are tax increases,there are more cuts, there is hoping and prayingthat we get more federal assistance, but that’sabout it.” Another option is to seek statewideapproval of a constitutional amendment, butKentucky tracks have rejected that idea as takingtoo long, although it has bipartisan legislativesupport. They prefer statutory decree,rather than the lengthy and chancy routeof voter approval.HTA DUES SURVEY SENT OUTMembers have received the 2010 dues survey, onwhich HTA dues are based, in their in-boxes thisweek. Action officers and directors are urged torespond as soon as possible, so the track allocationscan be completed and dues assessed.Also, time is short for hotel reservations for theHyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells, California,where the annual meeting with TRA willbe held March 8-11. If you have not already madeyours, please do so by returning your forms toJen Foley at HTA -- not the hotel directly. Jen’se-mail is jen@harnesstracks.com, or phone 520-529-2525, fax 520-529-3235.AROUND THE TRACKS.....Delaware, where HTA members DOVER DOWNSAND HARRINGTON RACEWAY are located,along with thoroughbred track Delaware Park,will take its case on sports betting to the U.S. SupremeCourt. Gov. Jack Markell announced thestate will appeal a ruling last August in whichthe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuitdrastically limited sports betting at the tracks’racinos....ANTOINETTE NIGITO, a co-ownerand director of HTA member THE RED MILEand owner of Joie De Vie farm in New Jersey,will receive the Equine Science Center at RutgersUniversity’s Spirit of the Horse award Jan.31 at the SBOA dinner....Good news! HTA memberPRAIRIE MEADOWS will have a 10-dayharness meeting this year after all. It has beenscheduled for October 1-16....Dog racing hasbeen banned by the New Hampshire house, butthe greyhound tracks at SEABROOK and BEL-MONT will be able to handle simulcast wageringwithout live racing....KEITH BRACKPOOL isthe new chairman of the California Horse RacingBoard, and DAVID ISRAEL vice chairman,after chairman JOHN HARRIS announced hewill be leaving the board after nine yearsof service.