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, EditorFriday, July 23, 2010MONMOUTH IDEA AT BIG M?Without discussing specifics, New JerseySports and Exposition Authority Presidentand CEO Dennis Robinson hinted at a possibleMonmouth Park approach -- fewerdates and higher purses -- for the Meadowlandsharness meeting. Robinson issueda statement that read, “Our managementteam will work with the Advisory Commissionto create a new operating modelfor the Authority and its various lines ofbusiness. The implementation of these keystrategies is in the best long-term interestsof the sports complex, our customers, thestate and our hard working and dedicatedemployees. We have long advocated newsolutions for our core business of racing, animportant state industry....The MonmouthPark experiment this summer shows thatthere is a clear way forward with creativethinking and effective implementation ofnew strategies.” Robinson did not enlargeon that idea, but without slots a shortenedMeadowlands harness meeting with higherpurses -- Monmouth is racing only 50days with a million a day in purses -- is onepossible approach. Another idea, based onan idea floated by Canadian Sportsman editorDave Briggs, would bring slots to theMeadowlands, Monmouth Park and FreeholdRaceway as a cooperative ventureinvolving all 11 Atlantic City casinos asoperators. Gov. Christie, has cast his lotwith the casinos, and has chosen the politicalexpedient of no track slots.LONG ODDS ON INTERNET BILLThis week’s Washington hearing on Rep.Barney Frank’s Internet betting bill, HR2267, again produced much heat but nofire. The sparks flew with hot debate anda few fiery moments, but despite disagreementsources predict a markup and vote isnear. One part of the discussion involveda proposed amendment by John Campbell(the California congressman, not theharness driving champion) that would requirea stop-loss provision against excessiveloss by bettors. How that could beaccomplished with any sort of equity wasnot made clear. The whole bill appears toremain a longshot, but is nearing markupand a vote.ON AND ON AND ON IN ALBANYIf the New York real estate giant SLGreen Realty Trust follows up a letter ofprotest with legal action, you can forgetabout an early decision on the Aqueductracino. The letter, sent to New York lotteryheadquarters, calls the award process“flawed,” and said it was given thechoice of irresponsibly committing to anagreement that was unreasonable or indicatingthat it would commit to an MOUwith amendments that made it viable andoutline what those amendments were. Itsaid it chose the latter option in good faith,but the lottery said it had made clear toall applicants that non-conforming proposalswould be disqualified, and “we’renot talking about a technicality.”