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, August 3, 2010MASS. GOV WANTS IT HIS WAYOne might think Deval Patrick, governorof Massachusetts, would change hismind after his legislature recorded a 73%favorable vote on slots at tracks, but nosuch luck. Patrick has challenged hisHouse and Senate, in adjournment aftertheir last minute vote for the measure Saturdaynight, by refiling an amended billeliminating the racinos entirely. He earlierhad agreed to one in a compromise, buttook that off the table and told the legislatureit was his way or the highway. Thereis a gubernatorial election coming up inthe Bay State, and Patrick’s opponentswere quick to respond. The state treasurer,Timothy Cahill, one of the candidates,said if Patrick stands firm “he owns thisrecession; this is his recession,” saying thegovernor’s intransigence on the slots issuewill cost the state 15,000 jobs on topof those already lost. Robert DeLeo, theHouse Speaker who pushed the racino toits successful vote Saturday in that body,disputed Patrick’s charge of a no-bid stepthat would enrich “powerful people,” ie.track owners. DeLeo pointed out that hissolution -- and the legislators -- of threecasinos and two racinos would enable allfour of the state’s tracks to have slots thrupartnerships. Suffolk Downs runnersand Wonderland dog track already haveagreed on a joint venture, and DeLeosaid that left a license for HTA mem- berPlainridge Racecourse and RaynhamPark to share.TRIBUTE TO A GREAT LADYThe Saratogian in Saratoga Springs, NY,paid a long and glowing tribute today toVirginia O’Brien, the community sportswomanwho spent 40 years at SaratogaRaceway and was responsible for the creationof the city’s harness racing museum.Virginia died early Sunday morning at theage of 91, the first and still the only womaninducted into harness racing’s Hall ofFame Communicators’ Corner in Goshen,NY. Saratoga Gaming and Raceway vicepresident Skip Carlson, a close friend ofVirginia’s for 33 years, said, “She is absolutelyone of the sweetest people I evermet in my life. If you were a friend, youwere a friend for life -- just a lovely, lovelylady. She loved everybody associated withthe game -- grooms, driver, trainers, owners.”A great baseball fan and New YorkYankees enthusiast, Virginia watched herheroes beat Tampa Bay Saturday night,and her daughter said, “It was almost likethe fact that after they won the game, shesaid, ‘I can go now.’” The daughter, MaryJo Kowalewski, a former member of theU.S. national speed skating team, said ofher mother, “She loved sports. She hada ball wherever she was. She was quite awoman. What a trend setter. She was alwaysworking three jobs.” Mrs. O’Brienwon Saratoga Raceway’s Horsewoman ofthe Year award in 1989 and the track’sPresident’s Award for outstanding serviceto harness racing in 2000. Carlson said,“She just had a joy of life.”