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, August 4, 2010TRACK CUTS 157, BLAMES GOVGary Piontkowski, president and CEO ofHTA member Plainridge Racecourse, announcedthe layoff of 57 track employeesand 100 contractors’ employees workingon a slots project yesterday, blaming Massachusettsgovernor Deval Patrick, whohas effectively killed chances for a racinothat the legislature had overwhelminglyapproved.“The governor obviously doesn’t thinkthat the jobs or expansion at the racetracksis worthwhile. He took a positioncontrary to the overwhelming support ofthe Legislature and now families we’veemployed for years are wondering wheretheir next paycheck will come from. Inthis time of recession, there are not lotsof people willing to invest $200 millionand take the risk, but we are.” A spokeswomanfor the governor told the BostonHerald that Patrick’s amended bill, whicheliminates racinos entirely but faces a dubiousfate, “gives special consideration tocasino applicants who agree to hire anyworkers or employees of existing tracks.”TRACK PROBLEMS CLOSE INDYRacing at HTA member Indiana Downshas been halted temporarily as the trackseeks to remedy problems with its racingsurface, which has taken heavy hits fromalmost constant rain this spring and summer.The cancellation followed the deathof a pacer that broke down in a raceMonday night.NY ACTS, PENN NATL OBJECTSThe New York state lottery division hasapproved Genting New York as the winnerof the Aqueduct racino competitionand sent its recommendation to the toptrio that now must concur or demur. Gov.David Paterson earlier said he would approvewhatever the lottery sent him, sothe final decision now rests with Assemblyspeaker Sheldon Silver and Senate majorityconference leader John Sampson.In approving the selection of the Malaysiangaming giant Genting, lottery chiefGordon Medenica told Gov. Paterson thecompany’s proposal “was far superior inconcept, scope, detail and execution ofany we have seen in previous rounds ofevaluation.” He noted that Genting hadproposed opening a first stage, with 1,600slots, within six months of approval, andopening a second phase, with a 2,100-spaceparking garage, a new pedestrian bridgeto the Aqueduct subway station, and anadditional 2,925 machines, within anothersix months after that.Not everyone was happy. Lawyers forPenn National Gaming, which was a finalistin the last round of three left standing,fired off a letter to the lottery divisionsaying the entire selection process wasflawed. They requested that the biddingprocess be reopened to the last three bidderson a “Best Value” basis, and hintedat legal action.