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, September 7, 2010OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND....There were some interesting developmentson the racing scene.In Pennsylvania, racing commission chairmanRoy Wilt, voting alone, gave CentaurGaming one month to produce at leastone new bidder for its Lawrence Countyracing license at Valley View Downs. Ifa lone bidder appears, he will be vettedby the commission. If there is more thanone bidder, an auction will be overseen bythe U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware,where Centaur has filed for bankruptcyprotection from creditors. If no bidderis found, Centaur’s license “shall be automaticallyand immediately terminated,revoked and surrendered to the commission.”A disastrous fire in a private facility adjacentto Charles Town Races in West Virginiakilled 27 thoroughbred horses. Another26 were saved.Some nasty name calling in New York,where the New York Post delighted in reportingit under a headline, “Paterson:Cut the craps, DiNap.” The referencewas to what “a source close to the governor”said was Comptroller Thomas Di-Napoli’s “inept operation” in refusing tosign off on the Genting Aqueduct racinodeal. DiNapoli’s office blamed the delayon Attorney General Andrew Cuomo,who also must approve the 30-year contract.Cuomo’s office says it notified theLottery Division “about a week ago” thatthe AG would approve the contract.In Lexington, Kentucky’s tough out-ofcompetitiontesting rule was due to bevoted on today, with thoroughbred horsemencalling for a delay on grounds that,“Whenever you do something like that,you’re bound to put together somethingthat’s just not going to work.” But StateSenator Damon Thayer, a member of Kentucky’sEquine Drug Research Council,responded by saying he thought it “importantto send the message that we careabout integrity issues in racing in Kentuckyyear-round,” not just for BreedersCup and other special races. The proposalcalls for penalties of from 5 to 10years suspension and a fine of up to$50,000.In Buffalo, NY, a giant in racing journalismdied. Bob Summers, racing writerand handicapper for the Buffalo News,died of a heart attack at 66. He was oneof the few writers today well versed inboth harness and thoroughbred racing,and his death drew regret and sympathy,and praise for his longtime role asThe Happy Handicapper, which he was,from both racing sports around the country.Scarborough Downs in Maine has listedfor sale for $12.2 million 400 acres of itsproperty in the town. The track, seekingslots, hopes to move to Biddeford.