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, EditorMonday, Sept. 13,2010WHAT’S POINT OF 3D SESSION?A crowd estimated at 500 turned out atthe Meadowlands last Friday, intent ondelivering harness racing’s appeal toDemocratic legislators sponsoring thesecond “Racing Summit.” They wereheard, in varying degrees, but also weretold by state senator James Whelan, formermayor of Atlantic City who nowcarries water for the district in the statesenate, that their hopes for slots at theMeadowlands were futile. He said Gov.Chris Christie was unalterably opposed.Legislators representing northern NewJersey were not so sure. Jon Hanson andBob Mulcahy, two former bosses at theMeadowlands, were not present for thesession, but Whelan said Hanson wouldbe at a scheduled third summit scheduledfor next month at Monmouth Park. Ifa governor is not willing to even discusscompromise to save an industry that hascarried the load of the New Jersey Sportsand Exposition Authority for decades, itis a sad commentary on government. RayBateman, another former high executiveof the Authority, meanwhile issued a rational,well-thought out plan in an onlinenews service in central New Jersey. It willbe published in this week’s Track Topics,and offers a sharply different view thanthat expressed by senator Whelan lastFriday. Bateman calls the Christie-Hansonapproach “flat out wrong pub- l i cpolicy,” flying in the face of reasonand history in the state.BATAVIA’S HIGH SCHOOL KIDSHTA member Batavia Downs held aunique race Saturday night, hosting itsfirst scholarship race for five high schoolseniors from Genesee county. With thecooperation of its horsemen, New Yorkbreeders, and Buffalo Raceway, all ofwhich helped arrange and promote therace, Batavia had the five first completeat least five training sessions with trainers,then paired them with their tutors,using double-seated jog carts, in a race for$7,500 in college scholarships. The racedrew new and young faces, according toVP Mike Kane, and was won by KaleyFalkowski of Batavia high school, drivingwith trainer Jim Mulcahy. Her mentorsaid Kaley was afraid of horses when shefirst reported for training, but overcameher fear quickly and learned fast workingaround the barn. She received a $3,000scholarship, with her rivals receivingawards of $2,000, $1,200, $800 and $500.LIFE WITH DAVID BROOKSLawyers for David Brooks, the formerbody armor manufacturer and leadingharness horse owner whose stable won$12 million last year, have asked federalauthorities to lighten up life for their client.They claim Brooks is being held in“inhumane conditions, including solitaryconfinement,” in the federal MetropolitanDetention Center in Brooklyn. Prisonauthorities call Brooks a security risk,saying he has a history of possessingcontraband.