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, October 13, 2010MORE, TOM, TELL US MORETom Luchento, president of the StandardbredBreeders & Owners Assn. of NewJersey, issued a message intended to reassurehorsemen yesterday, telling them notto worry about the Meadowlands havinga racing meeting in 2011. “No one shoulddoubt that there will be a 2011 meet at theMeadowlands -- anywhere from 100 to141 dates -- and it will feature the highestquality of racing with purses rangingfrom good to industry-leading, dependingon the success of our negotiations,”Luchento said. The last phrase, with ouritalics added, might diminish the enthusiasm,but optimists could only interpretthe release as indicating things were goingwell in Trenton, the state capital, butdetails could not be discussed becausethe negotiations were ongoing. Luchentomade no additional comment on how orwhat or where those negotiations stand,but did say, “We know horsemen needto make their plans and rest assured theMeadowlands will be racing next year.”That had to be reassuring to all. TheMeadowlands, meanwhile, was preparingfor its fall meeting, which begins on Oct.23, a week from Saturday, and will offerracing on Fridays and Saturdays thruDec. 18, with a 7 p.m. post time. New Jerseygovernor Chris Christie, meanwhile,continued his strong support of AtlanticCity casinos, calling his plan for astate takeover of city administration“a new beginning.”NEW PRESSURE ON NJ, DELA new casino in south Philadelphia andMaryland’s first casino at Perryville, onthe Philadelphia-Baltimore expressway,are putting severe pressure on casino andracino operations in Atlantic City andDelaware. Atlantic City gaming revenuedropped another 12% in September, withslot revenue down 9.9% from last year.Table game play was down 16%. In Delaware,the state’s three track racinos askedfor relief from millions in state fees for tablegame licenses, saying the new competitionwas seriously impacting their play, whileincreasing competition for supervisoryhelp was boosting labor costs. Ed Sutor,CEO of Dover Downs, said the combinedfees of $13.5 million and the reduced playwas hurting both Dover and Harrington,with both tracks losing money on theirtable games. Delaware’s governor, JackMarkell, showed little sympathy, sayingthe racinos were aware of the competitiveenvironment when they launched tablegames. Brian Selander, the governor’sspokesman, said, “The racinos were activelyinvolved in negotiating these costsas part of the launch of table games. Theyknew there was competition coming fromnearby states. The taxes support teacherand state police salaries, and the governoris not inclined to push for changes inthis agreement.” Harrington CEO PattiKey said further new competition fromMaryland “would be crushing for Harringtonand Dover.”