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, October 19, 2010“A RAY OF HOPE” IN NJThat is the view of horsemen’s presidentTom Luchento after leading New JerseyDemocratic legislators expressed viewsthat both Atlantic City and racing in thestate deserve consideration and help. Thelegislators said nothing really new, andsome of their ideas of salvation requirelocal consent by cities and towns to acceptoff-track betting facilities. But SenatePresident Steven M. Sweeney did say,“Because of the thousands of jobs thathang in the balance, failure to act wasnever an option,” an encouraging signthat he and other leaders of his party atleast have heard the case for saving racing.Jobs in this economy are a magicword, and hopefully more politiciansin Trenton will recognize that and wavetheir magic wands. Another way theymight is a hint they might help Xanadu,the giant retail project long stalled at theMeadowlands complex, get jump-startedwith grants and other incentives for theprivately owned project, according to AsburyPark Press writer Bob Jordan.INDY DOWNS, CORDISH DIFFERAccording to the Indianapolis BusinessJournal and Shelbyville News in Indianaand the Baltimore Sun in Maryland, IndianaLive!, the casino at Indiana Downs,and the Cordish Company of Baltimore,which manages the operation, are discussingan early termination of their 10-year management contract, wortha reported $7.2 million last year.The issue is unrelated to Cordish’s effortsto develop the Anne Arundel casinoin Maryland, where it and Penn NationalGaming are spending millions each,Cordish trying to gain approval fromvoters next month and Penn National opposingthe idea. Cordish has the license,and has announced plans to build severalupscale restaurants, well known in theBaltimore-Washington area, at the casinoif it is approved.SLOT TALK AGAIN IN CHICAGOA Senate bill in Illinois -- SB 3146 -- is generatingspeculation and excitement thatits chances of adoption seem possible followingnext month’s election. As it standscurrently, it would allow up to 1,200 slotsat each Illinois racetrack, helping themand helping fund the state’s $31 billioncapital construction projects. It faces oppositionfrom riverboat town legislators.10 DAY HARNESS IN IOWAPrairie Meadows Chief Executive Officerand HTA Director Gary Palmer, meetingwith editors of the Des Moines Register todiscuss a Nov. 2 ballot issue on continuinglegalized casino gaming in Polk County,as required by law every eight years,said the track’s harness meeting this yearprobably would be only 10 days in length.Palmer said plans call for 67 days of thoroughbredracing, 26 of quarter horse racingand only the brief 10 day meetingfor standardbreds.