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, EditorThursday, October 28, 2010BATTLE BEGINS IN EARNESTThe gloves are off in New York and it’sback to bare knuckles. Jeff Gural gave hisversion of the New York City OTB reorganizationyesterday, a few days after JoeFaraldo had first given his. Now Faraldois back with a long letter to the New Yorklegislature, opening what is certain to bea stormy session in Albany next month,when Gov. David Paterson is calling thelegislature back for a special session toconsider the reorganization plan workedout by his hand-picked choice to run NYCOTB, Greg Rayburn. In an interestingtwist, Jeff Gural’s view as a breederwas challenged by still another opinion,this one from his fellow breeder ThomasGrossman, owner of Blue Chip Farms, thelargest in New York state. Grossman sayshe views the proposed bailout plan “withdismay and serious concern, believing theproposal provides “countless ‘gives’ totrack owners -- including upstate VLT operatorswith virtually no financial interestin the bankruptcy -- but ‘takes’ from thebreeders, horsemen and multitude of relatedagricultural industries and professions.”Faraldo, in his latest letter, saysGural “does not speak for the horsemen,breeders or countless individuals on theracing side of the discussion.”OTHER RECENT NEWS ITEMSThe Ontario Racing Commission deniedWindsor Raceway’s appealto reduce its racing schedule forthe remainder of the year. CommissionChairman Rod Seiling, Vice ChairmanJames Donnelly and Commissioner DavidGorman ruled that Windsor’s requestfor a mid-season date change needed “amore stringent burden of proof.” Windsorcontended that the commission hadnot requested more, but the commissionsaid “the burden is upon the applicant toprepare its case.” The track sought to reduceits live dates from 111 to 86, but thecommission said that “while the racingprogram may be subject to fluctuationin attendance and mutuel handle, the responseis not to divest racing. The obligationis to provide racing.”One of Canada’s most popular all-time pacers,the Grey Gladiator, Admiral’s Express,is dead. The 14-year-old warrior, whosold as a $3,700 yearling and won $1.6million while pacing 14 winning miles in1:50 or faster, was euthanized earlier thismonth after breaking a leg in a pastureaccident.The board of directors of the Racing Medicationand Testing Consortium has recommended,at the urging of its scientificadvisory committee, new withdrawalguidelines for the bronchodilator glycopyrrolate,the muscle relaxant methocarbomaland four anabolic steroids toprovide horsemen and vets with uniformguidelines for therapeutic use “withoutcompromising the integrity of racing competitionor the welfare of our humanand equine athletes.”