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, Nov. 1, 2010YOU CLOSE IT, I’LL BUY ITThat was the threat and counter-threat asvoters in Anne Arundel county in Marylandprepared to head to the ballot boxestomorrow to decide the fate of a casino atthe big Arundel Mills mall. After a yearof indecision and inaction by local governmentalofficials, the matter went toan earlier vote and the Baltimore-basedCordish Companies wound up with a licenseto build at the Mall. That was beforea nasty fight, with millions being spent onboth sides, ensued between Cordish andthe Maryland Jockey Club, which wantsa racino at its Laurel Race Course. LastFriday morning, Maryland Jockey Clubpresident Tom Chuckas, former head ofRosecroft Raceway, announced that ifCordish won tomorrow it would mean“devastation and destruction” for Marylandthoroughbred racing. The state’sharness racing has already been devastatedand destroyed. Chuckas said Bowiewould close, Pimlico would race only 40days a year, and Laurel would be convertedto an OTB, with no live racing. DavidCordish, speaking for his company, saidif that happens Maryland will seize theproperties under eminent domain andCordish will step in to buy and operatethem, along with the Anne Arundel Mallcasino. Tomorrow’s vote is expected to beclose. Penn National Gaming, allied withLaurel, already owns a Maryland casino,and present state law providesfor only one slots license.HERE’S THE LOCAL DIRTLaws are not necessarily made to be evaded,but they can be, easily, with legislativeor administrative accord. That’s thecase in southern California, where racingcommission rules are about to be alteredto enable Santa Anita to avoid the statemandate to race on a synthetic track.First an announcement was made that theStronach-owned operation would scourthe west for suitable sand and gravel torebuild a new dirt track. Now it turnsout they have found it in Corona, California,and will pay more than $3 million forit and the labor to install it. Work alreadyis underway and is expected to be done bymonth’s end, with training scheduled toresume Dec. 6 for the track’s winter meetopening Dec. 26. Global positioning willbe used to ensure uniformity.ONE ACE BACK UP, ONE DOWNOne of harness racing’s greatest driversis back on the U.S. scene. Doug Brown,a Hall of Famer north of the border, hasset up winter headquarters at PompanoPark in Florida and recorded his first victorythere after an absence of 14 years.Brown, returning after severe injury in adriving accident, is planning to move toFlorida and drive there full-time.In the harness racing hotbed of AtlanticCanada, meanwhile, one of the Maritimes’top drivers, Mike Stevenson, hasbeen suspended for five years afterfailing a drug test.