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, November 3, 2010CORDISH WINS CASINO VOTEIn a battle of giants in Maryland, the Baltimore-basedCordish Companies emergeda clear winner, as voters in Anne ArundelCounty voted 56 to 44 in favor of 4,750slots at the giant Anne Arundel shoppingmall over locating them at Laurel RaceCourse. It remains to be seen if MJC’sTom Chuckas and his associates carry outtheir threat to close down live racing atLaurel, convert it to an OTB facility, shutdown the Bowie training center and holdonly a 40-day “Preakness meeting” atPimlico. Chuckas said merely, “The citizenshave spoken,” adding that “immediatejobs and revenue took precedence.”The Washington Post, commenting on thevote, said, “Maryland’s horse-racing industry,after decades of pushing legislatorsto allow slot machines, warned theresult could decimate it.”Cordish presumably will move aheadquickly on building its $1 billion slots andentertainment complex at Arundel Mills.Gov. Martin O’Malley defeated RobertEhrlich’s bid to return to power, as hewon reelection 56% to 44%.In Maine, Biddeford voters approved easily,by a 59% majority, a bid to welcomeScarborough Downs to move its harnesstrack and presumably slot machines totheir town. The measure carried 4,636in favor to 3,244 against, A changein state law still is needed for thetrack to become Biddeford Downs.IN IOWA YES, IN OREGON NOHTA member Prairie Meadows Racetrackand Casino in Altoona, Iowa, couldbreathe far more easily today after votersin Polk and 16 other Iowa counties votedto extend casino gambling for eight moreyears. The vote was needed under Iowa’sstate law requiring periodic reaffirmation.Oregon, however, did not approve a proposalthat would have established the onlyprivately-held casino in the state. Oppositionfrom Indian tribes and the Oregonstate lottery carried the day.In Pennsylvania, slot revenue showed anotherhealthy jump. The Sands Casino inthe former Bethlehem steel plant showeda year-to-year increase of 11% in slotsplay, handling $21.7 million in October.The number of slot machines in the staterose to nearly 27,000 in the last year.AUSSIE STAR BRINGS $60 MILIreland’s powerful Coolmore Stud reportedlyis paying Malaysian multimillionaireDato Tan Chin Nam $60 millionfor his beaten Melbourne Cup favoriteSo You Think. The runner, winner of 8of 12 races, finished third in the two-mileCup classic, won by the exported Americanrunner Americain. So You Think haswon $5.7 million and likely will stand asan Irish and Australian stallion shuttlingbetween Coolmore’s Ballydoyle studand stud duty Down Under.