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, November 4, 2010DARK DAYS IN MD, MICHIGANIt was a dark day for horse racing inMaryland and Michigan today, as tracksin both states announced they were batteningthe hatches for the winter, and perhapslonger.In Maryland, the Maryland Jockey Clubannounced it was doing what it promisedit would do if it lost its bid to win a racinofor its Laurel Park operation. PresidentTom Chuckas said Anne Arundel Countyvoters sealed the MJC’s fate Tuesdaywhen they voted to approve the CordishCompanies’ bid to build a casino at themall just 10 miles from the Jockey Club’sLaurel Park operation, and that Laurelwould be closed for live racing and usedfor off-track betting only. The MJC alsoplans to close its Bowie training center andrace only an abbreviated 40-day “Preaknessmeeting” at Pimlico, built aroundthe track’s Triple Crown event. RichardHoffberger, president of the MarylandThoroughbred Horsemen’s Association,called the decision “the demise” of racingin the state, saying horsemen could notsurvive operating only 40 days a year. Althoughracing will receive millions fromthe Anne Arundel casino, Chuckas saidit would not be enough to fund purses or“acquire a younger demographic.” TheWashington Post’s famed racing writerAndrew Beyer wrote this morning thatthe development, “once unimaginable,”would change Maryland racingforever.In Michigan, meanwhile, Pinnacle RaceCourse, which opened only two yearsago, on July 18, 2008, announced it wasclosing its simulcast operation and shuttingthe plant down for the winter, withresumption questionable. Pinnacle wasawarded only two days of live racing aweek this year -- Saturdays and Sundays-- by the Michigan Gaming ControlBoard, but ended the live meeting Oct.31 after 42 days. It was awarded 84 daysof live racing for next year, but GeneralManager Mike Mackey told the DetroitFree Press “I don’t know if I’ll be here.”He said he might close his office “for thetime being.” Twenty or so people operatingsimulcasting at the track have beenlaid off, and Mackey said, “There was notenough business to sustain the simulcastoperation.”CAR DEALERS AFTER DEL MARTwo prominent Tucson auto dealers andthoroughbred horse owners, along withwest coast McDonald’s magnate andowner Mike Pegram and others, are reportedlyinterested in buying the Del Marfairgrounds and track north of San Diego.The two Tucsonans are Karl Watsonand Paul Weitman, and Watson called thereport “far out and premature.”FANNING IS QUEEN AGAINMoira Fanning, publicity and operationsdirector of the Hambletonian Society, hasbeen named U.S. Harness Writer ofthe year for the second time.