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 24, 2010HANSON POISON AT WORKThe Hanson Doctrine, which seems determinedto destroy harness racing in NewJersey, already is wreaking havoc. RockN Roll Heaven, winner of 10 straight,$2.03 million and almost certain HarnessHorse of the Year honors this year, willnot stand with his brilliant sire RocknrollHanover at Perretti Farms in New Jersey,but at Blue Chip Farms in New York. JoeBellino, son of owner Frank Bellino, toldHarness Racing Update that uncertaintyof events in New Jersey affected theirdecision. Bob Marks, Perretti Farmsspokesman, told the newspaper that earlierthis year Perretti had acquired breedingrights to Rock N Roll Heaven, but heunderstood the Bellino’s decision to placehim at Blue Chip and the farm intendedto breed mares to Rock N Roll Heaven atBlue Chip. “He’s a great colt and we wishhim well. It’s very unfortunate for NewJersey. We just lost the services of whatmay be one of the greatest harness racingsires ever.” Harness Racing Updatequoted Joe Bellino as saying New Jerseywas hurting not just racing, but farmers,feed suppliers, summer interns, grooms,“so many lives.” Rock N Roll Heavenwinds up his racing career Sunday frompost one against five rivals in the $181,913Matron Stakes at Dover Downs in Delaware.USTA notes he has paced a record11 sub-1:50 miles this year, with victoriesin 1:49.2 or faster on half-mile,5/8ths, 7/8ths and mile tracks.CAL-EXPO TRIES NO TAKEOUTStarting Saturday night and continuingfor three Saturdays through Dec. 18, Cal-Expo in Sacramento, in partnership withTwinSpires.com, will eliminate takeouton winning Late Pick 4 bets made at thetrack or on TwinSpires. The experimentwill be accomplished by awarding bonuspayouts of 17.65%, covering the 15%takeout on those bets. Director of racingDavid Elliott says, “We will continue tooffer $10,000 guaranteed pools on both ofour Saturday night Pick-4s. We are tryingto promote our program by offering thisbonus program and hopefully our playerswill find it rewarding.” On a payoff of$100 on a $1 pick 4, the player will be paida bonus of $17.65, negating the takeout.Bonus payouts will be limited to $500 perwinning $1 pick four per player, per day.Bonuses will be paid on track bets at Cal-Expo, and on TwinSpires will have theiraccounts credited with the winnings and17.65 bonus the following Tuesday.ALL NOT HAPPY OVER NY DEALIn fact, almost everyone except governorDavid Paterson and the Stockbridge-MunseeMohicans of Wisconsin seems unhappy.Harness and thoroughbred tracks, existingcasinos and racinos, and New YorkIndian tribes are objecting to the landswap deal in which the Indians are settlingclaims to 23,000 acres of land in MadisonCounty for 330 acres in Sullivan Countyand slots and table games.