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, February 3, 2010USTA SUSPENDS THE BROOKSThe United States Trotting Association, in accordancewith its rules on reciprocity with otherlicensing bodies, has followed Ontario’s exampleand suspended memberships of the Brooks clanand their extensive stable holdings. The banincludes Terry, Jeffrey, Andrew and VictoriaBrooks, Perfect World Enterprises, BulletproofEnterprises, VA Enterprises, Goldfinger Enterprises,Seize the Day Enterprises and VAE LLC.The action is in conformity with USTA rule 22,section 14, which says in part that, “All personsand horses under suspension or expulsion by anystate racing commission or by a reputable trottingassociation of a foreign country shall uponnotice from such commission or association tothe executive vice president, be suspended or expelledby this association.”BRETT PELLING RETURNINGIn a related development, Steve Kallas, a NewYork attorney, horse owner and correspondentfor The Horseman and Fair World, reportingon the David Brooks trial in New York for themagazine, says documents in the trial indicatetrainer Brett Pelling will be returning to theUnited States and is a potential government witnessagainst Brooks. Pelling may testify that amorphine positive on a Brooks horse led to a20-day Pelling suspension, and to a supposedBrooks payment in stock for helping arrange thesale of the pacer Grinfromeartoear, and then hisinability to pursue the payment because Brookshad the arrangement invalidated. The story alsosays Pelling is reported to be returning to trainhorses in the U.S. again, after his self-imposedexile five years ago. A controversial but hugelysuccessful trainer here for years, Pelling’s returnundoubtedly would shake up the currenttraining scene. He had attributed his departureto a desire to raise his family inhis native New Zealand.NEARLY 60% BACK KY SLOTSA poll conducted for the Louisville Courier-Journalamong 617 registered voters shows nearly60% favor slots at Kentucky racetracks, but85% think the decision should be made by votersand not the General Assembly. The newspaperreports support for slots at tracks are at thehighest level since the polls on expanded gamingwere initiated eight years ago. Gov. SteveBeshear, who included revenue from expandinggaming in his proposed 2010-2012 budget, sayshe sees a need for speed in reaching a decision.He said “the vast majority” of Kentuckianswould approve VLTs, and said the General Assemblymay have to choose between support forslots or reduced support for education. DavidWilliams, president of the Senate, favors a referendum,House speaker Greg Stumbo does not.Stumbo says, “We’re not a referendum state. Wedon’t need to have a vote on it. If we wanted tobe a referendum state, then we’d have to changeour constitution.” The poll found stronger supportfrom those under 50, and more men thanare women in favor.DON’T SIT AROUND WAITINGFor the Pimlico-Laurel auction, that is. Magnahas delayed it again, until Feb. 23, with a hearingto approve the plan on March 3. Observersbelieve, according to the Baltimore Sun, thatMagna is waiting to see if opponents of a casinoin Arundel Mills can get enough signatures toput the issue on the ballot next November. Thatresult could greatly affect the desirability of thetracks at auction.Don’t sit around waiting to get your Hyatt GrandChampion rooms from Jen Foley, either. We areon the edge of close-off, and if you want a stallJen -- not the hotel -- is the stall superintendent.We will have further agenda announcementsof interest next week.