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, EditorFriday, December 10, 2010SELECTED XMAS GREETINGSFrom Chris Christie, governor of NewJersey, vetoing full racing at the Meadowlandsand Monmouth Park in 2011:“While the recommendation (of the NewJersey Racing Commission) to race a fullschedule at the Meadowlands and MonmouthPark in 2011 is being reviewed, itwould be inappropriate to approve theNJSEA’s request to race 141 thoroughbredrace dates at Monmouth Park and141 standardbred race dates at the MeadowlandsRacetrack, particularly in light ofthe taxpayer subsidies required to sustainsuch a lengthy race calendar. An appropriatesolution for the state-owned racetracks,which does not unduly burden thetaxpayers of this state, must be reachedbefore a 2011 racing schedule can be approved.”From John Sabini, chairman of the NewYork State Racing and Wagering Boardon the closure of New York City OTB:“They say dropping a pebble in watercauses a ripple; this is like dropping aboulder in a pond. If anyone thinks this isnot going to change the framework of thebusiness, they’re kidding themselves.”From Larry Schwartz, chairman of NewYork City OTB and Gov. David Paterson’schief of staff: “This is going to havea tremendous impact on the racing industry.I believe that upstate tracks willclose, horse farms will have to shutdown, breeders will be moving outof state.”Also from Schwartz: “NYC OTB is shutdown, and there is no plan to reopen it.This is not a light switch, you can’t flick iton and off.”Greg Rayburn, CEO of New York CityOTB: “Once you go dark on an ADW,they’re gone, they’re not coming back.”Gov. David Paterson, on reports that SenateGOP leaders were saying negotiationswere continuing. “The reality is we’re notnegotiating. The others (New York state’sfive other regional OTBs) are likely to failas well because they have the same problemsand will probably meet the sameend.”Bob Galterio, general manager of YonkersRaceway, on $20 million owed to itby failed New York City OTB: “We don’tknow how we’re going to be able to recoupany of it, because they don’t haveany money and they have no assets. Sobasically we’ve lost everything that theyowed us.”Jeff Gural, who runs Tioga Downs andVernon Downs, commenting on a releasefrom the Empire State Harness Horsemen’sAlliance that it represented manyof New York’s harness horsemen: “I amproud to say they certainly do not representthe horsemen at Tioga Downs. Asyou know, this group (Empire) vigorouslyopposed legislation that would have keptOTB open. They seem relatively unconcernedwith the fact it is closing.”