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, EditorMonday, December 13, 2010ONE MAN’S MEAT......is another man’s poison, according to anold proverb best remembered by the old.It came to mind with a story in Indystar.com, telling of the impact proposed casinosin Chicago and Ohio could have ontax revenue for Indiana. According to thenews service, downtown casinos in Chicagoand Cincinnati could result in as muchas $154 million a year in lost tax revenueto Indiana. Bill Eadington, Nevada’s academicgaming expert, told the service, “Itcan certainly inflict a wound, and it wouldcut into Indiana’s revenue performance.But the casinos would survive.” A downtownChicago casino, Spectrum GamingGroup, would drain an estimated $72.3million in revenue from heavily populatednorthwest Indiana, but one in Cincinnatiis estimated to take $181 million from casinosalong the Ohio river, with a tax lossof $57.4 million.ONE FRIEND, NICE TO KNOWThe House Republican Caucus has announcedthe powerful committee chairmenfor the 112th Congress that getsunderway next month. These men willcontrol consideration of House bills forthe next two years. One of them -- HalRogers of Kentucky -- was honored bythe American Horse Council 10 years agowith its Rich Rolapp award for service tothe horse industry. Dust off the plaque,Mr. Rogers. Horse racing, harnessand thoroughbred, needs everyfriend it can find these days.Other committee leaders, in case youmight know them, will be Frank Lucas,Oklahoma, Agriculture; Buck McKeon,California, Armed Services; Paul Ryan,Wisconsin, Budget; John Kline, Minnesota,Education and Labor; Fred Upton,Michigan, Energy and Commerce; SpencerBachus, Alabama, Financial Services;Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida, Foreign Affairs;Peter King, New York, HomelandSecurity; Lamar Smith, Texas, Judiciary;Doc Hastings, Washington, Natural Resources;Darrell Issa, California, Oversightand Government Reform; RalphHall, Texas, Science and Technology; SamGraves, Missouri, Small Business; JohnMica, Florida, Transportation and Infrastructure;Jeff Miller, Florida, Veterans;Dave Camp, Michigan, Ways and Means.Our thanks to the AHC for the information.DON’T UNDERESTIMATE REIDYou don’t get to be Senate Majority Leaderwithout knowing your way around theblock, and Senator Harry Reid knows everystep of the way. He has been playinggames with his online poker bill, sayingat one time he was withdrawing it. Nowit turns out the wily Reid decided againstadding his bill to a tax cut package, accordingto the Washington Post, fearingnegative response, and instead may haveit attached to a different package of mustpasslegislation. It isn’t over yet, but forMr. Reid, both shoulders are not yeton the mat.