HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICATHE WRATH OF THE TABLOIDSThat, and the pitter-patter of politicians’ feetscurrying for cover, assure the sustained furyover New York governor David Paterson’s selectionof the Aqueduct Entertainment Groupas the winning bidder in the 9-year-old Aqueductracino saga. The New York Daily News, notabout to let itself be outdone by the rival Post,joined the fray with an editorial headlined, “Badsmell at Aqueduct: State’s racetrack deal stinksworse than the stables.” The editorial began,“The men who misrule Albany have plumbednew depths of public-be-damned irresponsibilityin their flagrantly scandalous plan to bringcasino-style gambling to Aqueduct racetrack inQueens.” The Post, meanwhile, continued itsblasting with a piece headlined, “Bettor wait aminute,” which revealed that Senate Republicanleader Dean Skelos had grasped the moment tohalt the award, charging it “reeked of favoritismand election-year politics.” He questionedwhether AEG had the resources or experience torun a gambling facility, saying, “This is probablythe largest faith-based initiative I’ve ever seen interms of funding to a group.” He called the deal“potentially a conflict of interest,” and told newsmenit was “a behind-the-doors deal that wasn’tvetted in a public way.” Gov. Paterson, meanwhile,defended his decision, saying, “There wasa deadlock. I myself did not have a preference.Time had long since worn out and I was tryingto break the deadlock and that was the bestthing that I could do.” In a quick “Dear Governor”letter of response, on Assembly stationeryand which Silver’s office presumably made surereached an eager press, Speaker Sheldon Silverstrongly contradicted the governor’s version ofwhat happened, pointing out that he agreed tosupport the selection of AEG only after Paterson“personally and strongly recommendedthe selection of the Aqueduct EntertainmentGroup.”Executive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorThursday, February 4, 2010The Post leaped to the cannons, thinking it hilariousthat Bill Lynch, one of Paterson’s leadingadvisers, talked to the governor while travelingon the 9 a.m. Acela express train between NewYork and Washington on a speakerphone. Itquoted Lynch as saying, “Have you seen the Postyet?” referring to a story about charity doingsinvolving the Aqueduct deal, then asking, “Canyou call me back, governor? My phone is stuckon speakerphone.” The Post headlined that item,“Gov’s Train of Thought,” making sure the gaffewent far beyond those in the car who heard itfirsthand.BACK HOME IN INDIANA....And in Indiana, politics also were playing amajor role. The minority leader of the IndianaHouse, Brian Bosma, was quoted in the ChicagoTribune as saying he would “fight any efforts topass legislation allowing the state’s riverboats tomove inland.” After the Indiana casino associationopposed the bill, the Senate removed the onlandproposal. The House still could revive it.Meanwhile, in Iowa, a Senate subcommittee yesterdayapproved unanimously a bill to legalizesports betting in the state’s 17 casinos. The 80-year old president of the Senate, Jack Kibbie,said, “We’ve heard about sports betting sinceI was a pup. It’s already legal in many foreigncountries. I’m just saying why not Iowa?” Oneanswer, senator, is that it’s illegal in the UnitedStates, except in the four states that are grandfathered.Iowa is not one of the four.BARTLETT GETS HIS MUNSONThe old and the new in harness racing met inNew York this week, when the old BrooklynDodger pitcher -- and former harness horseowner -- Ralph Branca -- presented a ThurmanMunson award to current driving star JasonBartlett.