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, EditorThursday, December 23, 2010A FEAST OF XMAS RICHESWith holiday suddenness, like a pre-Xmassnowfall, pieces began to fall in place allover the map for a brighter winter in racing.In New Jersey, the Sports & ExpositionAuthority voted president and CEO DennisRobinson power to enter into an agreementwith the Standardbred Breedersand Owners and Jeff Gural concerningleasing the Meadowlands to their rescuegroup if it is created. The agreement spellsout exclusivity. The racing commission,meanwhile, restored a racing schedule of141 dates, split between harness and runners,and SBOA president Tom Luchentosaid he thought there would be about 85days of live harness at the Meadowlandsif all goes according to plan. Newark Star-Ledger harness writer Ray Brienza wrotethat fans will determine the Big M’s futureby their turnouts this winter.In Pennsylvania, Lawrence county officialsreturned from a meeting of thePennsylvania Harness Racing Commission,saying it was “a very good day for usdown in Harrisburg.” County commissionerRichard DeBlasio said, I came outof there feeling positive” about AmericanHarness Tracks meeting a Dec. 31 deadlinefor a preliminary application andobtaining transfer of the Centaur racinglicense at the next meeting of theharness racing commission.In Minnesota, former Republican statesenator Dick Day, identified by ForestLake Times capitol reporter T. W. Budigas “a colorful front man for RacingNow, agroup hoping to place video and slot machinesat Canterbury Park runners andRunning Aces trotting track,” as havinghis best chance in 12 years of trying to getthem approved legislatively. Day said aracino bill could clear the Senate, althoughhe still is 20 votes shy in the House. RunningAces executive VP and GM and HTAdirector Bob Farinella said his track was“in sympathy” with RacingNow’s efforts.Day, who tossed Running Aces out of thedeal late last legislative session, said thatcould happen again because of “flack”from northern gaming tribes and racinoopponents.In Florida, the Division of Pari-MutuelWagering issued a slot license for HialeahPark, and officials said slots could beginthere next fall, in November. That possibleopening date was announced by trackgeneral manager Randy Soth, who saidthe track would build a Las Vegas styleracino in the north portion of its grandstand,currently closed. The south portionof the grandstand is currently in usefor the quarter horse meeting that beganDec. 3 and will continue through Jan. 24.Calder Casino and Race Course is instate court challenging the slots award ongrounds that Hialeah cannot qualify undera state law passed this year.