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, EditorTuesday, December 28, 2010ILLINOIS AWAITS JANUARY 3That’s when the Jan. 3-11 “lame duck”session of the legislature begins, and theIllinois House will approve or disapproveof the gaming expansion bill alreadypassed by the Senate. That legislation,SB 737, calls for racinos including slots atthe state’s six horse tracks, a land-basedcasino in Chicago, and new riverboat casinosaround the state. Springfield forecasterssay it would take two years for thenew riverboats, but Stu Brubaker of theIllinois Harness Horsemen’s Associationsays racinos could be in operation withinsix months of 737 passing the House andbeing signed by Gov. Pat Quinn, not anenthusiast for the legislation. The primemover of the bill, Senator Terry Link, aDemocrat from Waukegan, north of Chicago,warned against over-optimism of theadded gaming solving all of Illinois’ economicproblems. “We’ve been very clearabout it,” he was quoted in the NorthwestHerald. “We’re not counting on revenuefor this budget year.”CAESARS MOVES INTOCaesars Entertainment, formerly Harrah’s,has announced an agreement withDan Gilbert, the owner of the ClevelandCavaliers and founder of Quicken Loansto build and operate Gilbert’s casinosin Cleveland and Cincinnati. Two otherOhio casinos, in Columbus and Toledo,will be operated by Penn NationalGaming. The Caesars-Gilbert pairwill cost a billion bucks.HOOSIER EXITING CHAPTER 11?Reports from Indianapolis say CentaurLLC, owner and operator of HTA memberHoosier Park, could be emerging frombankruptcy early in the new year. Centaurhas filed a settlement plan with the U.S.Bankruptcy court which, if approved bycreditors by Jan. 3, would be heard bythe court 10 days later. Centaur sold itsharness license in Pennsylvania at auctionand is selling its Fortune Valley casino andhotel near Denver, two transactions thatcould raise $15 million. Bloomberg Newssays Centaur’s creditors’ committee hasreached agreement with secured lendersthat could result in an uncontestedconfirmation hearing as early as January21. Centaur’s HTA member Hoosier Parkhas been insulated from the bankruptcyproceedings and no disruptions in racingoperations are expected, according to aCentaur spokesman.ONEIDAS FATE TO HIGH COURTThe United States Supreme Court hasagreed to hear arguments on foreclosureof Oneida Indian Nation property. Thecase involves non-payment of propertytaxes on Oneida land, which includes theTurning Stone casino near Vernon Downs,and the question of whether the tribeactually exists, or if it was disbanded 173years ago by a treaty agreement signedin 1838. This marks the fourth tribeappearance before the court.