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 30, 2010INSTANT DEAD HORSES IN KYA Franklin County judge in Kentuckyhas ruled, in a 17-page order, that wageringon old races on slot-like machines is aform of legal pari-mutuel wagering, andnot an illegal expansion of betting. JudgeThomas Wingate, as quoted in the LouisvilleCourier-Journal, ruled that “historicalhorse races are horse races,” and heapproved Instant Racing for Kentucky.Wingate, in ruling that such racing ispari-mutuel, said Kentucky law “does notmandate that the wagering may only beconducted on live races.” The governor,Steve Beshear, called the development aboost for horse racing in the state, butopponents, including the Family Foundation,said they still believe “you can’thave live racing with dead horses.” Racingleaders, including those at ChurchillDowns, expressed “reservations” aboutInstant Racing, and since legislators indicatethey are finished with that matterit will remain for the courts to providefurther word in what is likely to be furtherlegal challenges. The Speaker of theKentucky House, Greg Stumbo, indicatedthat slots at tracks will not be on the legislature’sagenda for the new session thatgets underway next week. “Obviously themakeup of the (Republican) Senate hasn’tchanged any,” Stumbo said, “and untilthat changes...I don’t think the GeneralAssembly, or at least the House, is goingto act on anything in that regard.”So that takes care of slots for now.GOV. PATERSON’S FINAL WORDIn 74 pages of carefully chosen words, theoutgoing governor of New York, DavidPaterson, has sent his controversial butsigned deal with the Stockbridge-Munseeband of Wisconsin Mohican Indians tobuild a casino in the Catskills to the U.S.Department of the Interior for approval.The deal involves a land swap. New Yorkgives the tribe New York’s blessings on 333acres for their casino, and the Mohicans inreturn give up their claim to 24,000 acresof land in New York’s Madison Countythat they have contended historically andlegally is theirs. The compact, signed byboth parties, will provide the state witha sliding scale of slot machine revenue,starting at 18% initially and graduatingup to 25% in five years.NYRA BACK ON MAJOR NY TVThe New York Racing Association andcity of New York have reached an agreementthat puts NYRA racing back onTime Warner and Cablevision in the city.The channels will show racing coveragefrom 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., which will coverracing from Santa Anita with the timedifference, as well as NYRA racing live,commentary and handicapping, and simulcastingfrom around the country.FINLEY WINS MAJOR AWARDHTA joins his many friends and admirersin congratulating Bill Finley on his MediaEclipse award for writing.