HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAROBINSON TO GEORGETOWN?Dennis Robinson, president of the New JerseySports and Exposition Authority and in that capacityboss of harness racing’s pride the Meadowlands,may be leaving that post. nj.com andthe Newark Star-Ledger report Robinson is a finalistunder consideration for the post of athleticdirector at Georgetown University. The developmentfollows Gov. Chris Christie’s appointmentof former acting U.S. attorney Ralph Marra assenior vice president for legal and governmentalaffairs of the state agency that manages theMeadowlands sports complex.NJ SLOTS BILL INTRODUCEDIn another development of interest involving theMeadowlands, five northern New Jersey DemocraticAssembly legislators introduced legislationyesterday calling for slots at the track. Oneof the sponsors, Gary Schaer, said the measurewould be “a boon to taxpayers,” and another,Ralph Caputo, said, “Times have changed andso must we, if Meadowlands racing and gamingare going to be a strong part of New Jersey’seconomy. We cannot stand idle and pretend thatexpanded competition at nearby horse tracks inNew York doesn’t exist.” Or Pennsylvania. StateSenator Paul Sarlo, who introduced an identicalbill that went nowhere two years ago, saidhe welcomed the support but called the new bill“outdated,” and said he would like to see “a fullfledgedcasino model at the Meadowlands.” Oneimportant legislator who would not, and is in aposition to block it, is Senate President StephenSweeney, a southern Jersey Democrat, who toldthe Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce that it“ain’t happening,” and that he would make sureit didn’t by blocking any vote in the Senate. Stillto be heard from in clear tones is the governor,Chris Christie, who has passed off the issueto still another commission that willreport to him by the end of June.Executive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorTuesday, March 2, 2010In another development on the issue, the MonmouthCounty Board of Freeholders has resurrectedthe Save the Horse Committee, with membersincluding prominent harness racing figuresAnthony Abbatiello, a member of the New Jerseyracing commission; Tom Luchento, president ofthe New Jersey SBOA; and breeders AnthonyPeretti and Mark Mullen.IT TAKES A VILLAGE....to end a century of racing. That is what has happenedto Hippodrome d’Aylmer, known to olderthoroughbred fans as Connaught Park, whichopened in 1912 and later was the home of harnessracing for half a century, from the 1950s tothe recent past. Senator Paul Massicotte boughtthe track four years ago from the Quebec provincialgovernment, went bankrupt, and sold it andtwo other Quebec tracks last fall to Alain Bouladier,a developer, with a plan now approvedby the Quebec Superior Court. Bouladier plansan 88-acre “urban village,” with shops, professionalservices, and other park-like features forresidents of the area of Gatineau, between Hulland Aylmer.MASSACHUSETTS VOTE SOONThe Speaker of the House in Massachusetts,Robert DeLeo, says he will release his bill callingfor expanded gambling, including slots at thestate’s harness track, HTA member PlainridgeRacecourse, in the next two or three weeks. If itpasses the House, the measure would face Senateand gubernatorial approval. DeLeo says nomoney has been budgeted from the measure thisyear, adding that in his former capacity as chairmanof the House Ways and Means Committee,he learned “not to spend money that you don’thave.” The President of the Senate, ThereseMurray, agreed with DeLeo, saying “it wouldnot be a wise thing to do” to count on fundsfrom gaming before the matter is debated.