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, EditorFriday, March 26, 2010NEW ‘GOLDEN AGE’ IN MD?That’s what the Baltimore Sun says Dennis Mills,CEO of MI Developments, expects at Pimlico andLaurel following the switch from Magna Entertainmentto its parent MID. The paper conducted“an extensive interview” with Mills and writerAndrea K. Walker says he envisions “anothergolden age of horse racing in Maryland -- believingMI can polish the Preakness and transformthe two tracks into profitable enterprises withbigger betting pots and new retail and entertainmentvenues on the land.” Mills says the FrankStronach-controlled operation hopes it will get asecond chance at slots in the state, having beendisqualified earlier for not paying a required upfrontfee. He also sees the tracks aiming for tablegames. He stressed that Magna and MID “aretwo totally different and totally separate publiccompanies. Yes, we do have the same chairman(Stronach) but it is a different philosophical approach.”INTERESTING OAKLAWN TWISTConcerned about field sizes as its season drawsto a close, the runners at Oaklawn Park havedecided to return to an experiment that racingsecretary Pap Pope tried last year. The plan isto draw new horses and keep what he has by increasingpurses by $1,000 for each starter overeight, starting today. The experiment will continuethrough April 10, the end of Oaklawn’sseason. Pope tried the idea last year and saidit seemed to help field size late in the meeting,as tracks elsewhere open for spring and summermeetings.NY OKS TIOGA TAKEOUT PLANNew York’s racing and wagering board has approveda drop in takeout at HTA member TiogaDowns, from 18% to 15% on win, place andshow; 20% to 17% on daily doubles andexactas; and from 25% to 21% on otherexotics.FREEHOLD PURSES UP AGAINThe infusion of a $4.8 million allocation fromNew Jersey’s Purse Enhancement Agreementhas produced a second hefty purse increase acrossthe board at HTA member Freehold Raceway.Racing secretary Karen Fagliarone announcedyesterday that Freehold’s $10,000 claimers willsee an increase from a season’s starting point of$3,800 through a boost to $4,900 on Feb. 19 tonext week’s $6,000. Horses with a $15,000 pricetag, which were racing for $4,500 two monthsago and jumped to $5,800 in February now willrace for $7,200; and $20,000 claimers, originallyracing for $6,400, got a boost to $8,300 in Februaryand will race for $10,200 starting next week.Preferreds, which started the season at $8,600and were boosted to $11,000 in mid-February,will go for $13,800 next week and thereafter.KY INSTANT RACE BILL DEADState Senator Damon Thayer of Kentucky hasadministered last rites to his Instant Racing bill,at least for the moment, in the absence of enoughvotes to pass it and opposition to it. The FamilyFoundation thinks it is an unconstitutional expansionof gambling; House Democrats and thegovernor still want slots at tracks; and SenatePresident David Williams put the stake thru themeasure’s heart. Thayer still hopes that Gov.Steve Beshear might legalize it by executive order,but a spokeswoman said the governor hasnot considered action past the current legislativesession, but still is “committed” to help horsebusiness in the Bluegrass.SO THAT’S WHERE THE $ WENTThe Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is buyingCamelot Group PLC, the consortium that runsGreat Britain’s National Lottery. The teachersobviously learned their lessons well. They arepaying $579 million for Camelot. At leastsomeone is solvent.