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, April 13, 2010MASS SLOTS BILL MOVES ONThat’s the word from Boston, where HouseSpeaker Robert DeLeo’s bill calling for slots atMassachusetts tracks and two casinos was approvedby a quick voice vote and moved forwardon Tuesday morning. DeLeo let deputiesknow last evening that he had 104 commitmentsfor his measure, and only two more would givethe bill the 106 that would the needed two-thirdsmajority to be bulletproof. As of now there were216 amendments to consider, and DeLeo has, accordingto press reports, decided to group largebatches of them into at least four categories.They are: siting, revenues, licensing and regulation.Individual amendments on those topicsconsidered in a bill formulation process hailedby supporters as efficient and criticized by opponentsas secretive, according to the State HouseNews Service. The bill as proposed calls for 750at Plainridge, Suffolk Downs, and two formerdog tracks, with that live sport now barred inMassachusetts. House passage still faces stiffopposition from Gov. Deval Patrick and SenatePresident Therese Murray, but if the Senate approvesDeLeo insists he now has veto-proof supportin the House.THE WILD WEST STILL LIVESAt least in Arizona. Citizens shuddered thisweek as the legislature approved concealedweapons for all, and now it has given preliminaryapproval to legislation that would enablethe Phoenix suburb of Glendale to halt constructionof an Indian casino by annexing tribal landwithout the tribe’s consent. An earlier attemptwas thwarted by one of the few clear thinkersin the legislature, Senate President Bob Burns,who stopped it in his chamber, saying the stateshould not wade into the issue. If this passes,it faces what one legislator called “consti- tutionalinfirmities,” not recognized west ofthe Pecos.CONCERN ON ONTARIO SLOTSDavid Briggs, the very bright light who edits theCanadian Sportsman magazine, has raised seriousconcerns about the future of slots at Ontariotracks. In a current piece, he writes that “themost vital program in Canadian horse racing isin limbo, and no one seems to be talking publiclyabout it. Worse, there’s growing concern it’s notgetting much attention privately, either.” Briggsnotes that long-term contracts, or site holdersagreements, have expired at six Ontario tracks,with contracts at three more set to expire beforethe end of the year. The agreements were basically10-year deals with the Ontario Lottery andGaming Corporation (OLG) and each began theday the track opened its slots facility. That means,by Briggs’ count, that time has elapsed on facilitiesat HTA member Western Fair Raceway, andat Fort Erie, Hiawatha Horse Park, Rideau Carleton,Sudbury Downs, and Windsor Raceway.All six, he says, are operating with short-termrollover contracts. Briggs says the horse industryin Ontario has been mindful of the problem,and working on it. A subcommittee of the OntarioHorse Racing Industry Association headedby Jim Bullock and buoyed by OHRIA executivedirector Hector Clouthier has been quietly lobbyingkey politicians, letting them know that theracing industry and its slots have put $1 billionin government coffers, and pointing out that itis one of the very few industries not asking formore, but for maintenance of the status quo. TheOLG answered eight Briggs inquiries by tellinghim the matter is “under review.” The situationwas not helped yesterday -- or perhaps was if heis successful -- when Clouthier announced he isresigning his OHRIA post June 1 to return to thepolitical wars. A former member of Parliament,he will run again. If elected Ontario racing willbe able to breathe a bit easier. Good luck Hec,in the campaign and in your third Bostonmarathon run, at 60, on Monday.