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, EditorWednesday, May 12, 2010FIRE PLANS PAY OFF BIG TIMESound planning and a prudent investmentpaid off in many ways at PlainridgeRacecourse last Sunday morning, when asprinkler system in the stable area was givencredit for saving the lives of as many as200 horses. A fire broke out in a tack stallat 3 a.m., and tripped an alarm at the Plainvillefire station. The town’s fire chief,Ted Joubert, credited the system withquick response that averted a possible disaster.“This fire speaks volumes aboutfire prevention,” he said. “The sprinklersystems did exactly what they were supposedto do.” The track’s sprinkler systemand fire alarm work jointly with itsbarn area protection, wired directly intoit, and brought quick response from Plainvilleand surrounding towns, who wereon the scene in minutes and joined trackpersonnel and horsemen in clearing thebarn of some 40 horses. None appearedseriously injured, but were withheld fromMonday and Tuesday racing and will notbe drawn into races until cleared by veterinariansof smoke damage and/or otherhealth problems. General manager SteveO’Toole, a former horseman, said, “Wefelt it was in the best interests of both theanimals and the wagering public to makesure that any impact from the fire is addressedbefore these horses participatein racing.” The Boston CBS TV outlet,the city’s biggest, led its 6 p.m. news showwith a piece on Plainridge, includingstarting gate footage.In other good news for Plainridge, RichardRoss, the track’s state representative,won the state Senate seat of Scott Brown ina special election. Ross becomes the firstlegislator in Massachusetts history to voteon a piece of legislation in both branchesof the legislature. He voted “yes” on theslots bill in the House and will be seatedbefore the Senate vote on the issue.ANOTHER DANCER TO FOREThe Dancer family in New Jersey has wonfar more battles than it ever lost. BrothersStanley, Harold and Vernon and theirfather brought fame to the state and tothe sport of harness racing. Now anotherDancer, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer,Stanley’s son, is moving forward with racinglegislation to help the Meadowlands.Ron and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrandeare working on A-2507, a bill thatcodifies agreements between tracks andhorsemen’s associations and is expected tohelp purses grow hugely by reducing thenumber of racing days. The plan, craftedfrom models in Japan and Australia, alsohas support from Bob Mulcahy, a memberof Gov. Chris Christie’s commission ongaming, sports and entertainment. Dancer,a Republican representing Ocean, Burlington,Mercer and Monmouth counties,calls horse racing “too important to let itgo away.” He says he hopes the legislationwill reconfigure the sport, and he has thesupport of John Burzichelli, chair of theAssembly Regulatory Oversight andGaming Committee.