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, EditorMonday, May 17, 2010LOU GUIDA BACK WITH STARThe man is back, and his days of gloryare being relived. Lou Guida, whoowned harness racing in America in the1980s with brilliant stars like Niatrossand Mack Lobell, and a deep platoon ofpacing fillies and colts, took command ofone of Europe’s classic trotting races, theOslo Grand Prix, over the weekend. HisItalian-bred Lisa America, named for hisolder daughter and by the world championtrotter Varenne, won the $500,000Norwegian race as a 33-1 longshot, beatinga field of eight of the best male trottersin Europe at a mile and three-sixteenths,and picking up $240,429 for the victory.The Finnish driving ace Jorma Kontiodrove, and when American trainer JerryRiordan, who has trained Guida horses inItaly for years, was asked by a reporterhow he communicated with Kontio, hesaid, “Why should we. I’m the lousiestdriver in the world, and he’s the best, soI just let him do the job.” The victoryearned Lisa America an invitation to Sweden’sElitlopp in Stockholm on the lastSunday in May. Good to see you back ontop again, Lou. As Lisa America won ina mile rate of 1:55.7 over the 5/8ths miletrack in Bjerke, beating the favored Maharajahby a length and a half, Canada’sDefine the World finished third for Canadianreinsman Paul McDonnell. EnoughTalk, owned and trained by PeterKleinman and driven by Luc Ouellette,was off form, finishing last.IT’S NOT OVER TIL ITS OVERYogi Berra got credit for this one, as he didso many, and it’s applicable again in NewHampshire, where you may have thoughtthe chance of slots at Rockingham Park wasdead. So did we, but no, a spark of hopestill glimmers there, as the state Senate approved,as part of a $283 million budget,10,000 slots at four locations still not identified.Agreement is needed from the House-- not too likely -- but persistent slots backerand Senate Finance Committee chairmanLou D’Allessandro said, “It’s this vehicleor nothing.” The two houses have 10 daysto reach accord before a June 2 vote.AROUND THE CIRCUIT.....In what could be the first retreat of its successfulcareer, Betfair has announced it isleaving the French market because of newgambling laws on interactive betting....Owner Daniel Waxman has lost his appealagainst the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.The Kentucky Court of Appealsupheld the positive flunixin test of Waxman’schampion filly Loyal Opposition atthe Red Mile five years ago and ordered the$80,000 purse redistributed, with GlowingReport declared the winner. Trainer ErvMiller was fined $250 and veterinarian Dr.Rick Mather fined $1,500 for administeringflunixin to three Waxman horses. Waxmanhad argued the racing commission’s actionat the time was unconstitutional.....Dr.Ed Allred has resigned as president/chairmanof his Los Alamitos quarter horsetrack.