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 26, 2010FIRST IN THE FIRST STATEThat was the proud pronouncement fromHTA member Harrington Raceway as itbecame the first racino in Delaware to introducetable games. Harrington did sowith a “soft opening” that featured lowerbet limits from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Friday,when a grand opening at noon willkick off 24-hour nonstop operation thatincludes blackjack, craps, roulette anda wide variety of exotic forms of pokerincluding Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, PaiGow, Let It Ride, Casino War, three-cardand traditional Texas Hold ‘Em and minibaccarat. Horsemen at Harrington willreceive 4.5% of table game revenues.In another Delaware development, inGeorgetown, annexation of a 78-acre casinoand entertainment complex, includingrestoration of the old Georgetown Raceway,shuttered for decades, will be votedon by the town council next month. Theplan, which proposes 51% of racino profitsto charity, has faced opposition in thestate legislature and also is likely to fallunder a six-month moratorium in SussexCounty, where it is one of three proposalsvying for two possible licenses in thestate, both of which would compete withexisting casinos in little Delaware.JON KYL STILL HOLDING OUTWith the Unlawful Internet GamblingEnforcement Act due to go into effectJune 1, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl isinsisting on no further delays.The million-member Poker Players’ Alliancehas been pushing hard for anothersix-month extension in implementation.Kyl’s former Senate colleague AlphonseD’Amato, representing the Alliance, metwith Kyl but came away unsuccessful asKyl insists on getting the George Bush billput into effect.WAIT ‘TIL NEXT YEARThat was the old Dodgers’ battle cry whenthey were the Brooklyn Dodgers years ago,and now it is the rallying hope of harnessand thoroughbred horsemen in Illinois.They were turned down by Illinois SenatePresident John Cullerton, who told themstraight out he would not call a pendingslots-at-tracks bill now in this electionyear. They were heartened by what theyconsider a commitment from Cullerton toallow a Senate vote after the elections inNovember.HARRAH’S BARGAIN BUYLast year Harrah’s Entertainment let anoption expire to buy Thistledown in Clevelandfor $89.5 million. It was a smart decision.Yesterday they bid $43 million forthe track at a MI Development auction inNew York, and got it, according to a reportby writer Tom Lamarra on bloodhorse.com. He also reported that the three remainingprivately-owned tracks in Ohio-- Northfield Park, Lebanon Raceway andRiver Downs -- were expected to completea clean sweep of casino partnership ownershipof tracks in the future.