Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

News From Harness Tracks of America
November 15, 2004

In New Jersey, incoming governor Richard Codey clarified how he plans to bring slots to the Meadowlands. Codey, confirming he has had discussions with Atlantic City casinos, talked of working “in concert,” with them, perhaps offering incentives and inducements to make such an arrangement palatable to them. He also made clear he intended for slots to be at the Meadowlands only, not Monmouth Park or Freehold Raceway, so that they would impact New York casinos but not cannibalize Atlantic City play. In New Jersey racing, Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance announced he planned an extensive vacation in January, February and March.

In Massachusetts, election results brightened the prospects of slots at tracks, with a new bill to be filed next month and perhaps as many as 1,500 slots placed at each of the state’s four tracks. The departure of House Speaker Thomas Finneran, a staunch foe of slots, along with the departure of nine anti-slot representatives in this month’s election, were encouraging signs. Also in Massachusetts, the town of Foxboro overwhelmingly voted down a zoning change, thus killing the latest bid of Louis Giuliano to build a track there.

In Kansas, slots at tracks seemed closer, too, as Indian tribes and the governor’s office agreed to a change in legislation that would permit them at tracks as part of a tribal deal with the state.

In Indiana, Hoosier Park was forced to cancel its Friday night thoroughbred racing card when jockeys refused to ride. Ten jockeys and Jockeys Guild vice president Albert Fiss were forcibly evicted by police after refusing to leave the jockey’s quarters. Racing resumed Saturday night when enough jockeys showed up to allow the racing card to be held.

In Washington, DC, the government, continuing its disregard for international laws and rules made by others, indicated it probably would disregard any action by the World Trade Organization, which last week explained in a 300-page paper why it ruled that the U.S. had violated international trade accords by prohibiting Americans from gambling on the Internet.

In British Columbia, Great Canadian Gaming bought out, for C$18 million, the remaining 40% of Hastings Park it did not own, and announced it would renovate the property and hoped to have slots in operation by this time next year.

In New York, Yonkers Raceway and the Standardbred Owners Association of New York reached agreement on a five-year contract, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004, that clears the way for building of a racino at the track as soon as legal issues with the state are settled. The settlement reportedly calls for 20% bonus premiums to owners who started horses at least 15 times between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year, and would rise to 27.5% if the $155 million racino construction takes longer than expected. In return, the horsemen agreed to closing the track for live racing for as much as four months, but will be able to remain in the barn area and use the training track.