“Penn National Gaming considering moving horse racing tracks from Columbus and Toledo” plus 1 more

Penn National Gaming considering moving horse racing tracks from Columbus and Toledo

Posted: 22 Jan 2011 02:23 AM PST

Published: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 5:15 AM Updated: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:54 AM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A national gaming company that owns two Ohio horse racing tracks is considering moving them elsewhere in the state so they don't compete with the company's soon-to-be-built casinos.

Gov. John Kasich is still considering the issue, but in the next several weeks the door could be opened for "racinos" -- race tracks combined with casinos -- by allowing video slot machines to be licensed by the Ohio Lottery Commission.

Penn National Gaming Inc.'s two tracks are close to two voter-approved casinos also being developed by the company, prompting concern among its executives that they might cut into each others' business.

Penn National owns Beulah Park outside Columbus and Raceway Park in Toledo, both cities where it is developing Las Vegas-style casinos expected to open next year.

The Columbus casino was originally to be located downtown, but is now being built on the outskirts of the city after complaints.

"The new location is actually within a couple of miles of Beulah Park," said Penn National spokesman Bob Tenenbaum.

If the state okays video slot machines, Tenenbaum added, "It's clear you would be cannibalizing yourself to some degree."

Revenue at the two tracks fell nearly 12 percent over the last year, from $57.4 million in 2009 to $50.6 million in 2010. That's similar to losses seen by Ohio's five other tracks, state figures show.

Race track owners are hoping to boost revenue with slots and Penn National supports the move.

Tenenbaum said there has been no discussion of closing the tracks.

Penn National told state officials Friday that they were looking at moving one or both of the tracks, actions which would require the approval of the Ohio Racing Commission.

"Penn called us this morning and said they're doing an economic study looking at the possibility of moving one or more of their tracks," said Bob Fries Jr., the Ohio Racing Commission's executive director.

"They told me that there has been no decision made yet," Fries said. "They're seriously looking at it."

Moving a track isn't an easy undertaking and hasn't happened in Ohio since the late 1950s, Fries explained.

If the move is within 50 miles, the owner would have to file an application and gain the racing commission's approval.

Beyond 50 miles, track owners face the added requirement of petitioning the voters in the city in which they wish to relocate. They need the signatures of at least 51 percent of the people who voted in the last general election.

Fries said Penn National didn't say what other places they were considering. Tenenbaum wouldn't name specific locations, saying only that the company was considering "underserved" areas, meaning places that are not close to one of the seven current horse racing tracks or one of the four casinos being developed.

Earlier this week, two Youngstown-area developers announced they will seek permission to build the state's eighth track in Youngstown, an area they called "underserved" because it has roughly a million residents who aren't close to a race track or a casino.

Five of the state's seven horse racing tracks are now owned by national gaming companies that also own casinos in other states.

Thistledown in North Randall was recently purchased by Harrah's Entertainment, which changed its name to Caesars Entertainment in November.

The following month, Caesars and Dan Gilbert's casino company formed a joint venture, Rock Ohio Caesars, to own and operate the Cleveland and Cincinnati casinos. Gilbert has an option to become an owner of Thistledown.

Harrah's officials told the state racing commission they would like to see video slot machines at the state's race tracks, but added that they intended to operate the North Randall thoroughbred track regardless of what was decided.

Total betting at the state's tracks has fallen 57 percent in the last 10 years, from $596 million to $253 million, prompting Fries to embrace the idea of allowing slot machines at tracks. The figures include all betting, both at-track and off-site betting.

Fries said tracks and horsemen would receive a percentage of the slot machine revenue.

"Speaking for the horse racing industry, we're very hopeful of a little bit of infusion there," he added.

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Horse racing column: Zenyatta wins over fickle voters

Posted: 22 Jan 2011 12:31 AM PST

By RICHARD LINIHAN Horse Racing
Published: 1/22/2011 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 1/22/2011 5:57 AM

I wasn't so much surprised that she was that popular of a choice as she captured the hearts of nearly everyone who watched her run in her storied career. I was surprised because the verb was "would" win the award, not "should."

Everyone knew the fans were behind her, but it was a bit dicey when it came to the more fickle voting bases that determine Horse of the Year. Last year's snub of Zenyatta after she became the first female horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic since its inception back when Moby Dick was a minnow was horrendous. Rachel Alexandra was a very nice horse, but she couldn't have beaten Zenyatta with a head start on roller skates.

Still, it will be an interesting foal next year that hits the ground produced by Rachel and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. They are supposed to have an intimate date around Valentine's Day. Sweet.

So when Zenyatta's name was read at the Eclipse Awards as 2010 Horse of the Year, it was with mild shock that enough of last year's voters had made the trip over to the Queen of racing's camp to make a difference this year, especially since they now had perfect reasoning to vote against her. Blame had actually beaten her head to head in the Classic. But when did reasoning ever have anything

to do with the Eclipse Awards? Exceller beat Seattle Slew and Affirmed in 1978 and he didn't win the goofy thing.

Oddly enough, it would have been easier to accept her defeat at the hands of Blame than it was last year. Never before were there more divided camps than those pulling for Rachel and Zenyatta last year.

If this vote had been taken in Europe, chances are pretty good that the third-place finisher, Goldikova, three-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile (something no horse has ever done), would have probably beaten both Zenyatta and Blame. And if it came right down to debating which of these three is the best horse, at a mile, it would be difficult to argue against the European turf runner.

The announcement was handled with class by both factions, and if Blame were running again this year, chances are he would have won the 2011 award, but he has been retired and we'll never know if he could do the same thing Zenyatta did by coming back for another campaign, which is a true shame.

Here are a couple of other opinions from national columnists on Zenyatta's victory:

Bill Finley, New York Times and ESPN: "I miss the Horse of the Year debate. OK, maybe not the hate e-mails from Zenyatta zealots... Having voted for Blame, I do not agree with the decision, but I can't feel bad for Blame's owners. If they really wanted Horse of the Year that badly, they should have run Blame (this year again)."...

Bill Christine, Los Angeles Times: "The final mantle of glory they placed on Zenyatta's shoulders was wonderfully deserving and woefully inadequate. She certainly was horse of the year. More accurately, she was horse of a lifetime."
Original Print Headline: Zenyatta wins over fickle voters

Richard Linihan is marketing director for Fair Meadows of Tulsa.

Horse Racing

Saturday, January 22, 2011