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State-by-State Updates Spring 2001 ARIZONA Hull began preliminary negotiations
last year with 15 tribes whose gaming compacts [agreements] with the state
begin to expire in 2003. Hull wants the state to receive a cut of casino
profits and limit the number of new casinos. In exchange, she is offering
to lift the current limits on the number of machines allocated to each
tribe without raising the statewide cap of 14,500 slotmachines. Hull's
proposal would allow non gaming tribes to sell their allotments to other
gaming tribes, which would most likely be in urban areas. Hull has postponed negotiations with the tribes pending the outcome of the lawsuit. If successful, the lawsuit could make tribal gaming illegal or allow tracks to operate slot machines. Opening arguments in the case were scheduled to be heard April 10. In an opinion piece headlined "Racetrack industry declares war," published in The Arizona Republic March 19, LaSarte said, "Their attack campaign is comprehensive and costly and clearly a war on Indians who depend upon gaming to provide essential services for their families. In contrast, the racetracks are private industries, run for private gain often for the benefit of out of state owners." Action: Source: The Arizona Republic: Robbie Sherwood COLORADO "There is a chance that Colorado Springs has seen its last greyhound race," said track executive Karen Cloud Crouse. "Butthatwill be up to Wembley USA." The Cloud family of Colorado Springs has owned and operated the track since it opened in 1949. "It's been a difficult decision for us," Crouse said Tuesday, March 6. Crouse said her family plans to stay in the local entertainment business,possibly opening a Colorado Springs version of its successful 82,000 square foot Red & Jerry's Rocky Mountain Entertainment Complex, which it operates in suburban Denver. Red & Jerry's is an off track betting site that also offers sports viewing, food and beverage service, and interactive games. Wembley has 30 days to research
the racetrack purchase, Crouse said. Assuming it goes forward, the agreementwouldbe
final in early April, she said. As the new owner, Wembley could continue
racing at the track or transfer race dates to its Pueblo track, among
other options, Crouse said. Denver based Wembley USA, the American subsidiary of Wembley PLC in London, also owns greyhound tracks in Commerce City and Pueblo, the state's only horse racetrack in Aurora, and two off track betting parlors. The purchase of RMGP would give Wembley a near monopoly in off track betting at dog tracks in Colorado. Source: The Gazette: Rich Laden Loveland: After
more than three years of negotiations, the owners of Cloverleaf States/First
Quarter Kennel Club may soon reach agreement on the sale of the track
to McWhinney Enterprises, developers of the Centerra project, a mixed
office, industrial, retail, and residential master planned community that
spans both sides of Interstate 25 north of U. S. Highway 34. About 4,000 acres surrounding the 128 acre racetrack site have already been developed for the Centerra project, including a mall, several restaurants, hotels, and a business office park. The dog track now sits in the geographic center of the project. Nick Christensen, vice president of real estate for McWhinney Enterprises, said, "The dog track is just not the right look or fit for that site," which will eventually include more than 4,100 homes, as well as schools, parks, open spaces, and other uses. Under discussion in the complex deal are several options, including a land swap that would move the track north to a McWhinney owned parcel where track owners would build a new track and grandstand on a much smaller scale, or renovating the existing track to reduce the height of the grandstand building by half and changing the facade. If the track is sold outright, McWhinney Enterprises will demolish the dog track in favor of other development, Christiansen said. Cloverleaf, which opened in 1955, is owned by a group of investors who reside principally in Florida and the Seattle area. Sources: Longmont Daily Times
Call: Kelly K. Serrano CONNECTICUT The request for extension
of the tax break had been tied up for months because the dog track refused
to give the city a 10 foot wide right of way along the Pequonnock River
for a riverfront redevelopment project. Source: Connecticut Post: Michael J. Giannotti, Bill Cummings FLORIDA "The lure malfunctioned," racing director Juan Fra said the following Monday. Fra said he didn't know the name of the dog, but said, "His leg was broken real bad." He added, "When they catch the lure sometimes more of them get hurt. And sometimes with a broken leg they can be saved. This one was hurt too badly. It was in too much pain." Track officials called the
accident an isolated tragedy, but a similar accident at the Bonita Springs
track last year claimed the life of another greyhound. On Feb. 23, 2000,
4year?old Tune Me In died on the track after she collided with another
dog and then sprinted headlong into the lure. Janet Skinner, Greyhound Protection League's Tampa affiliate, filed a complaint with the Division of Pari Mutuel Wagering over the handling of Tune Me In's death and protesters later held a vigil at the track in her memory. "Dog racing is just a very dangerous activity," Skinner said. "Last year there were several well publicized incidents involving the lure, and those are just the ones we hear about." Source: Bonita Daily News: Charlie Whitehead Casselberry: After years of declining attendance, Seminole Greyhound Park closed its doors permanently in late March. The track, which had operated seasonally from May through October since 1981, is located in a residential area on the northern outskirts of Orlando. Pending approval by the Florida Division of Pari Mutuel Wagering, Seminole's racing dates will be sold to the SanfordOrlando Kennel Club, allowing that track to operate year round. The Sanford Orlando track is located a few miles west of Casselberry. Source: Orlando Sentinel: Dennis Wall St. Petersburg: The St. Petersburg Kennel Club, popularly known as Derby Lane, began its 76th season Tuesday, Jan. 2. Temperatures in the high 30s forced patrons to watch the races from inside the clubhouse. Derby Lane operates seasonally from January through June. Coinciding with the track's opening weekend, the Greyhound Protection League (GPL) held a "Just Say No to Slots" rally at Photo by Trevor Chin One of 25 greyhound advocates who protested in front of the nation's oldest dog track. Derby Lane on Jan. 6. Janet Skinner, GPL's Tampa Bay coordinator who organized the event, said the rally was held to protest the industry's latest move for a ballot initiative which, if successful, would legalize slot machines at Florida's dog and horse tracks. Source: St. Petersburg Times: Bob Putnam, Steve Persall TEXAS VRP, which re opened in March
2000 with just simulcast wagering until live racing resumed in mid December,
plans a longer live racing season next year, which begins Nov. 30. "We
make a better profit from live racing," said Newcomer. "The live season
was well received. In a shorter season people come out more frequently,
they know the season will be over soon." Source: Valley Morning Star: Buddy Green WISCONSIN Last year, then Gov. Tommy Thompson signed a gaming compact with the Menominee Nation to allow them to annex Dairyland as reservation land and operate a casino. Although the Minneapolis regional office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) gave preliminary approval to the proposal in October, the agreement needed approval on the federal level. Efforts by casino supporters to obtain final approval before the new Bush administration took office failed. Complicating matters further,
Thompson resigned as governor Feb. 1 to assume a cabinet position in the
new administration. Even if the newly appointed officials at the BIA and
the Department of Interior ultimately approve the deal, the compact must
receive final approval by Thompson's successor, Scott McCallum. Gov. McCallum
is an avid casino opponent. On Feb. 20 three Chippewa Indian bands won BIA approval to open a casino with about 1,500 slot machines at the financially troubled St. Croix Meadows dog track in Hudson. The decision reverses a 1995 ruling by the agency that led to a lawsuit and an agreement to review the tribes' application. St. Croix County Officials are opposed to the casino, which makes it likely that Gov. McCallum will not give final approval to the project. Sources: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel: Steve Schultze |