HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PREVIOUS WEEK IN RACING & GAMING

In New York, Jeffrey Brooks, brother of David Brooks, who is on trial for corporate fraud and other charges in federal court on Long Island, filed a $108 million damage suit against the United States Trotting Association, its executive vice president Mike Tanner, and members of the New York Racing and Wagering Board, claiming they had done harm and damage to his Bulletproof Enterprises stable, tops in the world in earnings last year with more than $10 million.  Jeffrey Brooks called the USTA and New York’s actions “a classic act of guilt by association.”  Others called his suit the height of arrogance and chutzpah.  After a formal appeal was filed, the USTA, in accordance with its rules, stayed the suspension of the Brooks clan pending a March 20 hearing.

Also in New York, the cry of “We’re going broke and may have to shut down around the end of March” was heard again, this time from Meyer Frucher, chairman of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, at a bankruptcy hearing.  The New York Racing Association is protesting the bankruptcy filing, saying OTB owes it $14.7 million and has filed the action to avoid paying it and other creditors, including Yonkers Raceway.

In Indiana, legislation to allow riverboat casinos to move inland was defeated, with its sponsor saying, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s dead.” At the same time, HTA members Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs were granted some tax relief.

In New Jersey, racing responded to Gov. Chris Christie, who said he was “disappointed and angered” by horsemen’s associations using what he said were state funds to pay for lobbying.  The executive director of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders Association wrote the governor saying a Monmouth County superior court had ruled several years ago that funds received from betting are regulated but not public funds.  Christie imposed a freeze on state travel, with a cap of $250.

In Maryland, David Cordish, head of the giant Cordish Corporation, sued the Anne Arundel County board of elections, saying it had overlooked “glaring and massive fraud” in considering a petition for a statewide referendum next November on the issue of whether his company should be allowed to build a casino at a county mall.  Both the county council and the state commission issuing casino licenses had approved Corish for the project.

In Philadelphia, Las Vegas impresario Steve Wynn announced his Wynn Resorts was taking over management of the troubled Foxwoods casino on the city’s Delaware riverfront, and that he would build not a massive resort hotel as in Vegas, but “the cutest casino you’ve ever seen.

In California, the state’s horse racing board, short of money, decided to pay its longtime tormentor, litigation-loving Jerry Jamgotchian, $35,000 to settle a suit it said it could win but could not afford to contest in court.

In major races in harness racing, at Woodbine in Toronto, the $60,000 final of the Ontario Girls pacing series for 4-year-old mares was won by Smashbox, a Mach Three from the Western Hanover mare Sunone, owned by Larry Ainsworth, William J. Boden and Martwest Racing, driven by Rick Zeron for trainer Jim Ainsworth, in 1:52.4 over Cats Meow and Keepers Destiny.

The $60,000 Ontario Boys final for 4-year-old pacers was won by Mr. Coolie, a No Pan Intended from the Presidential Ball mare Armbro Vertical, owned by Ian Fleming and trainer R. Gregg McNair, and driven by Doug McNair in 1:54.2 over Lakers Vett and Ponder Seelster.

The $50,000 open pace was won by Hyperion Hanover, a Camluck from the Abercrombie mare Hattie, owned by the SSG Stables and driven by Jody Jamieson for trainer Robert Fellows, in 1:53.4 over Keystone Horatio and Major Hottie.

The $50,000 open trot was won by Scorpion Moon, an Armbro Scorpion from the Speed in Action mare Angies Nugget, owned by trainer Tracy L. Brainard and Andrew M. Herzog and driven by Mark Macdonald to victory in 1:54.2 over Merited Victory and Armbro Chronicle.