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23. November 2005 - From www.theday.com
Going To The Dogs? Not Lincoln Park BLB is putting $125m facelift on once-posh Rhode Island race Track
By ANTHONY CRONIN Day Staff Writer, Business Published on 11/23/2005
Lincoln, R.I. Bitter winds and rain couldn't dampen the glitz and glamour Tuesday as three prominent business partners pledged $125 million to transform the tired Lincoln Park dog track into the Ocean State's premier entertainment destination featuring thousands of video slots, top entertainment acts and upscale dining.
During a gala ribbon-cutting, Rhode Island dignitaries and business leaders munched on shrimp, sipped champagne and rubbed elbows with Elvis, Elton John and Marilyn Monroe impersonators as BLB Investors LLC described how it would spend the next 18 months restoring the luster to the once-lustrous Lincoln Park.
The top-to-bottom metamorphosis will add 160,000 square feet to the park, more than a thousand new video lottery terminals (Rhode Island's equivalent of a Connecticut slot machine), new restaurants and bars and a 2,000-seat entertainment venue and increase employment by more than 500 jobs.
This is just the beginning,” said Len Wolman, one of the three principals of BLB Investors and chairman of the Waterford Group LLC.
There will be nothing else like it,” he said during a press conference crowded with reporters and television crews.
Lincoln Park, which first opened in the early 1940s as a thoroughbred racing track moved into greyhound racing during the 1970s, and in 1992 was allowed to revive its sagging fortunes by installing video lottery terminals, or VLTs as they're called in Rhode Island. Wolman, whose developer successes have included the Mohegan Sun casino complex, the upscale Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa and the newly opened Connecticut Convention Center, has teamed with Butch Kerzner, chief executive of Kerzner International, and Barry Sternlicht, chairman and chief executive of Starwood Capital Group, to rejuvenate Lincoln Park, which now offers pari-mutuel betting at its year-round dog track and gaming at its 3,600 video terminals. Kerzner is the son of global businessman Sol Kerzner, who partnered with Wolman and the Mohegans to develop the sprawling Mohegan Sun resort. Sternlicht, a graduate of Brown University in Providence, heads the private investment firm he founded in 1991, which manages more than $10 billion in assets for wealthy and institutional clients.
The three business executives formed BLB Investors and closed a deal in July with Rhode Island's governor and legislators allowing them to upgrade Lincoln Park into an entertainment complex, in part to stave off the expected gaming competition from nearby Massachusetts.
State officials welcomed the major renovation of Lincoln Park, saying the 500-plus new jobs and new gaming revenues are good news for Rhode Island's thirsty fiscal coffers. As part of the agreement allowing BLB to take over the park and add to its existing footprint in Lincoln, R.I., the state will receive 60 percent of the net lottery terminals' revenue, the highest payout to any state. Rhode Island now collects about $300 million annually in revenues from Lincoln Park and Newport Grand, a video slots parlor in Newport, R.I. State officials expect that the expanded and upgraded Lincoln Park could raise those annual revenues to as much as $500 million. As part of its agreement with Rhode Island, BLB has pledged not to build hotel or entertainment venues at the soon-to-be-transformed dog track that would compete with nearby Providence. Lincoln Park is a few minutes west of downtown Providence.
The partners also downplayed any worries that the improved Lincoln Park would detract from Connecticut's two casinos, saying the dog-racing and video terminals would complement the casinos, adding the market remains large enough for a rejuvenated player like Lincoln Park.
The partners also established a charitable trust called The Lincoln Park Charitable Fund that will be administered by The Rhode Island Foundation. Annual proceeds from the park will be distributed to social service agencies in Rhode Island. Details of the funding were not disclosed during Tuesday's ceremonies.
BLB said it would make the park a must-see attraction for Rhode Islanders and those in surrounding states.
We want to expand the demographic,” Sternlicht said. “We want to create a great gaming venue.”
The initial phase of the expansion, now completed, includes 600 video terminals and will soon bring in simulcast and live racing improvements at the track, including simulcast terminals at every seat for those watching the greyhounds race around the heated dog track. Lincoln Park features pari-mutuel racing year round, with about 340 performances annually.
The BLB partners hinted that “A list” restaurants and other retail venues would be brought into Lincoln Park during its three-phase buildup. They said the look and feel of the park would be transformed over the next year and a half, from its parking lots and entrances to its three levels of gaming and entertainment.
A new two-story entrance will greet visitors, new high-speed elevators and wide escalators will be added and two upscale, glitzy bars –– dubbed Gyro and Polaris –– will be built to attract an upscale, albeit younger, crowd to the park. A short video played during the ribbon-cutting festivities gushed that Lincoln Park would be transformed from “antiquated to awe inspiring,” and boasted that “Lady Luck has a new home” at the dog track.
When the three-part renovation is completed, Lincoln Park will have more than 1,300 employees whose average salaries exceed $43,000, more than 4,700 video gaming terminals and a new north wing with additional gaming, a “high energy” bar, 350-seat buffet and several restaurants. There also will be a new western expansion featuring a 2,000-seat entertainment site that will support “marquee entertainment.” BLB's principals did not specify what that entertainment would be, but said it would add a new dimension to the current offerings at the park.
I think we're going to surprise ourselves when this is done,” Kerzner said of the expansive transformation. “What you see here today is really just the start.”
22. November 2005 - From www.theday.com
Plainfield Track reopens Doors, at Least For Now
Off-track Betting Back On After A Three-month Hiatus
By MEGAN BARD Day Staff Writer, Plainfield/Griswold/Bozrah
Published on 11/22/2005
Three months after gaming activity ceased at the dog track on Lathrop Road, the lights atop the building's roof shone brightly enough Monday to welcome back a small fraction of the dozens of regulars who frequented the track from its opening in 1976 until it went dark in August.
A half-dozen of the old faithful parked their vehicles in the vast parking lot, made their way under the dimly lit concourse, through the glass doors and past a vacant reception desk to the rear of the building, where a dozen televisions broadcast horse races from distant tracks.
In addition to the off-track betting on simulcast horse races, Plainfield has received permission to bring back live greyhound racing as well next year, with a total of 262 performances approved from Sept. 8 through Dec. 31.
The simulcasts at Plainfield had ended Aug. 12, three months after the live greyhound racing stopped. At the time, First Selectman Donald Gladding said the track's owner could no longer pay for the simulcast signal. Forty part-time employees lost their jobs.
On Monday, the building was chilly. Five staffers in sweatshirts and sweaters smiled and joked as they dispensed race books and free coffee.
Bo Michaud, 67, said he always liked the Plainfield track, and still does. A Willimantic resident, he heard from friends that the track was set to reopen for simulcast betting. He arrived at the track at 4 p.m. and two hours later was comfortably seated at a wobbly, round table, sipping coffee and looking through a racing program.
I like it here. It's quieter and easier to get into,” Michaud said when asked why he didn't place his bets at one of the casinos. “Hopefully, it will stay open.”
Karen Keelan, executive vice president of the park, said she reopened the facility because of the number of calls she received from people asking for the off-track betting to be reinstated. The calls proved to her there was still interest, she said.
I thought we'd give it a try,” Keelan said. “We have debt, and money is always a concern, but it's something that we hope will work.”
Keelan declined to discuss the track's finances in detail.
Paul Bernstein, a spokesman for the state Division of Special Revenue, said last week that Keelan and other representatives of the track had been meeting with state officials to discuss how to reopen. The track never lost its pari-mutuel license but regulatory concerns had to be addressed before it could reopen, Bernstein said.
State inspectors visited the track Monday morning to ensure proper security measures were in place. The inspectors approved the reopening hours later.
Bernstein said the track received permission in October to reinstate live dog racing next year. When the live dog racing stopped, the greyhounds kenneled at the track were relocated or put up for adoption, Keelan said. Since Plainfield will be run as a seasonal track next year, the dogs that race there will be part of a broader circuit, coming from other tracks that have closed for the season, she said.
The dog track property has been the focus of contentious debate about the future of commercial development in Plainfield. This spring, the town's Planning and Zoning Commission approved new zoning regulations and subsequently the reclassification of hundreds of acres near and including the dog track to accommodate a proposed 140,00-seat domed auto racetrack. The new regulations and the decision to rezone the properties have been appealed in Superior Court.
In June, Eugene Arganese, a principal with New England Raceway, the racetrack developer, met with state gaming officials to begin the process of adding the corporation's name to the gaming license held by Connecticut Yankee Greyhound Inc. to allow greyhound racing and pari-mutuel betting to continue in the future.
Arganese said Monday that New England Raceway still has options to purchase the dog track property.
4. November 2005 - From www.kansas.com
State revokes Wichita greyhound trainer's license
BY STAN FINGER The Wichita Eagle
A Wichita greyhound kennel trainer has been fined $5,000 by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and stripped of his license to work at Kansas race tracks.
The commission on Monday issued a summary order against Aaron Unger after an inspection of a kennel Unger handled at Wichita Greyhound Park revealed conditions that were "unhealthy for dogs and humans," the order stated.
A commission veterinarian who arrived at Brinkley Kennel No. 10 to check on the animals in late August discovered that the stench of ammonia was overwhelming, urine was standing on the floor, feces littered the turn-out pens and mouse droppings were throughout the kennel, the order states.
Several dogs were lying in their own urine, at least two were malnourished and another greyhound was injured and enduring serious neglect. The animals were moved to another kennel at the park, and the injured dog was treated.
Unger's license was revoked summarily because of the gravity of the situation, said Stephen Martino, executive director of the racing and gaming commission.
"We take these allegations very seriously and move quickly to see that the right thing is done," Martino said.
Unger has the opportunity to appear before a commission committee, which will review the terms of the summary order to determine if they are appropriate, Martino said.
Unger could not be reached for comment. The home address listed for him turned out not to be accurate, Martino said, because a copy of the summary order mailed to him was returned by the post office.
Shelli Baker, interim general manager of Wichita Greyhound Park, said the park assumes no responsibility for the actions of the kennel operators or trainers.
"We do not hire them," Baker said. "We do not supervise them."
28.Oktober 2005 - From http://stormedition.naplesnews.com
Dog track a bad bet for Breeders' Cup fans
Hurricane Wilma damaged the facility's satellite dishes
By Kate Spinner (Contact)
The dogs kenneled at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track made it through Hurricane Wilma just fine, but the building where spectators make wagers didn't fare so well.
Track manager Larry Baldwin said the 1,500 horse-racing fans whom he expected to patronize the track during the Breeders' Cup this Saturday might have to watch the race somewhere else.
"If a miracle could happen within the next couple days, we could possibly open by this weekend; but I don't see that happening," Baldwin said Wednesday, standing outside the building, where gaping holes on top of the northwest corner exposed steel beams, mangled strips of aluminum and mats of insulation.
Hurricane winds whipped through the opening and damaged about 125 feet of the fourth floor, knocking out satellite dishes used to simulcast horse races from all over the country.
The Breeders' Cup race, which will be held this year at the Belmont in New York, was going to be simulcast at the track in Bonita Springs this weekend. The race is the greyhound track's second largest draw of the year, next to the Kentucky Derby.
The storm also damaged the building's phone lines, making it impossible for gamblers to place their bets.
Regular track patrons are sure to be dis appointed if they have to watch the Breeders' Cup at home, said Tucker Rumberger of North Naples. Rumberger and four of his friends go to the track every Wednesday and Saturday to watch races and place bets.
They always arrive at 10:50 a.m., 10 minutes before the track opens, so they can score the back row of the second floor.
There they pore over their racing forms and statistics and figure out their wagers.
"It's a thrill, using the racing form and computing what the horses might do and seeing it unfold before your eyes," Rumberger said. "It's a two-week occurrence and we all enjoy it and it's a part of our lives."
Rumberger said he doesn't want to be forced to watch the race at home on television along with millions of others. He said the event is better at the track.
"We're serious horse players, so we're going to be very upset," Rumberger said.
"This is the biggest thing in horse racing.
It's really bigger than the Triple Crown because you have over eight races worth more than $1 million in one day."
Rumberger was not sure where he and his friends would watch the race. The closest track is in Miami, he said.
Though it's not likely, Rumberger and his friends might be able to continue their traditions in Bonita Springs this Saturday.
Baldwin said there are a lot of unknowns at this point. Without satellite reception, the track is not allowed to take wagers, even if the phone lines work by Saturday.
He said satellite dish repair crews will drive from Miami today to assess the damage, but the parts needed to repair the equipment might not be available.
"We've got some major damage up there," Baldwin said. "It could be a last-minute call, even by Friday."
Under the best-case scenario, Baldwin said, dog races could be up and running by Sunday.
The storm bent a few light posts on the track and damaged the tote board and the starting gates. Standing water fills the spectator area closest to the track, where picnic tables are secured into concrete.
Two of the tables blew off in the winds. A storage shed to the north of the track also crumbled in the wind.
The dog kennels were not damaged, Baldwin said, but the kennels were without electricity until Wednesday afternoon.
Track employees will also suffer from the track's temporary closure.
"Right now you have about 200 employees who are hourly wage earners," Baldwin said. When the track is closed, they're not earning money, he said.
Baldwin said he wanted to get the dogs racing again by Sunday to keep a revenue stream going for employees, dog owners and everyone else involved with the track.
The track itself will take a financial hit from the damage and the lost business.
In one week, the track stands to lose up to $150,000 in revenue from horse racing, concession sales and poker games, Baldwin said. That figure includes the loss from not hosting the Breeders' Cup. He did not know how much repairs would cost.
Though the track might be running in a few days, the clubhouse won't be open for a while.
At best, Baldwin said, repairs to the clubhouse will take two weeks.
Since the track building was constructed in 1973, it has weathered several strong storms, said Baldwin, but none with winds as fierce as Hurricane Wilma's.
"It could have been worse," he said. "I wasn't sure the roof would be on the building."
19.Oktober 2005 - From www.wvnstv.com
Investigation Determines Cause of Fire That Led To Greyhound Deaths Posted 10/17/2005 10:17 PM
After the death of 73 current and retired greyhound racing dogs, an investigation determines the cause of the fire that killed them. The Brooke County Sheriff's Department, along with the ATF and the state fire marshal...determine, late Monday night, the cause of the trailer fire that killed the greyhounds.
Story by Jim Forbes
The trailer housed, fed and cared for 73 greyhound dogs called ZEZ Kennels, owned by Ed Zirosky. But it was also the scene of an inferno, late Sunday night, leaving all the current or retired racing dogs dead. An investigation determined a faulty ceiling fan sparked the blaze. After the fire, many were questioning whether housing that many dogs in such a small location was even legal. But the Brooke County Sheriff says the site was recently visited by members of the National Greyhound Racing Association. But one northern panhandle legislator says he's not convinced the boarding facility on Gerdie's Point Road, near the Ohio County Airport, is humane. And chances are other animal right's organizations will request the same since this is the second such incident in five years. Another pet boarding facility for greyhounds lost 53 dogs when the air conditioning malfunctioned in July of 2000. No person was injured in the fire and no charges will be filed against the owner since it was determined a faulty fan was to blame. The Windsor Heights Volunteer Fire Department quickly doused the blaze once they arrived on scene.
17.Oktober 2005 - From www.timesleaderonline.com
Fire kills 70 greyhounds
AN INVESTIGATOR from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's office was scheduled to check today about the cause of a fire that killed approximately 70 greyhound racing dogs Sunday night on Girty's Point Road between Short Creek and West Liberty.
The dogs were at the Zee Kennels, according to the Brooke County Sheriff's Department. That kennel is not booked at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center, but some of the dogs may have raced on the island. According to the sheriff's department, the fire broke out in a trailer on Girty's Point about 9:45 p.m. It housed dozens of greyhound racing dogs, according to officials.
The trailer is a total loss.
Firefighters from Windsor Heights, Short Creek and West Liberty Liberty battled the fire. The blaze reportedly was extinguished by 10:45 p.m.
On standby was the Beech Bottom Volunteer Fire Department.
Brooke County Animal Control Officer Jim Andreozzi was notified and also responded to the scene.
The fire is still under investigation.
15.Oktober 2005 - From www.qctimes.net
Race park will fight to reopen, attorney says DUBUQUE, Iowa
he nonprofit group that owns the defunct Waterloo Greyhound Park has vowed it will fight the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's decision to deny its application to reopen.
The National Cattle Congress, which closed in 1996 after financial troubles, wants to restore dog racing and add casino games. It claims it still has a valid gambling license and will challenge the commission's decision in court.
"This fight isn't over," said Dave Nagle, an attorney for the National Cattle Congress. "We are going to be back."
The commission voted 4-0 on Thursday to deny the group's application.
The Cattle Congress has 30 days to file a lawsuit. The Cattle Congress will separately file applications within the next few months for new racing and casino licenses, Nagle said.
05.Oktober 2005 - From www.news-press.com
Bonita dog track fire accidental, state rules By DENES HUSTY III DHUSTY@NEWS-PRESS.COM Published by news-press.com on October 4, 2005
The June 1 fire that resulted in the deaths of 17 dogs at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs started accidentally from built-up animal dander in the air conditioning system, according to a state fire marshal’s report released today.
The built-up dander self ignited, producing smoke in the kennels of Gregory Wooten, which housed 70 greyhounds, the report states. The fire later went out by itself.
Track officials said that although heat alarms activated on the morning of the fire, security guards investigated the wrong building and cleared the alarms without notifying authorities, the report states.
The report clears Wooten, 50, of any criminal wrongdoing in the case.
Gregory Wooten is a competent kennel owner and he did everything within his power to care for his racing K-9s and I cannot find any intent or criminal activity with his kennel operation,” Detective Scott Bialy, of the state Fire Marshal’s Office, wrote in the report.