An amendment that would allow for local referenda on slot machines at racetracks in South Florida pulled ahead on Thursday after a computer glitch was uncovered that erroneously tabulated absentee ballots.
The amendment, which could result in slots being installed at Calder Race Course in Miami and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, was trailing in early returns on Wednesday, but as of late Thursday, the measure was leading by 68,000 votes, a wide enough margin to avoid a recount of the results.
James Binger, the president of Tartan Farms in Florida, former chairman of Calder Race Course, and husband of the late Virginia McKnight, died Thursday at age 88 in Minnesota, his native state.
Tartan Farms, one of the most prominent breeding operations in Florida history, was founded by Binger's father-in-law, William McKnight, one of the richest men of his era in America and the founder of 3M. Binger and his wife took over the farm in 1974, and assumed ownership in 1978 after William McKnight died.
The final rating for NBC-TV's Breeders' Cup broadcast on Saturday was a 1.4, the lowest rating the broadcast has ever received and a 22 percent decline from last year.
The rating means that about 1.4 million households watched the five-hour Breeders' Cup. Each rating point equals approximately 1.05 million households.
Last year's broadcast received a 1.8 rating. Officials for NBC said that the ratings this year were hurt by college football games being broadcast at the same time.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien will send 2-for-2 juvenile Yehudi to Saint-Cloud on Saturday for the 1 1/4-mile Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and the colt looks fully capable of handling both the distance and the expected heavy ground. Trainer Pascal Bary will saddle Musketier, whose six-length romp in the 1 1/8-mile Group 3 Prix de Conde marks him as the horse to beat. . . . Election officials in Greene County, Va., transposed the results of a local referendum on legalizing an offtrack betting parlor on Wednesday, according to state officials, reversing what was thought to be a vote of approval.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - When Charlie Hayward resigned as president and chief executive officer of Daily Racing Form in August, he thought his future visits to the racetrack would consist of his holding a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other.
On Thursday, Hayward's hands became a lot more full.
Gambling measures that would have allowed for slot machines at racetracks were voted down Tuesday in nearly every U.S. jurisdiction where they were on the ballot, with the exception of Oklahoma.
The biggest defeats were handed down in Florida and California. As of late Wednesday, the Florida measure, which would have allowed voters to approve slot machines in specific counties, was narrowly defeated, although a recount of the vote was expected. In California, a ballot measure allowing for slots at racetracks was soundly rejected, as polls had indicated prior to the vote.
Magna Entertainment is seeking partners for its redevelopment of Gulfstream Park in Florida and for a proposed slot-machine operation at its racetrack in Pennsylvania.
During a conference call with analysts on Wednesday, Jim McAlpine, Magna's chief executive, said Magna plans to proceed with its $100 million rebuilding of Gulfstream, but said that the company is seeking a partner to complete the project.
Youbet.com, the online horse racing wagering company, had earnings before taxes of $791,085 in the third quarter of 2004, reversing a loss in the third quarter of 2003 of $617,853, according to financial records released by Youbet late Wednesday.
Revenues in the quarter were $17.2 million, compared to $14.3 million in the third quarter last year. Operating expenses rose from $14.8 million to $16.4 million, largely because of increased commissions to racetracks and Television Games Network, along with increased costs for marketing.
Frankie Dettori has been given a 30-day suspension for careless riding aboard seventh-place finisher Mamool in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup. The ban will end on Dec. 8, leaving Dettori free to ride in the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Dec. 12. . . . Ball Four, a 3-year-old colt by Grand Slam, brought a $110,000 final bid from agent Joe Brocklebank to top Fasig-Tipton's Belmont Park paddock sale Wednesday. The auction sold 38 horses of racing age for gross sales of $362,400 and an average of $9,537, compared with an average of $8,171 for 55 horses sold last year. . . .
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Magna Entertainment Corp., the racing conglomerate that operates Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, and 10 other racetracks, lost $50.3 million in the third quarter of 2004 on revenue of $102.3 million, according to financial records released Tuesday.
The third-quarter loss was $35 million greater than Magna's loss in the third quarter last year. For the first nine months of 2004, Magna has lost $54.7 million, compared with a net loss of $1.9 million through the first nine months of 2003.
