Fonner Park in Grand Island, Neb., will open its meet a week later than usual in 2011 but will maintain its schedule of 31 days as the Nebraska State Racing Commission approved a 92-day live season of racing at its meeting Thursday in Lincoln.
Sean Alfortish, the president of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and Mona Romero, the organization’s executive director, were charged Thursday with conspiracy to commit mail fraud as part of a 29-count indictment, according to a release issued by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
Frank Stronach has taken over as chief executive of MI Developments, the racing and real-estate company that holds a portfolio of racing assets that continues to struggle.
Frank Stronach has been elevated to chief executive officer of MI Developments, the real-estate and racetrack company he already leads as chairman, MI Developments announced in a release late on Thursday. Stronach replaces Dennis Mills, who resigned on Thursday but will remain vice chairman of the company and a director, the company said.
A company affiliated with the Internet entrepreneur Halsey Minor made an offer on Tuesday to purchase the racing assets held by MI Developments.
The ball has started rolling in New Jersey on a legislative package designed to help the racing industry.
Customers of Youbet.com will be transferred to the account-wagering operations of Twinspires.com as of Nov. 16, according to the owner of both account-wagering platforms, Churchill Downs Inc.
Frank Stronach, the chairman of MI Developments, told the Baltimore Sun on Monday that the company’s Laurel Park in Maryland will not close in 2011, in contradiction to what track officials said last week.
Wagering on the 14 races of the Breeders’ Cup held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Friday and Saturday jumped 15.5 percent compared with the betting totals for the 14 races last year and established a record for the event, according to figures provided by the organization on Monday.
The television rating of the final hour of the Saturday ESPN-TV telecast of the Breeders’ Cup this year was nearly triple that of the television rating last year, according to figures provided by ESPN on Monday.
