Management change at Atokad

Horsemen's Atokad Downs in South Sioux City, Neb., has completed a management reorganization and paid off a number of past-due bills, allowing it to resume normal simulcast operations.

The Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association owns both Horsemen's Atokad Downs and Horsemen's Park in Omaha. An ongoing dispute between the horsemen's association and Atokad management resulted in the HBPA withholding operating funds from Atokad and led to the resignations of Atokad's president, Robert E. Lee, and its general manager, Tom Harris.

Atokad had lost several of its interstate simulcast signals in recent months for nonpayment of simulcast fees and was in danger of not being able to offer this weekend's Belmont Stakes.

Greg Hosch, who took over as general manager on Tuesday, said the track has regained the simulcast signals of Belmont Park, Hollywood Park, and Churchill Downs, and has added those of Canterbury Park, Prairie Meadows, and Arlington Park.