ADW's serving California given deadline to sign contracts

[rwwupl]

From the CHRB meeting 3-14-11..

I attended the meeting... This will be posted soon on the CHRB website. Thought you would like to know about this issue.

Roger

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/press_releases.htm

The Board approved the licenses for both XpressBet and TwinSpires to provide ADW wagering in California for the balance of 2011 subject to conditions. Each company must renew a labor agreement that was in effect last year. The Board placed an additional condition on TwinSpires requiring that all agreements pertaining to simulcasting of California races be executed by 11 a.m. Friday, March 18, or TwinSpires will lose its license to do business in California both in terms of accepting wagers from California account holders and accepting wagers on California races from out-of-state customers. The TwinSpires application was approved, subject to those two conditions, by a 5-1 vote, with Vice Chairman Israel voting against granting the license

[Kelso]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

Each company must renew a labor agreement that was in effect last year.

<snip>

Vice Chairman Israel voting against granting the license

Roger,
Do you know what "labor" is covered by the renewed agreements? And did Israel say why he opposed the license extensions?

Thank you.

[rwwupl]

Originally Posted by Kelso

Roger,
Do you know what "labor" is covered by the renewed agreements? And did Israel say why he opposed the license extensions?

Thank you.

The labor contract with local280, has been difficult for some time, the parties could not even agree to meet again, and when they do it is a "no progress " report.

The labor contract is a stepping stone to all other agreements and understandings,including what to do with the 2-3% increase in take out at the beginning of the year.

I hear from both sides. The issues are very serious.

If the plug is pulled from California by either side, it could further damage racing in the "Golden State" .

(IMO)...

David Israel (CHRB) has a shorter fuse than most and has a history of talking bluntly on many things,and in this case I think he has had enough... if that is helpful or not, your call.

Twinspires is not happy with California,going back to their one time ownership of Hollywood Park and continues on other issues.

Outcome? Your guess is as good as mine.


Roger

[Southieboy]

Any news?

[andymays]

Just in from Mike Marten of the CHRB


CHRB ADVISORY

SACRAMENTO – The license for TwinSpires to operate as an ADW in California remained in full effect Friday after the California Horse Racing Board received the required signed agreement for TwinSpires and the other Churchill Downs properties to wager on California races.

[Kelso]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

The labor contract with local280, has been difficult for some time,

<snip>

The labor contract is a stepping stone to all other agreements

Thank you, Roger. Yet another example of too many entities having check-mate authority in the matter of racing.

By PM I've learned that Local 280 represents California Call Center employees. They should be allowed to control (by withholding) ONLY their labor at California centers relative to remuneration/conditions. There's no sound reason for a labor union to be granted any input, not to mention veto power, over any other agreements the state might contemplate.

Job creation/preservation control should not be granted to unions, as it appears to have been to Local 280. This is nuts!

[rwwupl]

More input from Bloodhorse...

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...paign=20110319

Excerpt:



The account wagering operation owned by Churchill Downs Inc. avoided losing its license to operate in California when it reached an agreement with racetracks in the state on rates to carry their signals before a deadline expired March 18.

During its meeting March 14, the California Horse Racing Board conditionally approved a license extension for 2011 to Twinspires.com. Under the action approved by a 5-1 vote, CDI was required to settle a percentage rate dispute with Monarch Content Management Services, a company that negotiates rates on behalf of a number of racetracks.

"Monarch has a signed agreement with Twinspires, They are in compliance" with the CHRB's directive, said Kirk Breed, executive director of the regulatory agency.

Scott Daruty, representing Monarch before the CHRB, said the dispute was caused by CDI seeking to lower the rate returned to tracks for wagering on Louisiana content.

Terms of the agreement were not available.

Twinspires and XpressBet, the ADW company belonging to major track owner MI Developments, were also required to complete a labor agreement with the California union local representing pari-mutuel clerks.





Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...#ixzz1H3bdsvsw

[Kelso]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

CDI was required to settle a percentage rate dispute with Monarch Content Management Services, a company that negotiates rates on behalf of a number of racetracks.

Twinspires and XpressBet, the ADW company belonging to major track owner MI Developments, were also required to complete a labor agreement with the California union local representing pari-mutuel clerks.

Do you know if Monarch is Tracknet reincarnate?

(Unions shouldn't have the power to veto third-party contracts for tracks, either.)

[rwwupl]

Originally Posted by Kelso

Do you know if Monarch is Tracknet reincarnate?

(Unions shouldn't have the power to veto third-party contracts for tracks, either.)

Similar in purpose, different mix of people, But Frank Stronach and his band of men are behind it, Scott Daruty and Tom Varela are the two most visable men concerning Monarch, Varela also is involved with CHRIMS (statistic and bookeeping,etc.for the tracks) and Daruty is involved in representing Stronach property in matters before the CHRB and others also.

Both men were at the most recent industry meeting with HANA representatives, Jeff Platt, Roger Way and Andrew Asaro.

This article will describe the demise of Tracknet:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...net-media.aspx

Excerpt:

Churchill, MI Developments dissolve TrackNet Media
Posted: Friday, May 14, 2010 6:17 PM



by Frank Angst

Churchill Downs and MI Developments again will compete in the area of simulcast signals.

The two racetrack owners announced on Friday that their partnership in signal marketer TrackNet Media will be dissolved. TrackNet Media was formed in 2007 to negotiate simulcast agreements for tracks owned by Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment Corp. and then MI Developments.

Churchill Downs Inc. President Robert Evans said the partnership succeeded in many of its goals since its formation in March 2007.

“Three years after we formed TrackNet Media, we believe we have largely achieved our goals, including an ‘open content’ environment where ADW operators now compete for customers based on features and value instead of exclusive access to content. This has led to new online options for wagering, blogs, wagering tools, sign-up offers, streaming video and an explosion in online contests for customers and has helped produce meaningful growth in the ADW segment even while overall wagering has declined with respect to North American Thoroughbred racing,” Evans said

Roger

[Kelso]

Thanks very much for the details and the link, Roger.