With a little more than two weeks remaining before the scheduled shutdown of the barn area at Beulah Park, management and horsemen still have no deal to continue live racing in January. But developments on a national level could quickly turn things around.
Beulah Park and the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association have been involved in a dispute over advance deposit wagering revenue since October, when the fall meet began. Beulah Park in November received Ohio State Racing Commission approval for a 2009 schedule that drops its customary winter/spring Thoroughbred meet.
Lost wagering revenue isn’t the only concern. There are roughly 1,000 horses on the grounds, and a number of them may have no place to go should the barn area close Dec. 27 and racing not be held in January.
Beulah Park general manager Mike Weiss said there have been offers from ADW providers to horsemen for revenue from account wagering, but they haven’t responded. Weiss said as time goes by, Ohio horsemen, who are using the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group to assist in negotiations, may end up settling for a lot less.
Deals with ADW providers have been made by horsemen in California, where the Thoroughbred Owners of California is a strong THG supporter, and Louisiana, where the HBPA cut its own deal for signals and incensed some members of the THG.
“What has really been a sticking point as far as Beulah Park is concerned, is that as some of the bigger tracks have made (ADW) deals without the THG, Beulah Park isn’t as strong a signal for ADW providers (seeking content),” Weiss said. “Beulah Park and the horsemen already have lost dollars that are not recoverable.”
Ohio HBPA executive director Dave Basler said horsemen made an offer in writing for simulcast consent agreements but hasn’t heard back from management. The two sides have been very close to a deal on multiple occasions, but all ADW providers haven’t accepted the terms.
.
