NTRA SCALES BACK INITIAL PLANS ON BROAD IBM PARTNERSHIP

          After "facing criticism" from some racetracks, the NTRA     announced that IBM's recommendation that the industry     purchase a tote company via the NTRA has been dropped,     according to Glenye Cain of the DAILY RACING FORM.  The NTRA     told its members the news during the final day of membership     meeting in Lexington, KY.  Instead, the NTRA will "pursue     partnerships" with tote companies Autotote, AmTote and     United Tote.  The NTRA has also "sidelined another key" IBM     recommendation, for the "industry to create a nationwide     broad-band communication network" (see THE DAILY, 8/16)      Equibase Chair Alan Marzelli, who has overseen the NTRA's     technology planning, cited costs associated with such a     communication plan, and said that the NTRA "would seek to     improve" its existing network (DAILY RACING FORM, 10/15).