The NTRA is "once again facing a defection of perhaps a
dozen racetracks just one year after narrowly avoiding a
similar crisis," according to Matt Hegarty of the DAILY
RACING FORM, who cited "several high-placed" racing execs as
saying that "at least six tracks in the mid-Atlantic region
are drafting a joint letter in which they will spell out
their dissatisfaction and inform" the NTRA of their "intent
to withdraw" on November 10, when membership renewals are
due. The mid-Atlantic tracks that were "said to be dropping
out" include Philadelphia Park, Penn National, Garden State,
Delaware Park, and the NJ Sports & Exposition Authority's
Meadowlands and Monmouth Park. Additionally, Frank
Stronach's Magna Entertainment, which owns seven tracks, is
"also seriously considering dropping out." Hegarty wrote
that it is "not clear whether the dissatisfied tracks are
threatening to leave in order to gain concessions" from the
NTRA before the November 10 deadline, but one exec said,
"They've had enough. They feel that the NTRA hasn't done a
thing that they said they would do" (DRF, 10/22).
