Mid-Atlantic Players May Lose Key Signals
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Simulcast players in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond looking forward to betting important meetings in California and Florida this week may have to wait.
An impasse over signal rates will mean the 23 racetracks in the MidAtlantic Cooperative will not carry the signals of The Stronach Group's Monarch Management Co., signals that include Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Los Alamitos (which will begin a Thoroughbred meet Dec. 4), and Golden Gate Fields, until an agreement is reached.
Monarch negotiates for all of The Stronach Group signals as well as for several other tracks.
Some of the 23 MidAtlantic Cooperative tracks include Delaware Park, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Parx Racing, and Sam Houston Race Park. MidAtlantic says its member tracks are on pace to handle $1 billion in 2014.
MidAtlantic Cooperative said it has been engaged in negotiations with Monarch for a new agreement since late September when Monarch presented its initial thoughts on the contractual relationship between the parties.
"We have been and will continue to try to resolve this impasse but given the pressures generated by current business trends these increases for content are not sustainable," said Phil O'Hara, executive director of MidAtlantic Cooperative.
The MidAtlantic Cooperative said it remains committed to working with Monarch to arrive at an agreement that benefits all parties involved and intends to pursue all options available to it.