Harnesslink Article

Hi guys,
Upon further review, I think we ought to take it down. It is clear Kim was just incorrect and misinterpreted the numbers. Looking at the 2022 report, the OSRC’s numbers are confusing, and I might’ve made the same mistake. It would’ve been nicer if they made their case clear immediately, but we/Kim also exacerbated the issue with a curt response. The best move in my opinion is to reply politely, inform them we published their story when we received it a few days ago, and that we will be taking ours down.
Kim also never tried to imply Ohio racing was a bad investment, and as an Ohioan harness person herself, I’m sure it’s not her intent to slander the industry. She just made a mistake.
Their recent article isn’t completely honest either, as they say Northfield’s handle has risen 35% over the last 10 years, but inflation was 31% over that time, meaning the real growth was really more like 4%. They also fail to mention that the tracks get only a sliver of that export handle due to the way ADWs work. Nowhere in that article do they actually make the case that racing is a good investment, they just complain that people use handle to say that it isn’t.
Regardless, it’s probably best to just take Kim’s story down, as it does, in fact, contain incorrect/misleading information.
Thanks,
Nick
________________________________ From: Harnesslink News <news@harnesslink.com> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 10:59 PM To: Brad Reid <brad@harnesslink.com>; Harnesslink News <news@harnesslink.com>; Nicholas Barnsdale <nicholasbarnsdale@hotmail.com> Subject: Fwd: Harnesslink Article
Hey Brad and Nicholas, please look at this long thread. It has to do with Kim Rinker’s story Indiana and Ohio by the numbers – Harnesslink<harnesslink.com/usa/indiana-and-ohio-by-the-numbers/>
We need to handle this ASAP as it involves big time people in Ohio.
Whether we take down the story and forget about it. Have Kim redo the story with corrections (which I am sure she will not want to do) or Plan C…let’s chat about this please.
Steve
———- Forwarded message ——— From: Renee Mancino <rmancino@ohha.com<mailto:rmancino@ohha.com>> Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2024 at 21:41 Subject: Re: Harnesslink Article To: Kim Rinker <trotrink@aol.com<mailto:trotrink@aol.com>> Cc: Harnesslink <news@harnesslink.com<mailto:news@harnesslink.com>>, Jason Roth <jroth@caesars.com<mailto:jroth@caesars.com>>, Dave Bianconi <dbianconi@mgmnorthfieldpark.com<mailto:dbianconi@mgmnorthfieldpark.com>>, Joe Morris <JMorris1@caesars.com<mailto:JMorris1@caesars.com>>, Tony Renz <tony.renz777@gmail.com<mailto:tony.renz777@gmail.com>>, Rick Moore <RMoore9@caesars.com<mailto:RMoore9@caesars.com>>, Bluhm, Jason <Jason.Bluhm@pennentertainment.com<mailto:Jason.Bluhm@pennentertainment.com>>, Kenneth Rambo <Kenneth.Rambo@mvgrllc.com<mailto:Kenneth.Rambo@mvgrllc.com>>, Brent Reitz <breitz@mgmnorthfieldpark.com<mailto:breitz@mgmnorthfieldpark.com>>
Good Evening,
We released a fact based article regarding handle in Ohio. “ Ohio Harness Racing Continues to be a Good Investment“. < ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/OHHA-Handle-Release-042524-002.pdf<ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/OHHA-Handle-Release-042524-002.pdf>>
We are hopeful this will help clear up any confusion regarding the state of racing in Ohio and provide facts on handle.
We also request currently posted articles that contain partial facts resulting in a false narrative and inaccurate depiction of the state of Ohio racing be retracted from Harnesslink.
Any questions, let me know.
Thanks,
Renée Mancino
On Jan 24, 2024, at 2:39 PM, Renee Mancino <rmancino@ohha.com<mailto:rmancino@ohha.com>> wrote:
 Good Afternoon,
It appears that despite our requests the article is still as-posted with no corrections or retractions.
We are happy to provide the correct facts on Ohio racing and supply them or submit a correction article. If you can reach out to Ayers Ratliff Jr. aratliffjr@ohha.com<mailto:aratliffjr@ohha.com> with accurate information it would be great.
Thanks, Renée
********************************************************
On Jan 18, 2024, at 3:29 PM, Renee Mancino <rmancino@ohha.com<mailto:rmancino@ohha.com>> wrote:
Kim,
The difficulty with using the OSRC Annual Report numbers is they are not complete. If I recall correctly you are the OSRC employee while employed there that posted the handle reports on the OSRC website and distributed them directly to stakeholders via e-mail.
Using the Annual Report numbers for Ohio is reckless at least. However, the article reads as an intentional slight on Indiana and Ohio both, and from an USHWA officer I am shocked that you would write a piece that doesn’t have accurate numbers and defend it afterwards?
I can’t speak to Indiana’s Racing Commission reporting but maybe Tony Renz or Rick Moore can (I am including them on this e-mail) can? As far as Ohio is concerned they only report what they regulate. Ohio reports live pari-mutuel and in-the-building import pari-mutuel handle only. They do not report on any other “all sources” handle. They don’t even report on non-parimutuel racing fairs because they race under USTA Rules, not OSRC rules.
I think a retraction or an edit to correct the information and article would be appropriate, I am happy to contribute if needed but am sure those on this e-mail can also provide you with the correct facts.
I can’t imagine why you would be against correcting the information and article? At the very least you should report to your editor that we have requested it be retracted and corrected.
Renée Mancino
On Jan 18, 2024, at 12:47 PM, Trotrink <trotrink@aol.com<mailto:trotrink@aol.com>> wrote:
Jason, As far as I’m concerned, that’s old news. I didn’t make the figures up, I got them from the OSRC’s 2022 annual report, the last one they had available on their website. Best, Kim
Kimberly A. Rinker 708-557-2790 www.kimberlyrinker.com<www.kimberlyrinker.com> @Trotrink<www.kimberlyrinker.com/>
On Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 11:48:26 AM EST, Jason Roth <jroth@caesars.com<mailto:jroth@caesars.com>> wrote:

Kim,

I just came across your article about Indiana and Ohio’s numbers and I believe your narrative and numbers are skewed. Quite frankly, when people say you can’t trust what you read in the media, I now know what they mean. Unfortunately for the public, they won’t read this the same way I did. I will talk about Scioto because that is what I know about. You took our total on-track handle number of $16,180,040 and called it total handle. $14 million of that $16 million was bet on other outlets across the country. $2 million of the $16 million was bet live on -track during the construction of a grandstand racing afternoon cards. Are you talking about live handle in your article or are you talking about import handle. Not to mention, you never said a thing about export handle in your article for the Ohio tracks. In 2022, the total money wagered on Scioto Downs races was $41,435,908. A big difference from the $16 million you reported. Scioto Downs had an average of $215K per day handle prior to 2020. In 2023, that average was over $607K. I’m sure if you would have reached out to talk to someone, you would have found this information out on export. Northfield is notorious for having million dollar days. Just my quick math, they race 210 days, that’s $210 million and you told your readers they have a total handle of $33 million in 2022. So, here is what I do agree with. Are numbers down inside the building across the country from 1999 to 2014 to 2022, absolutely. Why, according to you, it’s because the size of the track. According to me, the landscape has changed with the gambling dollar. I am available to discuss at 614-578-0457.

Jason
[https://www.caesars.com/content/dam/corporate/email/cet_nfl_logo_lockup_03.jpg] <www.caesars.com/>
Jason Roth | Director of Racing O 614-295-4082
www.caesars.com<www.caesars.com>