Philly Park Rejoins NTRA for Five-Year Period

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Philadelphia Park, one of many racetracks that defected from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association earlier this decade, has rejoined the NTRA for the upcoming five-year membership period.

Philly Park's membership spans 2006-10. The NTRA is seeking similar commitments from other tracks and horsemen's groups.

"Philadelphia Park is pleased to once again be part of the NTRA," said Bob Green, president of Greenwood Racing, which owns the Bensalem, Pa., track. "We have had constructive discussions with D. G. Van Clief Jr. and his senior management team, and believe that significant progress has been achieved by the NTRA and its board of directors to address issues that gave us cause for concern in 2000."

Philly Park and other tracks were particularly concerned with some NTRA policies that led the organization to compete with its members. One area was account wagering. Most of the members that defected have rejoined, at least through 2005.

"We believe that we will be a positive addition to the broad coalition that the association represents and can be of particular assistance to the industry as it seeks deployment of its racing product in international markets," Green said in a release.

NTRA commissioner D.G. Van Clief Jr. said the deal with Philly Park "is a major step toward achieving the industry-wide unity that we need to function most effectively."

Philly Park was an NTRA member from 1998-2000. The track offers year-round racing and operates six Turf Clubs--off-track betting parlors--in Philadelphia and its suburbs. Greenwood also operates account-wagering systems and was a pioneer in international simulcasting.

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