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Courts Hold Fate of Wisconsin Greyhound Race Park18 November 2001HUDSON, Wisconsin – Nov. 18, 2001 –As reported by the (St. Paul, Minnesota) Pioneer Press: "The only track wagering these days in western Wisconsin is on the legal odds of St. Croix Meadows Greyhound Racing Park ever becoming a casino. "Idled since August, the racing dogs have been adopted or shipped to other greyhound tracks, and the gamblers have found someplace else to wager. "The only remaining activity is not centered at the track, but in law offices in Madison and Milwaukee and, eventually, the courtroom. "The Madison law firm that led track owner Fred Havenick's bid to open a casino at the track is seeking more than $400,000 in what it says are unpaid fees and interest. "Anthony Varda of DeWitt Ross and Stevens, who represented Havenick, expects a Madison judge to rule any day. Varda had represented Havenick since April 1995 in a wide range of track dealings, including the partnership with three northern Wisconsin Ojibwe bands to open a casino at the failing track. "While the partnership between Havenick and the three bands was successful in gaining U.S. Department of Interior approval, Gov. Scott McCallum blocked the proposed casino earlier this year. "…Havenick decided in June to `suspend operations' rather than lose more money on the track. St. Croix Meadows has been suffering from low attendance since it opened in 1991, and annual financial losses have been as high as $7 million. "For the track to be viable, it would need slot machines, Havenick, who could not be reached for comment, has said…" |