The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, April 18, 1995, Image 5

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    pril:
{ cellence
ram prij^
> to the.
lesday • April 18, 1995
STATE
The Battalion • Page 5
am Houston Race Park files Chapter 11,
)lans to restructure and continue racing
y With lower turnout and a
jnericarfrC' 106 m average daily bet-
e o i | n gr the year-old horse track
oiiday iefaulted on a $44 million
‘g and it
munity,
ity,
•mote
ur coi
so spo®!
was
grammej
ience.
they i
th thepij
iboute
-ions. ’
Pting]
are.”
sdebt payment.
HOUSTON (AP) — Sam Houston Race
jirk officials filed for Chapter 11 bankrupt-
protection Monday and announced a
[0.8 million deal to restructure finances
[d keep the troubled fledgling track open.
“This is a milestone for Sam Houston
ace Park and means that we’ll be racing for
jars to come,” said James Noteware, Sam
ouston Race Park’s president. “We won’t
fss a single day of racing.”
1 Noteware said a tentative agreement with
jndholders, still subject to being concluded,
jers cash-interest payments on debt for up
[six years and a $10.8 million infusion, in-
iding $5.8 million in cash.
[The year-old horse track, the first Class I
ack in Texas, defaulted on a $4.4 million
at payment in January and has been nego-
tting with bondholders since late last year.
This new agreement was struck last week
(th bondholders. It includes provisions to
eradicate the $4.4 million debt payment the
track defaulted on in January.
Officials made the announcement prior
to an afternoon news conference to discuss
their plan.
Sam Houston, an $84 million facility in
northwest Harris County, opened last
April 29 with some 16,500 race fans bet
ting $1.3 million on a 10-race card. It was
downhill from there for Texas’ first thor
oughbred track in 57 years.
"This is a milestone ... and
means that we'll be racing for
years to come."
—James Noteware,
Sam Houston Race Park president
Attendance averaged 7,500 with daily
betting handles less than $600,000 for the
initial 45-day thoroughbred meet, far lower
than the expected 10,000 people and $1.2
million in wagering per day.
Because of the results, purses plunged from
a high of $150,000 per day to only $30,000 per
day, which drove away horsemen. That, in
turn, forced the track to cut racing days be
cause there weren’t enough horses.
Track officials admitted they had over
estimated the market for horse racing and
underestimated racing fans’ knowledge of
pari-mutuel wagering. They also blamed a
flawed marketing campaign and fired their
advertising agency.
Investors responded to a cash call from
track management last year and provided
an additional $6.5 million just to make
ends meet.
Sam Houston, however, continues to strug
gle. During the recently ended winter meet,
attendance sagged to under 3,200 per day and
wagering averages dipped to $462,000.
The state’s second Class I horse track, Re-
tama Park, opened April 7 on the outskirts
of San Antonio.
Opening night attendance at the $79 mil
lion track was 29,631, surpassing an expected
capacity crowd of 20,000. Total attendance for
Retama’s three-day opening weekend was
47,722 with a wagering total of $3.84 million.
Refama Park chairman Joe Straus Jr.
said his track would try to avoid the prob
lems that plagued Sam Houston Race Park.
Controversial cancer doctor goes before Federal Grand Jury
gwritinf
iside the:
tese’
spects/I
rs who
l artist
i someth
i This marks the FDA's
|fth attempt to indict
)r. Stanislaw Burznyski
br alleged violation of
pterstate commerce
hvs. His non-toxic
pncer treatment is un-
pproved by the U.S.
pod and Drug Admin-
[tration for general use.
HOUSTON (AP) — A doctor
jnder scrutiny for the last-
hance cancer therapy lie offers
atients nationwide delivered
Bcords Monday to a federal
rand jury in response to a raid
\ authorities on his clinic.
For 12 years, federal and state
fficials have tried to stymie the
ork of Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski,
(hose non-toxic, anti-cancer
treatment using “antineoplas-
tons” is legal but unapproved by
the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis
tration for general sale and use.
“It’s such a waste of taxpay
er money,” Burzynski said as
he entered the federal court
house in Houston.
He is frustrated, he says, that
the Food and Drug Administra
tion has both given him permis
sion to conduct his work in a
limited setting and tried to shut
him down at every turn.
“I’m saving people’s lives,”
he said.
Burzynski’s appearance before
the federal grand jury is the
FDA’s fifth attempt since 1983 to
indict Burzynski for alleged viola
tion of interstate commerce laws.
“Maybe when you become a
bureaucrat you lose a certain part
of your humanity and common
sense,” Rick Jaffe, Burzynski’s at
torney, said. “But I mean, no nor
mal person would be worrying
about somebody like Burzynski.”
Said Burzynski: “It’s insanity.”
It’s not clear exactly what
charges Burzynski could face.
The U.S. attorney’s office de
clined to comment Monday. It
also was uncertain how long
the federal grand jury would
take to decide whether to re
turn an indictment.
Burzynski’s medical treat
ment is legal in the sense he
can use it in FDA clinical trials
and for those seeking individ-
require FDA approval. The doc
tor says he is about two years
away from getting the treat
ment approved by the agency.
Burzynski never has provid
ed exact figures on his success
rate, but of the 2,000 patients
he’s treated since 1977, he
claims roughly one-third have
experienced remission over sev
eral years.
This latest whirl of legalities
began March 24. Only hours after
Burzynski appeared
... . ■ . on “CBS This Morn-
I'm saving people's lives." in g . and d ay S after
. . . . his technique was
— Dr. Stanislaw Burznyski featured by other
media sources, his
1 clinic was raided by
FDA and U.S. Postal
ual treatment in Texas through
his Houston clinic.
The treatment, however, has
not been approved for sale on the
interstate market and cannot be
shipped for use outside Texas
except for rare occasions that
Service officials who demanded
his patient files.
The Texas Board of Medical
Examiners is appealing a judge’s
ruling that overturned that agen
cy’s attempt to place the doctor’s
license on probation for 10 years.
ms
imony proposal would affect few, experts claim
The aim is to help those af-
cted to stay off of public as-
istance following a divorce.
AUSTIN (AP) — The alimony proposal
\/C lopted by the Texas House would affect rela-
V ^ lively few divorcing couples. But it could be a
eat help to those who receive payments,
■ rp mily law experts say.
I I C “In my perfect world, it would be a much
oader piece of legislation. But if we can get a
11 that will help any of these people in these
oblems, it will be better than we have now,”
g around id Austin lawyer Becky Beaver.
“I have so many clients who find them-
ilves in a situation where there is relatively
his writ-
and pla?
se thii$
minds
focus oi;
i throng
d on ho*
i writing
c thiW
t to
little community property, their children
are grown and they have spent most of
their time at the home raising the children
and not developing their own professional
skills, and there’s not any community prop
erty to compensate,” she told the Austin
American-Statesman.
The House added the alimony proposal
to a welfare reform plan, with backers say
ing it would help people to stay off public
assistance after divorce.
The measure, which still requires Senate
approval, would allow a judge to order alimo
ny payments if the couple had been married
at least 10 years and the spouse seeking mon
ey didn’t have enough property to provide for
minimum needs.
The spouse seeking alimony also would
have to lack the ability to earn a living be
cause of insufficient work skills, an incapaci
tating physical or mental disability, or be
cause the spouse had custody of a child with a
physical or mental disability.
Alimony could be ordered if the spouse
from whom assistance was sought had
been convicted of a family violence offense
in the previous year and placed under com
munity supervision.
Payments could be made for no more
than three years and couldn’t exceed the
lesser of $2,500 or 20 percent of the income
of the paying spouse.
Nationally, alimony is awarded in about 10
percent of divorces, according to Joan Zorza,
senior attorney at the National Center for
Women and Family Law in New York. ,
D
The Lemon Tree
restaurant
, Ring Dance • Parents Weekend • Graduation ?
Enjoy a evening in our cozy and relaxing atmosphere .
We feature an exciting menu with reasonable rates.
211 W. Wm. J. Bryan Pkwy. • Downtown Bryan • (409) 779-8608
Mention this ad and receive a free dessert!
sity
Jldg.
I
$ WANT TO EARN EXTRA MONEY $
BECOME A SEMEN DONOR
IF YOU ARE:
DEPENDABLE
& HEALTH CONSCIOUS
& BETWEEN 18 AND 35
CALL FAIRFAX CRY0BANK: 776-4453
FIjOWERZNJVIYY
OF AMERICA
$11.99
Ring Dance
Saturday, April 22nd
Corsages starting at
$4.99
Boutonnieres starting at
$3.99
Secretaries’ Week Specials
April 24 through 28th
We also have balloons and
green plant arrangements, etc.
Place your order now for the best
selection and color!
We deliver!
693-1570
ARTFEST *95
the winners' exhibit
MSC 289 thru April 30
★ *
★ EUROPASS
*'★
50% Discount
For 2nd Person in Party of Two
Traveling in 1st Class
Students!
Now you can travel in
style! With the 50%
discount, two 1st Class
Europasses cost only
$12-$ 17 more per person
than two 2nd Class
Youth Europasses.
EXECUTIVE TRAVEL
696-1748
123 Walton at Texas Ave. S.
Ratsod
The College Connection
" It’s for you! M
^DateNet
wqLy Area Code)
Listen - Answer
Record Your Own
Message
900 • 656-1 1 77
$2.49/min
Live Chat -1 on 1
Soft, Smiling, Voices
900 • 255-1 1 33
$3.95/min
Sports Info
P ic ks • T ri via • M ore
900-945-7700, extension 6151
$2.99/min
Must be 18+
Turnberry (914) 478-0017
Do You Worry Too Much?
Dr. Steven Strawn is seeking volunteers for a
2 - month research study of an
investigational medication for anxiety.
For more information call:
846 - 2050
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Scuba
1
Trips
Cozumel May 15th-19th $499
Cozumel June 9th-12th $449
Bonaire June 10th-17th $1,149
Belize July Bth-lTth $749
Co-Co View @ Roatan Aug. 5th-12th $1,049
Cozumel Aug. 14th-18th $549
Co-Co View @ Roatan Aug. 19th-26th $1,149
Get Certified
$175
Private Indoor Pool
All Scuba Gear, Texts,
Dive Tables, Wetsuits,
Rental for Check-outs
Paradise Scuba
Carol Anderson
from St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston
NATIONALLY KNOWN ACTRESS
PERFORMING HER ORIGINAL DRAMA OF
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
“RISKING IN FAITH...
TURNING THE ORDINARY
INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY”
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 at 6:15 PM
THE EPISCOPAL STUDENT CENTER
902 GEORGE BUSH DRIVE
DON ! MISS YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE A FULL-LENGTH
PRACTICE GMAT
•Take a full-length GMAT (including the essays).
•Receive a personalized, detailed score report.
•Learn your GMAT strengths & weaknesses.
Date: Saturday, April 29tli
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Piace: Room 113, Wehner Bldg.
Cost: $5 in advance, $7 at the door.
Sign up at our table in Wehner or at
The Princeton Review office
313 Dominik Dr., College Station.
For more information, call (409) 696-9099
ASH
l^^usines^£ackeiFB^^roth£r}u>oe^^
The Princeton Review is not affiliated withETS or Princeton Umverxilv