Exhibit 10.16
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered
into this 20 th
day of February, 2009, by and
between PNGI CHARLES TOWN GAMING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY,
a West Virginia Limited Liability Company (hereinafter
“Charles Town Races”), and CHARLES TOWN HBPA,
INC., a West Virginia not-for-profit corporation (hereinafter
“HBPA”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Charles Town Races is
licensed by the West Virginia Racing Commission, pursuant to
Chapter 19, Article 23-1, et seq., of the West Virginia Code,
to conduct live thoroughbred horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering
and, in accordance with that licensure, Charles Town Races owns and
operates a thoroughbred racing facility under the trade name
Charles Town Races (hereinafter the physical facility will be
referred to as the “Racetrack”); and
WHEREAS, the HBPA is an Association
comprised of owners, trainers and owner-trainers (the
“members”) of thoroughbred racing horses;
and
WHEREAS, the HBPA provides
benevolent programs and other services for its members and their
employees who are engaged in live thoroughbred racing at the
Racetrack; and
WHEREAS, Charles Town Races and the
HBPA validly extended the prior Agreement between the parties
through February 28, 2009 and cooperatively worked toward a
new agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to
reaffirm their mutual interest in the promotion, preservation, and
enhancement of live thoroughbred racing at the Racetrack;
and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto reaffirm
their support for quality live thoroughbred racing activities and
reaffirm their desire for the promotion of such activities in the
State of West Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Charles Town Races
acknowledges that the HBPA is the exclusive bargaining agent and
representative of its members, as certified by the West Virginia
Racing Commission. Charles Town Races shall only negotiate with the
exclusive bargaining agent and representatives of the Horsemen as
certified by the West Virginia Racing Commission during the term of
this Agreement and any amendments thereto or any Agreement which
shall supersede this Agreement for the provision of services in
connection with live thoroughbred racing activities, safety and
back stretch conditions; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire
to memorialize and set forth in writing the contractual agreements
by and between Charles Town Races and the HBPA concerning live
thoroughbred racing at the Racetrack.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties
desire to be legally bound, do agree as follows:
1.
Term of
Agreement . This
Agreement shall become effective as of March 1, 2009, and
shall remain in full force and effect until December 31, 2011
(the “ Initial Term”). At the end of the Initial Term,
the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended under
the same terms and conditions for a period of one (1) year
(hereinafter the “First Extension Term”) unless either
party shall give notice to the other party, in writing, of its
intent to terminate the Agreement not later than September 30,
2011. At the end of the First Extension Term, the term of the
Agreement shall automatically be extended under the same terms and
conditions for a period of an additional one (1) year
(hereinafter the
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“Second Extension Term”), unless
either party shall give notice to the other party, in writing, of
its intent to terminate the Agreement not later than
September 30, 2012.
Notwithstanding the term of this
Agreement or anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, in
the event of a cessation of Video Lottery activity at Charles Town
Races for any reason, the obligations of the parties under this
Agreement are suspended for such period of inactivity. For clarity,
neither Charles Town Races nor any of its affiliates shall be
responsible for any expenses or lost profits of the HBPA or its
members during any such period of inactivity.
2.
Exclusive
Representation . The
HBPA is currently recognized by the West Virginia Racing Commission
as the duly qualified and exclusive representative of the owners,
trainers, and owner-trainers of live thoroughbred horse racing at
the Racetrack as certified by the West Virginia Racing Commission.
Charles Town Races shall only negotiate with the exclusive
bargaining agent and representative of the Horsemen as certified by
the West Virginia Racing Commission. Any negotiation or discussion
of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, or any amendment
thereto, or any Agreement which shall supersede the terms and
provisions of this Agreement with any person, entity or
representative of an entity that is not the exclusive bargaining
agent and representative of the Horsemen, as certified by the West
Virginia Racing Commission, shall constitute a breach of this
Agreement.
Charles Town Races agrees that it
shall negotiate with and conduct any and all business which is the
subject of this Agreement and any matters reasonably related to any
provision of this Agreement with the duly elected officers of the
HBPA or their duly designated representatives.
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The HBPA agrees that it shall
provide to Charles Town Races, in writing, on an annual basis, the
name and address of each and every duly elected member of the Board
of Directors, the name and address of each duly elected officer of
the HBPA who shall have the authority to negotiate with the Charles
Town Races, and the name and address of each representative duly
designated by the Board of Directors of the HBPA to negotiate on
its behalf.
3.
Racing Schedule
. During the term of this Agreement, Charles Town
Races shall request a license each year from the West Virginia
Racing Commission to conduct racing, and in fact conduct racing,
for not less than the minimum number of days required by the West
Virginia Code, which is currently two hundred twenty (220) days per
year. Charles Town Races shall provide a copy of its Annual License
Application filed with the West Virginia Racing Commission to the
HBPA within three (3) days of the date of its filing.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, it is
understood and agreed that, subject to receiving approval from the
West Virginia Racing Commission, Charles Town Races shall schedule
a total of 235 racing days, with not less than 9 races per racing
day, during each year of this Agreement. Any reduction in race days
below 235 shall be subject to the prior approval of the HBPA, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld or unduly delayed, and the West
Virginia Racing Commission In the event racing days are cancelled
due to weather, track conditions, unavailability of horses or any
other reason beyond the reasonable control of Charles Town Races,
any such cancellation and the fact that 235 racing days are not
held, shall not be considered a breach of this
Agreement.
Charles Town Races shall reschedule
such race day and provide notice to the HBPA of the rescheduled
date as soon as practicable.
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Charles Town Races agrees that it
will not discontinue racing for a period of more than one
(1) three (3) week period in any calendar year, unless
agreed upon by the HBPA, except in the event of an act of God or
other catastrophe, or conditions beyond the reasonable control of
Charles Town Races.
4.
Minimum Purse and Purse
Scheduling .
A.
Minimum Daily
Purses . With
respect to the daily minimum purse distribution, Charles Town Races
shall make reasonable efforts to maintain a ratio of the then
current minimum daily purse schedule for a given month to the then
current amount generated for daily purses for that month that is
equal to the historical ratio of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Dollars ($125,000) to the average daily amount generated for purses
between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008.
It is mutually agreed that, as far
as possible and consistent with the foregoing, the principle of
“better purse for better horses” shall be followed in
establishing the purse payable for any one race. Charles Town Races
further agrees that, if necessary, better purses will be reduced to
maintain minimum purse schedules.
Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, it is understood and agreed that the
funding of purses shall be solely in accordance with applicable
provisions of W.Va. Code §19-23-1, et seq., Horse and Dog
Racing; W.Va. Code §29-22-A-1, et seq., The Racetrack Video
Lottery Act; W.Va. Code 29-22C-1, West Virginia Lottery Table Games
Act, and any such further legislation that may be enacted which
provides for the payment of monies into the purse fund as more
fully provided for in Section 7 of this Agreement, and that
Charles Town Races shall not be required to otherwise fund the
payment of purses.
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Except as provided below with
respect to Stake Races, Charles Town agrees to pay one hundred
dollars ($100.00) to the owner’s account for horses finishing
in places seven through ten which shall be paid from the purse
fund.
B.
Purse Schedule
Distribution . Charles Town Races and HBPA will establish and
publish a purse schedule distribution, which shall show the purse
distribution planned for various classes of horses at various
distances. Such schedule shall be updated as necessary. Said
schedule with any amendments thereto shall be posted in the Racing
Secretary’s office and the Condition Book. In the event of a
purse schedule distribution decrease, the purses for bottom
claiming races shall not be reduced unless the purses for all races
are also reduced (though not necessarily by the same
percentage).
C.
Stakes Schedule
. Each year purses for Stake races shall not
exceed, in the aggregate, eight percent (8%) of the total purses
paid, from the purse account, in the immediately preceding calendar
year excluding the amounts paid for stake races and amounts
received for sponsorship of races unless otherwise authorized by
the HBPA. Charles Town Races shall determine the number of and
purses for stake races and submit the stakes schedule to HBPA for
written comment prior to submission of the stakes schedule to the
West Virginia Racing Commission.
D.
Charles Town Races agrees to pay
purses for Stakes Races back through not less than five
(5) places.
E.
It is understood by both parties
that purse schedules shall not be in conflict with the
rules of racing of the West Virginia Racing Commission as
presently constituted or as may be reconstituted..
F.
West Virginia Accredited
Races .
Charles Town Races shall include in
its Condition Book a minimum of two (2) races on every live
racing day devoted exclusively for
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West Virginia accredited horses unless
sufficient horses and purse funds are not available therefore, in
accordance with the requirements of the West Virginia Racing
Commission pursuant to the provisions of §19-23-13(b) of
the West Virginia Code. Races devoted exclusively for West Virginia
accredited horses shall be run if no less than se