Each pool will be open for three to 10 days at the discretion of Churchill Downs officials. There will be no refunds of wagers on horses that are scratched or injured. Winners will be paid once the Derby is declared official. If the Derby is not run in 1999 or does not produce an official winner, all wagers would be refunded. DeBartolo, owner of the San Francisco 49ers, was recently convicted for concealing an extortion scam surrounding the awarding of a riverboat gaming license in Louisiana.
State law prohibits felons from holding an interest in a racetrack in Oklahoma.
Although DeBartolo's family also owns Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., and Thistledown, in Cleveland, Ohio, his personal interest in both tracks is small enough so that state law wouldn't affect either track. They are crew members on the passenger liner QE2 and the ship has no betting shop while bookmakers in their last port of call, New York, were not taking bets on the race. The All at Sea syndicate was encouraged during a Norwegian cruise to buy a racehorse by the sister of trainer Lady Herries after she heard them discussing plans to purchase a greyhound. Taufan's Melody was a controversial starter after it was determined that he was not eligible for the race after being invited by Australian racing authorities. They later decided to let the horse compete since they had made the error and the horse's connection were not at fault.