Owner admits involvement in formation of operation

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Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 | 9:17 a.m.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The chief owner of the Lakes Region Greyhound Park said he was "very much involved" in the formation of a gambling operation set up to attract high-level bettors.

Allan Hart earlier said he invested a small amount in the start up of Concord-based International Players Association LLC, but had no involvement in the operations.

Hart told The Union Leader's Saturday edition that being involved in the formation of the company is totally different from being involved in the day-to-day operation of the company, which he was not.

"If I was going to invest in the company, I wanted to make sure it was done right," Hart told the newspaper.

The gambling activities of IPA led to the indictment earlier this month of Lakes Region general manager Richard Hart and his assistant manager Jonathan Broome on charges related to money laundering and illegal gambling.

In an affidavit filed in a lawsuit brought by Richard Hart's two brothers last fall over IPA, attorney Ronald Cook said, "During the mid-part of 2002, I was contacted by Allan E. Hart and asked if I would assist him in addressing the legal aspects of a proposed new venture."