N.Y. Race Tracks Fire Pinkerton’s

The New York Racing Assn. has decided to not renew its contract with Pinkerton’s Inc., the security firm that has been providing security services for some New York tracks for a hundred years.

Wackenhut Corp., the third-largest security company in the United States, will provide security instead at the Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga race tracks in 1990, racing association Vice President John Keenan said.

Thomas Wathen, owner and president of Pinkerton’s Inc., said Monday that the racing association told him last week that it would not renew its contract with his Los Angeles-based firm. That will end “100 straight, solid, continuous years of loyal and faithful service,” he said.

Wathen said Pinkerton’s began providing security at New York tracks in 1890 and were contracted by them every year since.

Wathen said his company asked the association for a 1% increase over its previous $15.5-million contract in addition to some changes in the contractual language.