NEWS
Father of Mine That Bird co-owner center of scandal
Posted: Sunday, May 03, 2009 4:47 PM
by Tim Nichols
The father of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird’s co-owner Mark Allen is one of the principals at the center of a wide corruption scandal involving the Alaska Legislature and former United States Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
Bill Allen, former chief executive officer of oil services company VECO Corp., pleaded guilty to multiple charges of bribery and conspiracy involving four Alaska state legislators on May 7, 2007. As part of the plea, his son Mark Allen received immunity from prosecution.
Bill Allen testified on October 1, 2008, during the federal trial of former Senator Stevens that his son Mark “got money to this legislator” that Bill Allen later referred to as “her,” according to the Anchorage Daily News. On March 11, former state Representative Beverly Masek (R-Willow) agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery for accepting at least $4,000 in bribes in 2003 in exchange for voting against an oil tax bill she originally introduced.
According to the Daily News, on April 18, 2003, Masek met with an individual identified as a “relative” of Bill Allen in Anchorage and accepted a bribe.
After Allen pleaded guilty to federal bribery and conspiracy charges, VECO was sold to Denver, Colorado-based CH2M Hill on September 7, 2007. The Daily News reported the sale produced a $146-million dividend, which was split among VECO’s six owners, including Bill and Mark Allen.
Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch was active in horse racing during the time of the sale.
In August 2007, Double Eagle Ranch spent nearly $726,000 at the Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse sale in New Mexico and purchased the sale topper for $460,000, according to the Daily News.
Mark Allen and Leonard Blach privately purchased Mine That Bird for a reported $400,000 in October following the gelding’s victory in the Grey Stakes (Can-G3) at Woodbine.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES
