JB. only 4 betting interests for the Cigar Mile

[covelj70]

your 28 line is looking tough.  I think there\'s 7 in the remsen and I am counting 4 in the Cigar Mile so the other 2 races better come up with full fields or you owe me a beer

[richiebee]

Covel-

Just to balance out the reporting, Thursday\'s Fall Highweight drew 10 runners, 9
betting interests.

Friday\'s Top Flight has 9 runners, 8 wagering interests.

I am not apologizing for NYRA, but I think they have done a decent job of
maintaining a viable year round stakes program.

The people at NYRA are just not getting it done in other areas. Many folks want to
blame apathetic and/or corrupt politicians for the non opening of the Aqueduct
Racino, but the truth is that Yonkers managed to open its mixed use facility while
operating in the same political system.

No matter what you feel as a Racing fan about the whole notion of a Racino, the
truth is that significant revenue is being lost each day this long approved
project in Ozone Park keeps on slippin slippin into the future.

Belmont and Saratoga are cathedrals, but Aqueduct is the home of NY Racing 7+
months a year. An Aqueduct racino would create jobs, would create revenue for a
cash strapped state and would eventually lead to the much needed renovation of
Aqueduct.

An improvement in the quality of NY Racing is almost an ancillary benefit at this
point.

This aint rocket surgery, kiddies.

[covelj70]

all very good points as usual Richiebee.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Kasept]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Covel-
>
> Just to balance out the reporting, Thursday\'s Fall
> Highweight drew 10 runners, 9
> betting interests.
>
> Friday\'s Top Flight has 9 runners, 8 wagering
> interests.
>
> I am not apologizing for NYRA, but I think they
> have done a decent job of
> maintaining a viable year round stakes program.
>
> The people at NYRA are just not getting it done in
> other areas. Many folks want to
> blame apathetic and/or corrupt politicians for the
> non opening of the Aqueduct
> Racino, but the truth is that Yonkers managed to
> open its mixed use facility while
> operating in the same political system.
>
> No matter what you feel as a Racing fan about the
> whole notion of a Racino, the
> truth is that significant revenue is being lost
> each day this long approved
> project in Ozone Park keeps on slippin slippin
> into the future.
>
> Belmont and Saratoga are cathedrals, but Aqueduct
> is the home of NY Racing 7+
> months a year. An Aqueduct racino would create
> jobs, would create revenue for a
> cash strapped state and would eventually lead to
> the much needed renovation of
> Aqueduct.
>
> An improvement in the quality of NY Racing is
> almost an ancillary benefit at this
> point.
>
> This aint rocket surgery, kiddies.

richie,

With all due respect, you\'re inaccurate suggesting the Association could have sped the approval process along at any point. As time passes and clouds the minds of observers, don\'t forget the alleged Pataki Administration collusion with the Lottery Division to \'pocket veto\' a vendor OK until NYRA was in an impossible position in the franchise debate. At that point, the purported conspirators figured they would be able to steer the decision to their franchise-bidding chums and get not only the racino, but the entire NY racing operation.

Alas, and thankfully, they were rebuffed by their misinterpretation of the Association\'s ownership of the facilities, and the franchise battle ended much the same as \"Dewey Defeats Truman\". Fold in the Spitzer fiasco and Delaware North\'s ridiculous funding miscue, (or were those NYRA\'s fault too?), and you kill off another 2-3 years in this process. The State of New York and its\' embarrassing graft culture  and incompetence is completely responsible for the unending delay in getting the AQU VLT parlor built.

NYRA and MGM were ready with construction plans 6+ years ago, so please don\'t reinterpret what has actually transpired in this Albany-produced circlejerk.

Steve Byk

[miff]

No doubt the State\'s clueless Governor and legislature are responsible for the  present delay in slots.Past delays were the responsibility of the past regime.

NYRA has done an average job but the Association needs an infusion of new executive management in an effort to grow a very difficult business in a tough economic environment.Without having to answer for \"profits\" or increasing revenues to the state(along with elevating NY racing to the top), present NYRA management gets a pass and does little to nothing new or innovative to better the handle/game.Any increases from the introduction of slots will not be attributed to NYRA, just a windfall.

There are no new NYRA initiatives,the same lack of transparency on many sensitive player issues and the same smug attitude from the NYRA/State racing officials. Same old, same old,the voiceless players screwed, as usual.


Mike

[richiebee]

Steve:

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

I am certainly not placing all of the blame on NYRA here, and will concede that
state politics in New York is every bit as corrupt as New Jersey and Louisiana.
I just do not see that NYRA is doing all they can to make the Racino happen.

Every voting and tax-paying resident of New York State, even if they have never
sat at a VLT or wagered on a single pari-mutuel event, should be infuriated at
the potential revenue and jobs lost each day that work is not being done towards
completing the Racino.

I am on NYRA\'s mailing list. I have not received a letter telling me that it is
important that I contact elected representatives and voice my displeasure at the
lack of progress regaring the Racino. I have not seen an open letter in any of
the daily newspapers from NYRA to residents/voters making them aware of the daily
losses incurred each day a Racino is not operated.

I read the Industry house organs such as BloodHorse and DRF quite regularly. I
notice that in other states, when it comes time to push for a slots initiative,
the racetrack operator will request (or threaten to request) fewer Racing days.

I never expect to see these letters or read that NYRA will seek to reduce racing
dates. From Wikipedia:

\"NYRA was reorganized and its franchise to operate the three racetracks was
extended through 2033 under legislation approved by the New York State
legislature on February 13, 2008. The new authorization provided $105 million in
direct state aid and forgave millions more in state loans to NYRA. The
Association also gave up its claim to ownership of the land on which the three
racetracks are situated. In return the state gained expanded oversight
responsibility. The state comptroller won the power to audit NYRA\'s books...The
state appoints 11 of the Association\'s 25 directors.\"

The reality is that NYRA is nothing more than a state agency, yet this would not
seem to relieve the Officers and Directors of NYRA from taking the necessary
initiative to try to preserve and even improve the quality and viability of
Racing in the state. They have failed rather glaringly.

[banditbeau]

I need some help understanding how this \"Racino\" helps racings problems?  I get the \"cash infusion\" theory, and see how horsemen might benefit short term from it,but is it really that?  Recent numbers floated about suggest $1 million/day profit with 7% going to NYRA, from which then the horsemen get their \"share\".  This mythical at this point $70,000/day split between NYRA and the horsemen really does not represent enough to make this a great deal it would seem considering the loss of $1 million a day in potential handle from racing that would be redirected to slots.  If you sit out in the paddock at say Saratoga for a day or 2, not a day goes by where several customers will say something to the effect that they like the slots better, or I\'m outa here and headed to the slots, or I win more, or get better customer service at the slots.  Checking other slots states, how is their handle doing despite slot inflated purses? Worse yet, how about states like California or Minnesota with huge slots that benefit racing not one cent?  None of them have growing handle, many are either reducing or eliminating race dates (see Blue Ribbon Downs), and are doing nothing to attract new fans, really the only way to grow the sport, at all.  That is one of racings huge problems now - no casual fans, save for the boutique meets.  Once they go to the slots - very few come back to racing.  Add in the fact that many of these \"Racino\" tracks will ultimately be run by casino people versus racing people, and one could make the argument the delay of slots at NYRA is a lifeline, before the slow demise.  My numbers might be off, but the evidence of the slots benefit long term is still so shaky that it seems a classic case of being careful what you wish for - you might get it.  BB