Clueless Clowns at it again!

[miff]

Clueless NYRA in over their heads AGAIN!!can\'t make this stuff up.


NYRA calls on TwinSpires to handle phone account wagering
by Frank Angst

Citing increased call volume as stretching its limits, the New York Racing Association plans to contract with Churchill Downs Inc.'s TwinSpires.com to handle its phone account wagering.

On Monday, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board approved NYRA's plans to close its wagering call center and contract with TwinSpires to handle the business. The NYSRWB noted that the plan said no New York jobs would be lost as the NYRA employees will be moved to other positions.

NYRA spokesman Dan Silver said call volume to NYRA's account-wagering platform, NYRA Awards, has surged this year. Interest has increased since last year's closure of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. as NYRA has successfully redirected many of those displaced players to its account-wagering platform.

"Our call volume for NYRA Rewards has exploded," Silver said. "In the first three months of 2011, our calls are up [more than] 400% from last year. Going to an outside call center with racing experience improves not only our capacity but also improves our customer service level with more robust system handling."

Silver said in the first three months of 2010, NYRA Rewards fielded 91,000 phone calls and, this year, those calls are up to 440,000.

NYSRWB spokesman Joe Mahoney noted that Churchill Downs Inc. will have to be licensed to handle account-wagering calls in New York. That process is not expected to be a problem.

The NYRA-Churchill call center agreement follows the April 22 announcement that TwinSpires would serve as the platform for Keeneland's planned ADW, set to launch this fall. Churchill already has similar agreements with tracks that were former AmericaTab customers, like Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs.

"This is a business-to-business service we can provide to other companies, and it\'s very turn key for our B-to-B customers," Churchill spokeswoman Julie Koenig-Loignon said. "It allows us to monetize the significant technology investment we've made and the experience we've gained through building our own branded ADW [TwinSpires.com] and acquiring and integrating the AmericaTAB, Brisnet, and Youbet.com companies."

[FrankD.]

Mike,

I can continue to go one up on the local level with Capital OTB.

They are eliminating the Brisnet entry sheets that they have distributed to their parlors for free for years. They are closing down the print shop. Ingenious lets save money but not letting the players know who is running. Many of the senior crowd that accounts for 95 % of their business hangs around betting a few dollars a day to pass the time. Do they really think these guy\'s are going to buy a form or the NYRA program ?

But wait it gets better !

They\'ve moved the television studio from a Schenectady location of 36 years or so to the  Albany Tele-Theater. Yes the same building I posted a couple of weeks ago that is going under the wrecking ball. Of course they had to spend at least 50k remodeling the Capital Room to host the TV production in a building that is set to be torn down within the next year !!!

Brilliant !!!!

[miff]

Now the \"other\" clueless clowns want to get involved!! From Bloodhorse:

Feds May Step In on Race-Day Drug Use

A federal bill may be filed next week that creates a three-strikes-you're-out penalty system for anyone found guilty of racing a horse under the influence of a performance-enhancing drug.

The bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and expected co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky), proposes to implement the tougher penalties by amending the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, which allows the horse racing industry to conduct offtrack and Internet wagering across state lines. The following penalties are proposed:

* first violation: a fine not less than $5,000 and a suspension not less than 180 days,

* second violation: a fine not less than $10,000 and suspension for not less than one year from all activities related to horse racing,

* third violation: a fine not less than $20,000 and a permanent ban from all activities related to horse racing.

The suspensions proposed would also apply to the horse. After the first violation, the horse would be suspended from racing for at least 180 days. The second violation would carry a one-year suspension from racing, and the third violation would result in a two-year suspension.

The bill does not state specifically who would be held responsible—the trainer, the owner, or the veterinarian—nor does bill address the different classifications of medications or the thresholds of their effectiveness.

Alan Foreman, chief executive officer for the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said he didn't see the need for any federal medication regulation.

"I am mindful that there have been some regulatory failures, and we are talking about Dutrow," said Foreman, referring to New York trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who was suspended by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board in February for a total of 90 days for hypodermic needles in his barn and for a winning horse's positive test for a banned painkiller at Aqueduct in 2010. Dutrow has appealed the state ruling.

"Put that aside, the violators are few and far between,\" Foreman said. \"We have very few serious violators, and we have a very effective deterrent system. The system works; better than in any sport in the world when it comes to drug detection."

Udall's bill also gives authority for enforcement to the Federal Trade Commission, which caused some racing industry leaders to question how the added layer of federal enforcement would be funded at a time when budgets are tight and state regulatory commissions are fighting to secure adequate funding for essentially the same function.

Keith Chamblin, vice president of marketing and communication for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said the organization would withhold comment until the final bill is filed.

"We had anticipated a bill would be introduced around the Triple Crown and prior to the Derby," Chamblin said. "We cannot comment until an actual piece of legislation is dropped. What is being proposed and what is ultimately introduced may be very different."

Ed Martin, president and CEO of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, also said he could not comment on the bill until his organization had adequate time to analyze what's being proposed.

\"The bill does underscore the need for the reform that RCI has been talking about,\" Martin said. \"Whether this is the proper route to go is up for debate. We share the senator's frustration."

The bill comes on the heels of a call by the outgoing and incoming RCI chairmen to phase out race-day medication use in racehorses within the next five years. Support for further examination into race-day restrictions has been expressed by The Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations.

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said more discussion is necessary before rules are considered.

An international summit to address race-day medication is being planned for the summer by the NTRA and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. A date and location have not been determined.

[TGJB]

If anyone knows how I can get in contact with the people behind this legislation please let me know.