"...not with a bang, but a whimper..."

[richiebee]

All reports I have read cite no progress in the stalemate between Governor
Steamroller and Joe Bruno, so the near and long term future of racing in this
state remains uncertain.

Because I can not do so with any precision, I will not comment on whether or
not New York Racing stands to permanently lose part of its already eroding fan
base if racing shuts down for the winter months...or longer.

Gov Steamroller on record as saying he wants to extend NYRA for 30 years, but
IMO New York Racing did not grow under the long term arrangement which is about
to conclude so a shorter term would probably be preferable.

NY Racing may have sunk to a new low last Friday with 5 maiden races run on a
9 race card, including the first 3 races of the day featuring maiden claimers.

Wednesday\'s card looks like this: 14K claimers, 15K claimers, Stake, Maiden 35K
claimers,10K claimers, 15K claimers, NY Bred Opt Claimers, Opt Claimers, 20K claimers.

A possible erosion of the fan base...a noticeable erosion in the quality of NY
Racing year-round, and politicians,apathetic, arrogant and uninformed who seem
incapable of making any positive changes.

If there is a suspension of Racing in NY over the next few months, I can spend
my energy trying to prevent America\'s Adulterer/New York\'s pseudo hero from
taking residence on Pennsylvania Ave...

[miff]

Bee,

The word is that deals are being made in kinda secret meetings with the Spitzer/Bruno people. Some of the deals have nothing to do with racing and the politicians are playing with our money, whats new. Word of Bruno\'s genuine dislike for Spitzer is unwavering since they tried to derail or get fighting Joe sent to jail.There would have been no real issue on the franchise without the personal stuff between these power brokers.

Surprised that you do not like Rudy, a New York guy to the core,I look at this way, the average Islamic terrorist probably likes Rudy the least, so I\'m with him.I don\'t care about personal stuff as long as it does not affect the job.

Agree on the Wed card but the cards should get a little better according to PJ Campo since a few heavy hitters left more horses this year because of the increased purses here and the poor purses at Gulfstream. Incidentally,Gulfstream and Santa Anita will race on Mondays this winter.


Mike

[richiebee]

Miff:

Amazing or maybe not amazing that Gulfstream, with great weather, desirable
dates and a lot of owners and trainers willing to race there, has been so
poorly managed by Magna. With problems abounding on all Racing fronts, I see
the Shifty Sheiks eventually moving in and taking a racetrack
ownership/management role within a few years.

Though this is not the place for such a debate, I think that RG was an adequate
Mayor. I think RG would make a very good Governor, even though no NYC Mayor has
gone on to become NY Governor in over 100 years. I do not think that this is a
good time for a Rudy and Judy presidency, as I am not sure that he has the
diplomatic verve which our next President must possess.

I think the next Prez needs to mend fences with our traditional world allies,
build relationships with emerging superpowers, all while putting the fear of
Allah in those who have declared us the enemy.

[miff]

\"I think the next Prez needs to mend fences with our traditional world allies,
build relationships with emerging superpowers, all while putting the fear of
Allah in those who have declared us the enemy\"


Bee,

....absolutely!!! Re the shiek owning racetracks, I think he would be better for racing than most of the present crowd,esp Frank S, the energy drink baron.Gulf has been hurt  by Frank and co, but it is still the best east coast winter venue by a pole.


Mike

[magicnight]

Miff wrote:

\"Rudy, a New York guy to the core\"

Yer kiddin\' right? Unless, by \"New York guy to the core\" you mean someone who hates the constitution and likes dressing up in drag. Also, \"goat-doing\" should be hypenated.

And Richiebee wrote:

\"as I am not sure that he has the diplomatic verve which our next President must possess\"

You are not sure about the level of his diplomatic verve? His level may be at zero, maybe less, but your\'s is off the charts!

[girly]

NYRA isn\'t even taking reservations for Saratoga summer \'08- tickets are usually almost gone by now.

[fkach]

>I think the next Prez needs to mend fences with our traditional world allies,
build relationships with emerging superpowers, all while putting the fear of
Allah in those who have declared us the enemy.<

Unfortunately, for the most part the leading candidates from both parties are on a par with the management of the NY Knicks. That of course means they are even worse than the people running horse racing and NY state.

The only person I would even consider voting for is Ron Paul. He may be a tad naive about what would happen if the US totally withdrew, but he understands business, economics, monetary policy, has almost unquestioned integrity, wants to stay out of people\'s lives etc... I could live with him just on the integrity issue.

[firmturf]

If the Sheikh\'s (aka \"Shifty\") get the tracks what happens to the wagering menu?

How can the leaders of an Islamic nation condone an act that is against their religion?

Imagine the outcry from the extremsits if they allowed it!

Just me thinking out loud....

[TGJB]

I deleted the goat reference, and if I see something like that again the one who does it will get barred.

Yeah, we need another pseudo tough guy that will help with terrorist recruiting.
Rudy alienated everybody but the cops by the time he left (including the firemen, no mean feat), he\'s just the face we want to put on this country. And I wouldn\'t be at all concerned about HIM tapping my phone.

Anybody but that guy-- I\'m just praying I don\'t have to vote for Hillary. But my prediction is that neither of them get there-- it will be Obama vs. either McCain or Huckabee.

Since I opened the door I\'ll allow more on this for about an hour, but that\'s it.

[fkach]

>Anybody but that guy-- I\'m just praying I don\'t have to vote for Hillary. But my prediction is that neither of them get there-- it will be Obama vs. either McCain or Huckabee.<

McCain has no chance of getting the nomination. I\'ll book that action. ;-)

If I ever get desperate enough to vote for Hillary, for the first time in my life I\'ll have to consider the possibility that my grandparents may have made a long term mistake when they came to Ellis Island from Sicily decades ago (and that\'s pretty bad).

[TGJB]

What price do you give me on McCain getting the nomination?

[Ron G.]

McCain is currently 5-1 to win presidency on sportsbook.com, Obama 7/2, Thompson 4-1, Clinton (hillary), 1/3, Ron Paul 6-1, Giulani 5-1. Demos 5/8 to win presidency, gop 7/5.

[TGJB]

That is one hell of a chop, I hope you\'re not playing with those guys.

On Oddschecker.com, the site that reflects the British bookmakers, McCain is not even listed. Huckabee is third choice for the nomination at 8-1, so McCain would be longer than that.

By the way, Democrats 5/8, Hillary 1/3 ?

[fkach]

http://readabet.bestbetting.com/Default.aspx?market=13926104

http://readabet.bestbetting.com/Default.aspx?market=14318732

It looks like he\'s between 12-1 and 16-1 at various international betting outfits to get the nomination. I saw 14-1 for the nomination and 33-1 to win it all at William Hill.

Personally, I think that\'s an underlay.

This country (especially the right) is so anti illegal immigration I don\'t see how he can ever recover from perceptions about him on that issue. He\'s also not a favorite of the relgious right. I\'m not sure where that leaves him unless everyone else spontaneously combusts. He\'d also have huge problems in the general election because he\'s been so strongly pro war. That leaves him without strong support on the right, no support on the left, and little support in the middle.      

This is the way I think republicans see the nominees (not me personally).

Rudy is seen as strong, competent, tough on terror, but too socially liberal.

Romney is seen as charismatic and electable, but a big phoney. For some small percentage of the religious republicans, his religion is also an issue.

Huckabee is a favorite of relgious conservatives, but seen as weak on illegal immigration issues.

Thompson is seen as the conservative, but with no fire in the belly and not really presidential material.

Paul is not seen as electable. The pro war republicans obviously don\'t like him, but the libertarians love him.  

I think a vote for Huckabee is a vote for Rudy unless Huckabee starts looking like a winner and can survive the attacks that will inevitably come his way.  IMO, Huckabee takes more votes from Romney. If Huckabee fades under fire, I think it comes down to Rudy and Romney.

If Romney stops coming off as such a phoney and typical politican, he\'ll win in a cakewalk.

If Huckabee keeps doing well, but can\'t get over the hump, Rudy wins.  

If Huckabee keeps rolling and survives the attacks, he\'s the nominee.

I don\'t see a scenario that wins for any of the others.

I\'d make Romney the favorite at this point because his major flaws are easily corrected.

[Ron G.]

Yeah, their odds are not the best and all messed up, just one site.  They had offered Hillary at 2-1 a month or so ago and my guess is that they took too much action on her and are trying to get bets on others.