NYRA Dismantled

[jbee]

NYRA\'s implosion now creates the opportunity for it to cleanup it\'s act and to re-establish itself as a viable business financially and to regain the trust of it\'s fans and the public. The resultant changes we can expect will and should benefit it longterm. These changes should include; strict medication rules and oversight with a zero tolerance provision, closing Aqueduct (bye bye inside bias days, will miss that), Belmont renovated and built to world class status (politicians will love that)that will be seen as sign of commitment to the racing industry and New Yorker\'s. The key to this working is that everyone needs to realize that there is a new sheriff in town, Sheriff Andy. What we need now is for Opie and Barney to tell Sheriff Andy what\'s wrong with Mayberry and it will once again become a nice place to visit and do business with.  Check the egos at the door when entering the Sheriff\'s office and everyone will get along. Don\'t \"F\" it up.

[BB]

This town long ago buried racetracks nicer than Aqueduct, so if it needs to die so that Saratoga and Belmont might thrive, I\'ll go to the funeral with dry eyes. But I would hate to see Belmont butchered for the sake of winter racing. If NY racing is going to have to eventually stand on its own (once the casino deal is done, say by \'14), it should not have to have the NY Breeders and the weaker local outfits dragging it down by law. Close up shop a week before Christmas and open up after St Patricks Day. A nine month season should be long enough. Phase out winter racing over the next two years if you must, so that those who won\'t be able to play under the new rules can get their affairs in order. Don\'t waste a perfectly good crisis.

[richiebee]

I\'ll agree with the elimination of Aqueduct, but a lot of folks are tying this in
with building a world class convention center in Ozone Park, which I do not think is
ever going to happen. Just not close enough to Manhattan in my opinion

I would cut down on the number of racing days in New York. In addition to the winter
closure which many have mentioned (and many who mention this have forgotten that as
recently as 8 or 10 years ago, winter racing was competitive and bettable), I would
suggest closing Belmont a week after the Belmont Stakes (and I can not believe I am
saying this) and open Saratoga on July 4th weekend. This would require that the turf
course be used sparingly, but dirt racing has become a novelty at NYRA lately with
Campo and crew relying on turf racing, especially turf sprints, to get full cards.

NY Bred racing has to be reconfigured and can not dominate the racing cards the way it
does now and has in the recent past.

[Topcat]

BB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This town long ago buried racetracks nicer than
> Aqueduct, so if it needs to die so that Saratoga
> and Belmont might thrive, I\'ll go to the funeral
> with dry eyes. But I would hate to see Belmont
> butchered for the sake of winter racing. If NY
> racing is going to have to eventually stand on its
> own (once the casino deal is done, say by \'14), it
> should not have to have the NY Breeders and the
> weaker local outfits dragging it down by law.
> Close up shop a week before Christmas and open up
> after St Patricks Day. A nine month season should
> be long enough. Phase out winter racing over the
> next two years if you must, so that those who
> won\'t be able to play under the new rules can get
> their affairs in order. Don\'t waste a perfectly
> good crisis.


Can\'t imagine the $-hungry state would tolerate for a moment any sustained interruption in the 12-month carousel.   Don\'t hold your breath.

[FrankD.]

Richie,

That 4th of July to Labor day drum has been beating louder the past couple of years and is inevitable. It would not be a surprise with new political regime in place for sure.

The six weeks of racing now pumps 200 million into the upstate economy and that\'s not counting an extra trip by you and your beer purchases! I doubt they would sustain racing 6 days a week in such a scenario but whats wrong with adding 3 weeks of 4 days a week?

There is no way Campo has his job for long. The political finger pointers have to blame someone for carding all the cheap races which resulted in breakdowns.
I can see Shelly Silver wagging his finger to the PETA folks telling them how they are cleaning up racing and making it safer.

Frank D.

[TGJB]

Top-- they could cut out winter racing if they set up an OTB system which they own, take bets on other tracks over the winter, and save on expenses and purse money.

[Topcat]

TGJB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Top-- they could cut out winter racing if they set
> up an OTB system which they own, take bets on
> other tracks over the winter, and save on expenses
> and purse money.


Not much would surprise me, now . . . though given the level of the winter product, the handle generated by same seems more than respectable, to me.

[trackjohn]

My initial response to this is that \"it makes too much sense...they wouldn\'t do it\"...However...IMO, the landscape has markedly changed...in the past the NY politicians didn\'t give a rats @#& about NY racing...now they see the $$$ from the slots (I\'m sorry..VLT\'s!)...now they ALL expect/demand a piece...I can\'t believe that Haywood and his crew was so stupid...his actions actually gave Albany a legitimate opening to take over NYRA!

  My guess: Cuomo has future presidential aspirations ...he will do anything to close his budget gap and present himself as THE business leader...Casino gambling will become common-place in NYS within 12 months with the Aqueduct/Genting site as the initial \'jewel\'.  The Big \'A\' will close, Belmont will be winterized, and the Saratoga meet will be expanded from July 4th thru Labor Day.  The current Aqueduct property will be converted into a huge casino/convention center...NYC needs a legitimate convention center to compete with Chicago, Las Vegas, etc...it won\'t matter that it is not in Manhattan, it is next door to JFK...(The McCormick Center in Chicago is on Lake Michigan, miles away from Michigan Ave, this hasn\'t stopped it from being one of the most profitable convention centers in the U.S.)...
  AND, once Albany realizes how much \'vig\' they have lost from the closing of NYCOTB they will reconstitute it (and also take over the rest of the regional NY OTB\'s) under the new NYRA \'flag\'...

  Albany was not in a position to do this under the prior NYRA setting...By controlling NYRA\'s board, Cuomo has positioned himself perfectly to control and benefit from the casino dollars, using racing as the perfect \'foil\'...
Comments??  Thanks..John

[JR]

Good.

[JR]

NYRA brought this on themselves. The governor had few other options. Without the scandal, Albany wouldn\'t have seized control.

[trackjohn]

My point exactly...it will be an interesting ride going forward...but...my concern is that Albany couldn\'t care less about racing....they care about the casino $$$...they are using the  opportunity in controlling NYRA to control that revenue...I\'ll be curious what they will do to racing if we enter another recession and the casino revenues drop!