Politician tells NYRA to clean up Aqueduct

[tzipi]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/pol-demands-nyra-put-aqueduct-article-1.1700733


"At a press conference at the Big A, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, a Democrat whose Ozone Park district includes the historic but declining track, announced legislation that would require NYRA to devote more of the money it receives from the Resorts World New York casino to Aqueduct.
“It is unacceptable that this once community gem and national treasure has become an eyesore and a serious danger,” said Goldfeder, flanked by labor leaders and community members. “It's time that NYRA stop neglecting our community and make the necessary investment to ensure that Aqueduct is safe and that we continue the economic growth that we need in Queens.”


I didn't realize homeless people are staying there at night, if that's true. :eek:
Seems like Aqu is getting killed in the papers everyday.

[nijinski]

Proud Truth's BC statue stolen from Aqueduct too . A little bit of bad news
everyday . I thought the slot money would help , sad to hear this .

[Stillriledup]

How about NOT cleaning it up, let the track go out of business and keep the slot machines and not have to share the revenue with the horsemen?

Isnt the goal of every track owner who has slots to convince the politicians that racing is "bad" and is a money loser and if we can just get rid of the racing and keep the slots, we would make more money.

Isnt that the goal?

[therussmeister]

But isn't NYRA a non-profit organization? Why would they care if they get to temporarily hold more money?

[PaceAdvantage]

“It is unacceptable that this once community gem and national treasure has become an eyesore and a serious danger,” said Goldfeder, flanked by labor leaders and community members.Wait...WHAT? Community GEM? When was Aqueduct ever considered a GEM by the community at large?

Maybe 1000 years ago...but no time in the modern age...these politicians never let an opportunity go to waste.

[tzipi]

Wait...WHAT? Community GEM? When was Aqueduct ever considered a GEM by the community at large?

Maybe 1000 years ago...but no time in the modern age...these politicians never let an opportunity go to waste.

Yeah I agree, I think they just said that to make more of a hit to Aqueduct.

[Stillriledup]

Wait...WHAT? Community GEM? When was Aqueduct ever considered a GEM by the community at large?

Maybe 1000 years ago...but no time in the modern age...these politicians never let an opportunity go to waste.

Don't forget "National Treasure" too. :D

[rastajenk]

I didn't bother to follow the link, but what do "labor leaders" have to do with anything?

[Robert Goren]

I have yet to hear anybody here say that they haven't let AQU slide. At some point, NYRA will either have to fix the place up at least a little or sell it. But that decision is a few years down the road.

[PaceAdvantage]

I have yet to hear anybody here say that they haven't let AQU slide. At some point, NYRA will either have to fix the place up at least a little or sell it. But that decision is a few years down the road.Ahhh...the voice of reason arrives.

Fix it or sell it. Ummmm...ok

[aaron]

Ahhh...the voice of reason arrives.

Fix it or sell it. Ummmm...ok
That line pretty much simplifies the whole thread. Do the right thing or sell it. Makes sense to me.

[PaceAdvantage]

Fix what exactly? You guys think a coat of paint is going to prevent sexual assault?

Going by the logic some use in this thread, I think all the blame for this must rest with Genting...this kind of thing (sexual assault...homeless sleeping at Aqueduct...etc) never happened until THEY built that casino next door.

[pat]

Homeless at Aqu has been going on since they offered free admission with winter racing and simulcasting.A place to keep warm, grub money and food.

[Robert Goren]

Fix what exactly? You guys think a coat of paint is going to prevent sexual assault?

Going by the logic some use in this thread, I think all the blame for this must rest with Genting...this kind of thing (sexual assault...homeless sleeping at Aqueduct...etc) never happened until THEY built that casino next door. No it won't. Neither will tearing it down. But that is not excuse for not having a decent looking store front. New customers do not enter shabby places. I know ADWs are all the rage, but I have yet to find any horse player who didn't make his first wager at the track or rarely at an OTB or simulcast center.

[Tom]

Question - how many of the homeless were not homeless when they arrived at the track? :eek:

Lots of new horse players make their first bets at track lot less desirable than Aqueduct.

How about we hear from those who go there and actual BET HORSES?
Not some A-**** politicians looking for their name in the rags, or some wanne-be authors who can only get a gig at a fish wrapper newspaper that has not been relevant since 1964? Or out-of-towners who have never been there.

[pat]

Ive been attending live racing at a ny track for the past 50 yrs and have been attending live racing almost everyday (missed between 30-50 days) since 1-1-2003 and i can tell it has changed a hell of a lot and not for the better. When the OTB on woodhaven and liberty ave closed it became much worst, that had to be the seediest branch in all of nyc and was located about 10 blocks from aqu. This is a game I cherished and loved and when I retired in 2003 i thought this would be my dream to attend everyday but I no longer have that desire.
I attend now because its beats staying home attached to a pc or a tv and Im working a part time job for an airline at JFK Airport. The airport parking is abutted to the NYRA parking and I finish work at 11am(how convenient is that). I stay 5-6 races a day go home, eat, spend some time with the wife and do it all over again the next day.The track will never be what it was but racing all over is not what it was.

[jk3521]

In the old days there were"characters" at the track, now there are "bums" :(

[Cholly]

Speak for yourself, Miles Standish

[jk3521]

Speak for yourself, Miles Standish
I didn't say that, the mother of the poor young lady did.

[MartyZee]

As someone that used to go to N.Y. tracks about 50 times a year I haven't been their in over 5 years.Now I won't even bet their tracks after they Fired Jerry Davis one of the good guys who understands what the game is about.

[badcompany]

When the OTB on woodhaven and liberty ave closed it became much worst, that had to be the seediest branch in all of nyc and was located about 10 blocks from aqu.

That's like being the shortest Jockey in all of Horseracing.

[burnsy]

When I hear a politician say that. I feel like saying "why don't you clean up your own house?" Albany and DC are a litter box....half of you shit where you eat..........They jump on this story but it only took 10 years to get the casino going and that was "negotiated" really well in 10 years time, hardly a dime went into the track side....unbelievable when these "two faces" talk.

[Robert Goren]

It seems the problem that some posters have is not whether AQU needs sprucing up or not but over who said it and who reported his remarks.

[classhandicapper]

When the OTB on woodhaven and liberty ave closed it became much worst, that had to be the seediest branch in all of nyc and was located about 10 blocks from aqu.

It wasn't even the seediest branch in Queens. I take it you were never at the Hillside branch. That place was scary. :lol:

[Grits]

There was one on Hempstead Turnpike for years. I was going there one afternoon while staying at a hotel on LI. A friend went postal, "don't you dare set foot in that place. Don't even drive your car into the parking lot behind it."

Nassau or Suffolk, where, I believe, The Racing Palace is located? It was nice, is it still there?

[pandy]

In the recent issue of American Turf Monthly, Barry Meadow wrote a negative article about the casino at Aqueduct, which he didn't think was well run at all.

[wiffleball whizz]

You would think a nyra rep would come on here and go to bat for their place of employment (not referring to TLG either)

Plenty of times on poker forums the room director will come on and offer some kind of incentive to go there

[Stillriledup]

In the recent issue of American Turf Monthly, Barry Meadow wrote a negative article about the casino at Aqueduct, which he didn't think was well run at all.

http://nypost.com/2014/02/07/man-jumps-to-his-death-inside-queens-casino/

[tzipi]

In the recent issue of American Turf Monthly, Barry Meadow wrote a negative article about the casino at Aqueduct, which he didn't think was well run at all.

Yeah he trashed Aqueduct and NYRA in the March article. He said they are just giving the slot money to the rich owners and leaving the bettors with high takeout, tiny rebates and a run down track. I didn't think the article would be that harsh, when I picked it up.


Nassau or Suffolk, where, I believe, The Racing Palace is located? It was nice, is it still there?

Yup, still there. Still looks nice.

[Grits]

Thanks, Tzip, this is good to know. I liked it, it was a nice facility. Nice lunch, too. ;)

[tzipi]

Thanks, Tzip, this is good to know. I liked it, it was a nice facility. Nice lunch, too. ;)

Yeah they do a good job there.

[EMD4ME]

http://nypost.com/2014/02/07/man-jumps-to-his-death-inside-queens-casino/

Although I am exhausted, I am compelled to speak about this......

A couple of weeks back, I was approached by a fellow trackie at aqu about a terrible suicide. He said a man had a huge gambling problem next door and had just brought his entire life savings over to the states from his homeland. It was $15k. His wife told him : if you lose the money gambling, don't come home.

He was up 1200 with the 15,000.00. He then proceeded to lose it all. He jumped to his death in the racino on that fated Friday night.

Shortly thereafter this repulsive article in the post comes out with a source's quote of 'he was on a roll, up 1200.00'.

How convenient that the slime at genting left out the fact that he lost the 1200.00 & the 15000.00.

I am DISGUSTED that these "journalists" & racino slime portrayed this as man commits suicide while UP 1200.00.

They are pure scumb for doing that and for 1)trying to make themselves look good 2) covering the real truth.

[tzipi]

Although I am exhausted, I am compelled to speak about this......

A couple of weeks back, I was approached by a fellow trackie at aqu about a terrible suicide. He said a man had a huge gambling problem next door and had just brought his entire life savings over to the states from his homeland. It was $15k. His wife told him : if you lose the money gambling, don't come home.

He was up 1200 with the 15,000.00. He then proceeded to lose it all. He jumped to his death in the racino on that fated Friday night.

Shortly thereafter this repulsive article in the post comes out with a source's quote of 'he was on a roll, up 1200.00'.

How convenient that the slime at genting left out the fact that he lost the 1200.00 & the 15000.00.

I am DISGUSTED that these "journalists" & racino slime portrayed this as man commits suicide while UP 1200.00.

They are pure scumb for doing that and for 1)trying to make themselves look good 2) covering the real truth.


I think many people gambling there have a gambling problem. Not sure why this guy was different. Did the guy announce to people that he was spending his life savings on a slot machine? Also maybe he was up $1,200 for that day or was hitting and on a streak. That's what gambling is. Up and down and it's how much you win in the end. Not that anyone should gamble unresponsibly but no one, even casino's, force anyone to bet.

[JustRalph]

Why would a Rep of a government that rules the area around AQU feel that he has the right to tell anybody to "to clean up" anything?

This is laughable. This guy should take inventory of his own responsibilities

[Tom]

That is like a turd saying the toilet water is too cold!

[affirmedny]

Well they cleaned up something, lowest death rate in the COUNTRY.


- And there was some really good news. As reported by the News: The death rate at NYRA tracks is now 1.5 per 1,000 starters, the lowest in the country.

http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/2014/03/searching-for-positive-news-in-times.html

[Robert Goren]

Congrats to NYRA for doing a good job.
It is going to hard for some here to revel in this because they claimed NYRA never had a problem to fix in the first place. Fortunately the powers at NYRA apparently did not agree and took the needed action. Thank you NYRA for doing the right thing.

[PaceAdvantage]

Well they cleaned up something, lowest death rate in the COUNTRY.


- And there was some really good news. As reported by the News: The death rate at NYRA tracks is now 1.5 per 1,000 starters, the lowest in the country.

http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/2014/03/searching-for-positive-news-in-times.htmlSo, you're saying a dirt track has the lowest death rate in the country? Lower than the all-weather surfaces which remain?

That's excellent news, and a tad surprising at the same time.

[thaskalos]

Although I am exhausted, I am compelled to speak about this......

A couple of weeks back, I was approached by a fellow trackie at aqu about a terrible suicide. He said a man had a huge gambling problem next door and had just brought his entire life savings over to the states from his homeland. It was $15k. His wife told him : if you lose the money gambling, don't come home.

He was up 1200 with the 15,000.00. He then proceeded to lose it all. He jumped to his death in the racino on that fated Friday night.

Shortly thereafter this repulsive article in the post comes out with a source's quote of 'he was on a roll, up 1200.00'.

How convenient that the slime at genting left out the fact that he lost the 1200.00 & the 15000.00.

I am DISGUSTED that these "journalists" & racino slime portrayed this as man commits suicide while UP 1200.00.

They are pure scumb for doing that and for 1)trying to make themselves look good 2) covering the real truth.

The "slime at Genting" can say anything he wants. We all know that no one commits suicide while being "on a roll".

[affirmedny]

So, you're saying a dirt track has the lowest death rate in the country? Lower than the all-weather surfaces which remain?

That's excellent news, and a tad surprising at the same time.

that's what Bossert says in the NYDN:


Other good news: The death rate at NYRA tracks is now 1.5 per 1,000 starters, the lowest in the country. Animal activists and racing fans were outraged by the deaths of 21 horses at Aqueduct in 2012. An investigation ordered by Cuomo blamed the deaths on veterinarians, track officials and owners who, tempted by bigger purses generated by racino revenue, masked the horses’ injuries with corticosteroids and other drugs and allowed them to race even though they were hurt.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/nyra-prez-ceo-calls-aqueduct-safe-apologizes-condition-article-1.1712121#ixzz2vcjxKJEg