Excelsior Racing Associates has been selected by a state government committee in New York to be the next holder of the franchise to run racing at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks.The non-binding decision by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of Racing recommended to the governor and state lawmakers that Excelsior get the franchise over the New York Racing Association, which placed a distant third in the scoring system by the panel. Empire Racing Associates, whose partners include New York horsemen, Magna Entertainment and Churchill Downs, scored second behind Excelsior....
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36474
My personal opinion is that Empire took on too many partners (adding an ex- NY governor this past weekend) and really overplayed their hand. I don't think this will end it, as NYRA has said they will litigate.
