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http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=42971
New York Franchise a War of Words
by Tom Precious

… After weeks of pounding by Republicans, Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver charged that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is to blame for the lack of progress. Silver said a deal could have been made in August if the senator was serious about resolving the matter.

After Bruno questioned Silver’s leadership abilities, it was the Manhattan Democrat’s turn on Jan. 3. He said if Bruno had “cooperated” with the Assembly and Gov. Eliot Spitzer during the summer, the current scenario for New York’s Thoroughbred racing franchise would have been avoided.

Silver also accused Bruno of trying to keep intact two current state government regulatory panels that are dominated by Republicans appointed by the previous governor, George Pataki. And he said Bruno’s franchise plan calls for driving some proceeds from a video lottery terminal casino at Aqueduct--along with one the senator wants at Belmont Park--to Republican-led towns and schools in the districts of Bruno’s fellow GOP lawmakers.

… “He’s not telling the truth,” McArdle said of Silver. He said Assembly negotiators also “blew off” a closed-door meeting Jan. 2 to try to resolve differences between the sides.

… Silver again voiced his opposition to a VLT casino at Belmont. Aqueduct in 2001 was approved for a casino development, but a host of factors has kept the facility from being built.

“Belmont VLTs are the least important issue in this state,” Silver said.

Silver said the “case has not been made” that a casino in Belmont would work. He said having another casino so close to Aqueduct’s future facility would saturate the market. He also dismissed estimates that the casinos would generate $400 or more per machine in daily revenue. …