New York Franchise Award Recommendation May Come Nov. 21 - Page 11 - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

Indulto · 02-12-2007, 04:27 AM

Official: No Special Favors for Spitzer Donor By JACOB GERSHMAN
http://www.nysun.com/article/48418?page_no=1

Quote:

… After Mr. Spitzer was elected, the question remained: How would Mr. Spitzer return the favor? The answer, according to a Spitzer official, is the governor will not.

… Said the official: "I am positive we won't be talking about Fields in three months or six weeks."

The official's comments do not bode well for Mr. Fields, who is depending on support from the administration on two major business ventures with millions of dollars at stake.

… The official would not elaborate on Mr. Spitzer's position on the horseracing franchise and the development of an Oneida casino.

aaron · 02-12-2007, 10:03 AM

Saratoga Guy
It is my belief that all the bidders for the NY franchise have their own agenda. I don't know if any of the bidders even care
about helping racing,but it is possiable that that a new entity might do something positive.
I realize that the companies bidding all have short comings and are actually bidding on a slot franchise.
NYRA under various managements has failed for 30 years.The other companies are unknown entities.Some of the people associated with the other companies have been sucessful in business which is a plus.
No matter who runs racing,it must be run as a business,not as self serving agency. NYRA has done what is good for NYRA big shots not what is good for the customer or racing.
Can current management change this situation ? Can it actually run racing as a business and be profitable ? I don't know if NYRA can do this. If you think NYRA can do this,please give some reasons other than the people running NYRA now are good people.

PaceAdvantage · 02-12-2007, 10:20 AM

Hey aaron....a simple question....

Do you believe the way NYRA was created over 50 years ago (as a not-for-profit quasi-governmental entity) has anything to do with their ability to run "racing as a business" and be profitable? (never mind that they are a not-for-profit, and therefore, are not ALLOWED to earn a profit).

aaron · 02-12-2007, 10:38 AM

PA
I do believe the way NYRA was created hampered their ability to run racing as a business. I also believe the way the franchise was created it should not have been run into bankruptcy.I also believe if there is any intention to run NYRA as a business, why was a very sucessful businessman(Barry Schwartz}
run out of town?
PA-Answer this question-Why do you believe that the current people running NYRA can be successful running NYRA as a business? Do they have any credentials ? What businesses have they run successfully ?

alysheba88 · 02-12-2007, 03:35 PM

I firmly believe that the NYRA management is far different from their predecessors. Anyone who has spent any time with a Bill Nader would realize that. I am very comfortable with them running the franchise- much more so than the alternatives.

This is all about slots. Never forget that. If the slots (VLT's) were in like they were supposed to, purses would be much much higher, NYRA would never have a deficit, and we would not be discussing alternatives.

aaron · 02-12-2007, 03:59 PM

Alysheba88-
I agree this is all about slots,but what qualifications other than Bill Nader is nice guy give you the impression that this administration is not in over its head.
Perhaps, lf the administration was able to better deal with the politicians slots would already be in place.
You can blame the politicians{rightly so},but for a racing establishment to be successful they have to be able to with them.

PaceAdvantage · 02-12-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron

PA-Answer this question-Why do you believe that the current people running NYRA can be successful running NYRA as a business? Do they have any credentials ? What businesses have they run successfully ?

Because they've been battle tested through one of the toughest periods any racetrack operator has ever had to endure, and yet they are still putting out a quality product on par with any previous (indictment-free) NYRA administration.

The "current people" are paying for the sins of the past, through little or no fault of their own, and they are keeping the ship going despite the treacherous waters around them. That's why I think they can be successful running NYRA as a business. I would call what they're doing now a success, given all the bullshit they've had to deal with...

aaron · 02-12-2007, 04:36 PM

Pa-
Your entitled to your opinion,but the previous administration were also paying for the sins of the past and they put out a better product and got the last reduction in takeout.

saratoga guy · 02-12-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron

Pa-
Your entitled to your opinion,but the previous administration were also paying for the sins of the past and they put out a better product and got the last reduction in takeout.

Aaron,

Frankly I don't think you see the forest for the trees.

In 1997 NYRA had its franchise extended -- that was three years before the expiration date. So, a) they had a pretty good relationship with the state govt then, and b) no one else was interested.

Fast forward to the NY legislature passing slots legislation and a guy like Joe Bruno -- who had been a NYRA supporter -- turns wishy-washy on the organization. Couldn't have anything to do with his son being hired at the time to lobby for Magna?

Spitzer goes after NYRA. Come to find out he's taken European vacations with a partner in one of the franchise bidding groups.

It's all a little cozy -- and all conveniently tied to slots.

You say the other bidders have proven businessmen. Great. Take a look at the NYRA board. Plenty of good businessmen there.

But you think maybe it's time for a fresh approach. Hmmm, why weren't these "new shooters" so interested in showing off their racing-track acumen when -- oh, I don't know, let's say Hollywood or Ellis Park came up for sale.

Oh yeah, no slots.

The bidding front-runner right now has said that they will run slots "for-profit" and racing "not-for-profit". That should really warm the hearts of racing fans (sarcasm intended).

Imagine a business entity with two parts, one for-profit, the other not-for-profit. Where do you think their time, energy, and investment will be focused?

One of the other bidders has Churchill Downs as a partner. Take a look at their recent Derby/Oaks seat license requirement to get an idea of how fan-friendly they are.

NYRA isn't perfect. But of the bidders with track records, NYRA's is just as good. Of the bidders without track records -- well, better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know...

I have very few complaints actually with the product NYRA puts out. And if they hadn't been obviously blocked from installing slots over the past couple of years we wouldn't be having this conversation.

alysheba88 · 02-12-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron

Alysheba88-
I agree this is all about slots,but what qualifications other than Bill Nader is nice guy give you the impression that this administration is not in over its head.
Perhaps, lf the administration was able to better deal with the politicians slots would already be in place.
You can blame the politicians{rightly so},but for a racing establishment to be successful they have to be able to with them.

He has been in the racetrack business a while. Worked in NH before I believe. Only racetrack exec I know who will talk with and listen to bettors.

As far as dealing with politicians its the fact I dont follow at all. Its the politicians who have been dealing shady on this. Are you saying NYRA should be shady? VLTs were approved a long time ago. NYRA wants them in. The state has prevented it. Because the state wants NYRA to fail. So they can put in their own gang. Get it?

aaron · 02-12-2007, 05:58 PM

Saratoga Guy-
As I see it,I think its time for a change and you don't. I think on track racing in NY has bottomed out under NYRA. Can another entity improve it ? I don't know,but if you attended races in NY,other than Saratoga you probably would want another management team.
As for the on track product,I don't have a problem with it,but it has steadily declined the last couple of years.
Saratoga other than the major stake races is not much different than Belmont.The inner track in the winter has declined in quality.More statebred races and MDN claiming races.
With that said,I still like playing the circuit.

Indulto · 02-12-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

... But you think maybe it's time for a fresh approach. Hmmm, why weren't these "new shooters" so interested in showing off their racing-track acumen when -- oh, I don't know, let's say Hollywood or Ellis Park came up for sale.

... The bidding front-runner right now has said that they will run slots "for-profit" and racing "not-for-profit". That should really warm the hearts of racing fans (sarcasm intended).

Imagine a business entity with two parts, one for-profit, the other not-for-profit. Where do you think their time, energy, and investment will be focused?

... NYRA isn't perfect. But of the bidders with track records, NYRA's is just as good. Of the bidders without track records -- well, better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know...

I have very few complaints actually with the product NYRA puts out. And if they hadn't been obviously blocked from installing slots over the past couple of years we wouldn't be having this conversation.

SG,
I like your new tone. You sound as if you have downstate roots.

Excellent point re: focus, but just so we know that you're not a "homer," throw us a bone and share your "complaints" with this "august" board.

aaron · 02-12-2007, 06:04 PM

Alysheba88
NYRA did something that caused them to fall out of favor with the politicians.What that might be,I have no idea. They had been in favor for at least 35-40 years.

alysheba88 · 02-12-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron

Saratoga Guy-
As I see it,I think its time for a change and you don't. I think on track racing in NY has bottomed out under NYRA. Can another entity improve it ? I don't know,but if you attended races in NY,other than Saratoga you probably would want another management team.
As for the on track product,I don't have a problem with it,but it has steadily declined the last couple of years.
Saratoga other than the major stake races is not much different than Belmont.The inner track in the winter has declined in quality.More statebred races and MDN claiming races.
With that said,I still like playing the circuit.

I am not sure how you can say the inner track has declined in quality. The winter Aqueduct meet the last few years has been dramatically improved from prior years. Aqueduct racing as a whole has improved with larger more competitive fields. The track itself is far nicer place to go now than say 10 years ago.

Current management has consistently acted in the best interest of players. They want to lower takeout further but can't. Do you think other track management will seek lower takeout?

aaron · 02-12-2007, 06:16 PM

Alysheba88-
Now I'm worried about you." The track itself is a far nicer place to go now than say 10 years ago." You can't be talking about Belmont and Aqueduct.
They haven't cleaned the seats in the grandstand in many years.Players who used to go to Aqueduct every day are now at otb's or betting from home because of the decline in the facility.
Belmont is still passable,but is not kept as well as it was kept 10 years ago.It needs to be upgraded.