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Old 01-08-2008, 03:45 PM   #901
Indulto
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Originally Posted by the little guy
Well, I suppose you could say that this just about sums up their selfishness and lack of awareness, but there is so much that is preposterous about this and the entire position of the jockeys that this is only a sliver sliding off their iceberg of ineptitude.
Is this Crist's influence?
Quote:
As an aside, I wonder what role the man they recently selected to head their guild holds in the recent problems at NYRA.
Wonder? I'm sure you could do 500 words on that subject off the top of your head! How about giving us 100?
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Old 01-08-2008, 03:47 PM   #902
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is exactly right.
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Old 01-08-2008, 04:50 PM   #903
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I could give a damn what the jocks think. They have proven to be nothing but a cog in the machine and I have very little respect for most of them.
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Old 01-08-2008, 10:08 PM   #904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerbyTrail
Remarkable...

Bruno is in favor of 'privatization'? Really? When did he say that?
He said it. I know he did! He said "I am in favor of privatization".

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerbyTrail
He's in favor of getting a grip on franchise revenues to pay back the people who have been schmeering him and his dolt son for the past three years. NOTHING ELSE. Enough already with trying to legitimize his senility-addled machinations.
Your entitled to your opinion, however, I find resorting to personal attacks on elected officials an uncivilized and loathsome practice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerbyTrail
And which 'vision' that CDI and Magna has forwarded are you championing? The ruination of Gulfstream Park? The unfulfilled promises at nearly every Magna venue? The squandering of tens of millions of dollars that has MEI devalued to the point where it can no longer borrow a dime and is desperate to sell off as much property as it can?
Customers drive the business. CDI and Magna are doing what they believe is necessary to retain the exsisting customer base and attract new ones. That can't be done by patching up 100 year old facilities and selling only one product. The new Gulfstream is a nice facililty. It's comfortable, has fine dining and entertainment, a card room, and the simulcast center, I hear, is usually full. The slot machines have been disappointing...so far. There's a lot of competition from Indian casinos, but the ultimate result has yet to be seen.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerbyTrail
Maybe it's CDI's renovated Churchill you're impressed with... Ask the KY horsemen how they feel about CDI's "vision". They spent $140MM to renovate CD for the 2 days people actually go there, and are paying for it by sticking it to the backstretch. How's their 'vision' working out at Calder? And their 'vision' having sold off Hollywood guaranteeing it gets bulldozed by 2010?
Sometimes tough decisions have to be made. It's customers that grow the business. CDI owns Holloywood, and the decision to sell is legitimately theirs to make. It's likely that the elimination of Hollywood Park is simply a boon to other tracks in CA. At least if Magna and CDI fail, their assets will be sold and there will be new track operators. They won't drag down taxpayers with them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerbyTrail
MTR is an example where racino is working? That's laughable.
They're laughing all right. All the way to the bank. Check out the annual report at http://www.mtrgaming.com/ir/ar06.pdf. They have a record of increasing revenues and a healthy net income. They have significant debt but they are expanding. They've just built a new track. Imagine that! They're expanding while NYRA wants to sell.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerbyTrail
No one at MTR even knows there are horses running. The horsemen complain endlessly about how the track is maintained as the Gaming Execs do everything they can do to minimize the racing aspect there despite raking in junketeer nickels and dimes. (If you're going to use an example of success, at least use Remington, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.)

As usual, no realities actually apply when it comes to NYRA bashing.
As your post typifies, horsemen complain about everything. It's either the polytrack or the lack of a polytrack, the way a course is maintained, or about purses. They're like the degenerates who bet a race, curse when they lose and declare the game is fixed, then proceed to buy another ticket. You can always count on some folks to sing the same old song right on cue.
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Old 01-09-2008, 08:05 AM   #905
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the little guy
is exactly right.
tlg,
I thought the following would be right up your alley:

http://blog.silive.com/trackside/
Sad citadels
by Bob Raimonto
Quote:
… It has even been left to New York's jockeys to call for a resolution of the crisis and the development of creative solutions to the industry's problems. And they have the cheek to call riders pinheads? How about the governmental leaders in Albany? That's right: Pinheads would represent a compliment for those people. Horses' asses would be more appropriate. …
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Old 01-09-2008, 02:20 PM   #906
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http://www.horseraceinsider.com/John-Pricci/
Jockey Franchise Plan: Too Little, Too Late
By John Pricci
Quote:
Yesterday, the New York jockeys officially entered the local franchise morass. Johnny Velazquez, sounding more like Barack Obama’s campaign chairman than Board Chairman of the Jockeys‘ Guild, called for legislators to “initiate change” by better incorporating OTB systems into the income sharing process and maximizing all revenue streams eventually lead to a long-term industry solution.

… As a group, the local New York riders are a little late in recognizing the problem to the point of their own participation, yesterday’s press release stating what is uppermost in the minds of local riders, 13 of whom adding their names to a roster in support of Velazquez.

Beyond calling for change, it would have been better had the riders proposed a plan, or at least some idea of how the situation might be resolved. The solution needn’t even be correct. God knows no one has supplied the right answer yet, and they’ve had nearly six years to find one.

… The most cynical among us might question their motivation, arguing that their positions address mostly what‘s in their own best interest.

… let’s not forget that jockeys are willing risk-takers, private contractors who are entitled to a fee for basic services and a healthy percentage of the winning purse. And let’s remember, too, that the least successful day-to-day journeyman in the New York jocks’ room earns six figures a year while taking none of the monetary risk.…
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Old 01-09-2008, 07:26 PM   #907
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hibiscus
Excellent post Derby Trail. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Oh, come on now! Don't be so modest.

http://www.capitalplayny.com/pdf/Exe...ary_080707.pdf
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Old 01-10-2008, 05:07 AM   #908
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NYPlayer
Quote:
Originally Posted by hibiscus
Excellent post Derby Trail. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Oh, come on now! Don't be so modest.

http://www.capitalplayny.com/pdf/Exe...ary_080707.pdf
NYP,
I read the pitch at the above link as well as their poll you referenced. I can’t find any third-party substantiation of their claims, and you are the only unpaid voice promoting them I’ve encountered anywhere in cyberspace.

Even if I could share your optimism that “privatization” would preserve the quality of the New York racing experience despite all indications that racing would become the VLT operator’s stepchild, what do you find so compelling about this bidder’s qualifications and motivation for implementing your vision?

I’d be interested in your opinion regarding the potential expansion of Indian gaming in California as well. I’m concerned it will make the state government there dependent upon gambling revenue. While I applaud the racing industry’s ability to benefit the residents of their host states by supplementing their education programs, I’m wary of funding critical functions such as law enforcement through such sources.

Political groups representing law enforcement personnel are among those supporting the upcoming ballot measures to implement that expansion while the owner of BM and HOL is helping to fund the opposition:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmate...ews/ci_7920662
Bay Meadows owner fights Indian pacts
By Aaron Kinney
Quote:
… The owner of Bay Meadows race track has positioned himself at the center of a fight to defeat gaming agreements with four Southern California Indian tribes — pacts that would expand their gambling operations and funnel millions into the state's general fund.
Quote:

Terry Fancher, … , spent more than $4 million in 2007 on a campaign to sink the tribal compacts, which go before the voters Feb. 5.

Bay Meadows Land Co. hopes that overturning the deals, which allow the tribes to add a total of 17,000 new slot machines, would give the state's race tracks a chance to improve their financial fortunes.

The race tracks could alleviate what they see as a competitive disadvantage with Indian casinos and tracks in other states by obtaining permission to install a type of video gaming device known as Instant Racing at their facilities, or by receiving financial compensation from the tribes. There is little chance that a breakthrough would come in time to save Bay Meadows from being torn down and redeveloped, since construction is set to begin late this year. But Hollywood Park could stand to benefit from any such tilt in the competitive balance.

Bay Meadows is part of a coalition fighting the tribal compacts — Californians Against Unfair Deals: No on 94, 95, 96 and 97 — that includes hotel and casino workers and other tribes whose interests are threatened by the deals.

Fancher's coalition is badly outgunned by the four tribes: the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

… Magna Entertainment, which owns Golden Gate Fields in Albany and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, has not contributed to the campaign against the compacts, while the Thoroughbred Owners of California have come out in support of the deals.

But state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, whose district includes San Mateo, views Fancher's fight against the Southern California tribes as evidence of a commitment to save not just his tracks but California's horseracing industry as a whole.

Yee adamantly opposes the deals, arguing that they do not include enough protections for workers or mitigation for the effects that major gambling operations can have on communities.

"I think it's extremely important that Californians defeat these particular compacts," Yee said. "You can't balance this budget with money tainted with the blood of workers." …
I have to admit to an additional motive for supporting the opposition because it supposedly could save HOL from developers if gaming expansion were to support racing, either by allowing VLTs at racetracks, or legislating casino support for purses.

I would prefer the latter because I have watched HOL deteriorate since the construction of the card casino there, and I don’t see that trend reversed through increased non-racing gambling there. AQU will IMO follow HOL’s example, but BEL doesn’t have to. Something to consider before flying headlong into a future funded from (disposable?) income of less-than-high-income slotsplayers.
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Old 01-10-2008, 03:27 PM   #909
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5444175.html
NYRA, Insurer Clash Over Benefit Plans
By JACQUELINE PALANK
Quote:
… The federal agency that insures private pension plans is trying to block confirmation of the New York Racing Association's bankruptcy exit plan and is suing the horse-racing association.
Quote:

Last month, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation told NYRA that it intended to terminate five of the association's pension plans because NYRA hasn't met its funding obligations for the past two years. The agency also said it didn't think NYRA would be able to pay benefits as they come due.

… Also on Tuesday, the horse-racing association asked the bankruptcy court to throw out or amend several of PBGC's claims.

NYRA said it shouldn't owe the $71.5 million shortfall to the PBGC because the claim's contingency _ the termination of the pension plans _ hasn't happened yet. Also, the NYRA plans to cover the liabilities as it exits bankruptcy.

Further, NYRA wants to reduce the amount the PBGC says it owes in minimum funding contributions that federal pension law requires companies make to their pension plans. NYRA said it's willing to pay up to $28.5 million toward those liabilities instead of the $29.6 million that the PBGC said it's owed. …
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Old 01-10-2008, 04:07 PM   #910
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http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...franchise.aspx
Spitzer’s State of New York address does not mention franchise
by Paul Post
Quote:
… He might not have wanted to remind people about the state’s inability to reach an agreement, an obvious failure, while touting plans for future improvement.
Quote:

“Racing is seldom mentioned in the State of the State Address,” said Bennett Liebman, head of Albany Law School’s Racing and Wagering Law Program. “If there was ever a time, I thought it was now. I can certainly understand not including it. A governor tries to set out big plans in his State of the State Address.

“I’m not sure how much you gain from that by including racing. It’s hard to say anything.”

… That leaves politicians with less than two weeks to reach a final agreement. The 2008 Legislative session begins Monday. The Assembly, Senate, and governor must all agree on the franchise plan.

Possibly, Spitzer avoided racing in order to strike a more conciliatory tone with his chief political rival, Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno (R-Brunswick), who was absent from Wednesday’s speech. Bruno's wife, Bobbie, died Monday following a lengthy illness.

… Staff for all three leaders negotiated through last weekend, but the two days preceding Wednesday’s speech were extremely quiet.

… Scott Reif, a Bruno spokesman, said that racing negotiations are expected to resume now that Spitzer’s State of the State Address is over.

… Bruno has called for creation of a new public authority with greater cooperation between NYRA and Off Track Betting, and during his address Spitzer mentioned possibly privatizing a portion of New York State Lottery, which could mean a consolidated wagering platform for several types of gaming.
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Old 01-10-2008, 10:32 PM   #911
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indulto
NYP,
I read the pitch at the above link as well as their poll you referenced. I can’t find any third-party substantiation of their claims, and you are the only unpaid voice promoting them I’ve encountered anywhere in cyberspace.

Even if I could share your optimism that “privatization” would preserve the quality of the New York racing experience despite all indications that racing would become the VLT operator’s stepchild, what do you find so compelling about this bidder’s qualifications and motivation for implementing your vision?

I’d be interested in your opinion ...
Quite frankly, I'm impressed with O'Farrell's group. They believe in racing, and they say they know how to rehabilitate racing's image. I think their plan is credible, at least in concept. Whether NY customers think it's pie in the sky or not, at least people have to admit that Cap Play stands ready to inject lots of cold, hard cash into the game that won't cost NY so much as a nickle.

Racing by itself just isn't all that popular, either as a sport or as a gambling entertainment. It has a negative image of being dominated by crooked, Tony Soprano types, and that racetracks are habited but a bunch of degenerate fuddy-duddies. And if you've ever doubted that, walking into Aqueduct will absolutely convince you (of the fuddy-duddies part, with a few exceptions, of course).

Contrast that with Las Vegas, and here on the East Coast, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun casinos. These are places where there's lots of gambling, but there's also other things to do as well, and they're places that people want go, even if they don't gamble very much. Casinos attract people that have an average spending budget as well as high rollers, and without the stigma that horseplayers are branded with. Consider that, if a person believes in his own luck and just likes to play numbers, your much more likely to get him to spend on a VLT where he can emty his wallet in 20 minutes, rather than on the races where there's one every half hour. If you don't get anything out of handicapping and watching the races, there's no utility for you.

I think the natural solution is to bring these customers together. If racetracks can sell highly profitable alternative gaming, then they can use that money to improve purses as well as the facilities, and work on creating an experience that satisfies the modern consumer. Of course, it has to be done right and every market is different (I'll have to read up on the CA situation), but I think it can be done, and MTR is one example.

As for a VLT operator not caring about racing, I think there has to be some oversight. Here's a quote from MTR's annual report:


"If we fail to maintain operative agreements with the horsemen, we will not be permitted to conduct live racing and export and import simulcasting at those racetracks, and, in West Virginia and Pennsylvania,we will not be permitted to operate our slot machines (including if we do not have in place the required proceeds agreement with the Mountaineer parimutuel clerks union) and in Minnesota we will not be able to operate our planned card room. In addition, our simulcasting agreements are subject to the horsemen’s approval. If we fail to renew or modify existing agreements on satisfactory terms, this failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations."


There's more on the legal obligations in the report. Clearly, MTR is commited to keeing their agreements with the horsemen, and that the relationship is beneficial for both parties.


Thanks for listening.
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Old 01-11-2008, 06:14 AM   #912
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http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112008...ion_277454.htm
HORSEMEN SEEK PURSE PROTECTION
By ED FOUNTAINE
Quote:
… the NY Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association yesterday urged the state to protect the interests of its 6,000 members - "the backbone of New York racing" - when a final agreement is reached.
Quote:

"We fully support the apparent decision to award a new franchise to NYRA," said a release from the NYTHA board of directors. At the same time, however, the horsemen took NYRA and the state to task for proposing to cut the revenue earmarked toward purses from the long-delayed video lottery casino at Aqueduct.

… the franchise-renewal agreement between the governor's office and NYRA, dependent upon legislative approval, reduces the horsemen's share to 6.5 percent, and could go even lower.

… By comparison, the percentage of casino revenue allocated for purses in other states includes 18 percent in Pennsylvania, 11.1 in Delaware, 10 in West Virginia and 8.25 in Florida.
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Old 01-11-2008, 08:43 AM   #913
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NY Player favors privitization of horseracing in NY. While most on this board are quick to criticize,none have given valid reasons to support a system that has failed for over 30 years. The best reason given by those against privitization is that the current NYRA executives care about racing. While this may be true,they seem to be lacking in expertise.
I feel at this point NYRA should retain the franchise,but to dismiss any group that Steve Wynn was part of is just stupid. The man knows how to manage and run gambling enerprises.
To see the failure of the current system all you have to do is attend the races at Aqueduct and Belmont. Saratoga stands alone,but that meet is 6 weeks,so if the other 46 weeks don't matter continue with the current system.
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Old 01-11-2008, 12:31 PM   #914
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Privatization is one thing. But just befuddled how anyone can cite anything good about Magna
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Old 01-11-2008, 03:40 PM   #915
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http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43100
New York THA Wants Issues Addressed
by Karen M. Johnson
Quote:
… Of utmost importance to the New York THA, … , is the equitable distribution of VLT revenue to horsemen through purses. Originally, the legislature stated, revenue from VLTs at Aqueduct would be 7.5% for the first three years, 7.75% in years four and five, and 10% thereafter.

… Another concern voiced by the New York THA is that its organization is the only horsemen’s group in the country not protected by the federal Interstate Horseracing Act, which means NYRA is not obligated to negotiate with, and secure simulcast and other approvals from, horsemen who conduct their business at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.

“There is no rational, reasonable, or ethical reason that the New York horsemen racing at the NYRA racetracks should not have the same rights as every other horsemen’s group in the country,” Violette said.
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