New York Franchise Award Recommendation May Come Nov. 21

[aaron]

Indulto-
In my opinion all internet and NYRA One accounts handle should be considered the same as on track handle. After all, NYRA receives the same percentage for all races bet thru NYRA ONE whether on track or off.

[George Sands]

Indulto,

I thought I might find you here. You need to clean out your private mailbox.

[Spendabuck85]

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/sto...ate=12/16/2007

Albany Times Union - Fred LeBrun

A new formal franchise, presumably for 30 years as the governor has agreed to, remains elusive because of a single issue: whether or not to replace NYRA's sitting board of trustees.

Instead, it appears the state will offer NYRA a brief extension of the current franchise in order to continue discussions while not jeopardizing the continuity of New York racing.

This game of chicken between the state and NYRA over a new franchise that's been going on for months has frayed a lot of nerves, including those of Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who is getting incredible pressure from his home district in Saratoga Springs to settle essentially on NYRA's terms. Those close to Bruno say he is not a happy camper over how this is turning out.

[the little guy]

I'll make a guess, and I may be totally wrong, but I don't think it's necessarily the replacement of the board that's specifically the problem. I bet it's more a problem of who may be considered some of the possible replacements.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by Spendabuck85

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/sto...ate=12/16/2007

Albany Times Union - Fred LeBrun ...

From the article:

... The tail will wag the dog after all. And that's ultimately because, as we've said all along, NYRA's expertise and services are needed to run Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga, and they know it. But not necessarily needed, say critics and even some supporters of NYRA, is the current board of trustees.

Or as one prominent horseman put it, who is fed up with the state's caving in to NYRA, "Where is the accountability? Why is failure being rewarded here? That board has to go."

… No wonder Bruno is turning bitter over local pressure to settle, as one longtime acquaintance put it.

The senator's experienced negotiating hands are being tied by his own friends and neighbors.

And rightfully so. Until now, when during the last three years has Bruno demonstrated any leadership or provided detailed input to the process?

Why couldn't his aides have started negotiating right after the MOU was released instead of holding meaningless Senate hearings to provide a forum for political posturing? Even now it appears that competing bidders are driving the resistance rather than the interests of the residents of NY State.

Originally Posted by the little guy

I'll make a guess, and I may be totally wrong, but I don't think it's necessarily the replacement of the board that's specifically the problem. I bet it's more a problem of who may be considered some of the possible replacements.

As long as you're willing to speculate a little, who do you think they may be trying to foist off on NYRA?

Please share your opinion as to which current members besides Duncker and Heffernan are vital holdovers. It's only a matter of time before Bruno's boys and their friends in the press start fingering some that have to go starting with those whose credibility was challenged in the "Integrity Report."

Is it too naive to think that a group of well-intentioned, but non-critical members could be convinced internally to vacate collectively as gesture of good will; taking any scoundrels with them in the process? Surely the board doesn't consider itself without any blame whatsoever for the current state of affairs.

[the little guy]

Certainly there are members of the board who will leave, that was probably always a fait accompli, but as you pointed out there are members that shouldn't. However, I don't know the trustees, and couldn't speculate too specifically anyway.

[Indulto]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=3004360

NYRA gets governor's nod

By Matt Hegarty

...Updated: September 4, 2007, 5:59 PM ET

… The agreement, which was approved unanimously by NYRA's board on Tuesday morning, will form the basis for a recommendation by Spitzer to the state legislature …

… Also under Spitzer's plan, NYRA would be required to trim its board from 28 members to 19, with two members of the board to be approved by the governor, one by the assembly speaker, one by the senate majority leader, one by the state's breeding association, and one by the state's horsemen's association. …

Since 5 of the 19 members must be new, the maximum number of holdovers is 14 or half the existing board.

http://www.ig.state.ny.us/pdfs/Report%20to%20the%20Governor%20on%20the%20Integrit y%20of%20Those%20Seeking%20to%20Operate%20the%20Ra cetracks%20at%20Aqueduct,%20Belmont%20Park%20and%2 0Saratoga.pdf

Integrity report document pages 44-56 (PDF document pages 47-59 of 148)

Page 44 defines 34 key persons at NYRA including:

-All Board members and Trustees
-All share
-All Officers
-ALL persons named in the top three levels of NYRA’s organizational chart

The names of these 34 persons are shown alphabetically on page 45, but it isn’t clear which key person definitions apply to each.

What is the difference between a board member and a trustee? How can a board member who is also a shareholder be removed? Who on the board are shareholders? How many shareholders are there? Are there any who aren’t on the board who are unwilling to cede the land?

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpnyra175504591dec17,0,5175018.story
Editorial: Still time for video lottery terminals at Belmont

… only the Big A has the legal right to have the machines; Belmont would need a special law. The Republican-controlled Senate, driven by the powerful Long Island delegation headed by Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre, is pushing for gaming at Belmont in return for having some of that revenue invested in the struggling community that surrounds the park. But this is Albany, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) is holding Belmont hostage - although no one is quite sure what he wants in return. Long Island's Democratic delegation should try to find out.

Belmont, a neglected and underutilized jewel at the entrance to Nassau County, should get VLTs and the developmental face-lift that comes with them. If not, some of the racing profits from this new franchise deal should be earmarked for the surrounding Elmont area, which bears the park's burdens. NYRA must also agree to specific performance requirements for maintenance of the tired facility and good stewardship in the community. At the very least, Belmont and Elmont deserve to break even.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by Indulto

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=3004360

Sorry folks. Late night eyesight.

Since 6 of the 19 members must be new, the maximum number of holdovers is 13 or less than half the existing board.

tlg,
Does "approved" mean "selected" now? How are prospective new members nominated?

[Indulto]

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=42800

NYRA Offered Temporary Extension

by Tom Precious

… Carole Stone, chairwoman of the oversight panel, said if NYRA does not agree, the board has the authority to enter into a contract with another operator to keep racing going. But NYRA officials have said that could be a problem because NYRA claims, in its bankruptcy case, that it owns the land on which the racetracks sit and that the state could not let another operator onto the property to run racing.

… NYRA officials want some assurances a deal is in the works by the Spitzer administration and legislative leaders to resolve the franchise issue; he expressed concerns an extension could take the heat off of negotiations under way at the Capitol.

… The oversight panel said the temporary deal with NYRA would begin Jan. 1 and end upon the selection by Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the legislature of a new franchise operator. It gave no end date to the extension.

If NYRA refuses the extension, Stone, who was appointed to the post by former Gov. George Pataki, would have the authority to enter a deal with a different company for a temporary period to run racing. …

[the little guy]

I honestly don't know how board members are necessarily " selected. " Some are appointed by the state but I really don't know much about it.

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/91052.html

Oversight agency offers NYRA an extension

By MATT HEGARTY

… The proposal would have to be accepted by NYRA in order to go into effect, and after the meeting, NYRA's chairman of the board, Steven Duncker, said in a statement that the association is "reviewing the resolution ... to determine a course of action."

… "NYRA remains confident that an agreed memorandum of understanding and legislation will be achieved," the statement said. "NYRA will continue to work cooperatively toward that end."

The proposal was approved by the Non-Profit Racing Association Oversight Board, a creation in 2005 of former governor George Pataki, a Republican. Under state law, the oversight board has the right to run racing at NYRA's three tracks if a franchise agreement is not in place, but NYRA officials have said that they would block any effort by the oversight board to install a different operator of the tracks….

http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/12/17/oversight-board-says-nyra-can-continue/

Oversight Board Says NYRA Can Continue

… Here’s the resolution: Reso%2007-08%20NYRA%20End%20of%20Franchise.doc
…

[Indulto]

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/John-Pricci/
Let There Be Peace In the State House
By John Pricci

… In this entire process, there have been very few people among the NYRA shot callers, including their Board of Trustees, which operate without transparency just like the three Indian Chiefs in Albany--political correctness be damned--that could always be found wearing white hats.

… If NYRA’s whole stance is based on land ownership claims, they cannot afford to agree to an extension while negotiations continue. They believe that either they have a franchise to run racing, or they do not.

… NYRA would probably have to … agree to fewer of their own appointees to the Board of Trustees in favor of--yes--political hacks. Hopefully, those “appointees” would know something about racing.

… the venue that hosts the Triple Crown’s third jewel needs a facelift badly. And those Belmont grounds have room for a proposed destination complex for all the people in the state to enjoy. More importantly, people from other states, too.

Sen. Bruno has to get off giving away a store he doesn’t own to people he wants indebted to him. Who is he to replace the entire Board of any corporation, not-for-profit or otherwise, in the name of transparency and accountability? Who minds his store? What right does he have to take a product he doesn’t own--races for export, via simulcasting--and cut a third party a slice of that action? He’s supposed to be working for voters, not lobbyists. ...

http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/2007/12/will-racing-get-stoned.html

Will Racing Get Stoned?

… Oh man. Do you really think that the state would have Ms. Stone arrange to bring one of those entities in? Can you picture the NYRA security guards at Aqueduct physically turning Jeff Perlee and Karl O'Farrell away on Jan 1?

… if NYRA were to agree to the extension as is, without a definitive end date, I think it takes the heat off Bruno. Without any immediate threat of NYRA running to court to enforce the land claim in the face of an imminent threat (PERLEE AT FIVE O'CLOCK!), Bruno could harden his position and even put the onus on NYRA to give in on important points. So I'd be surprised if NYRA accepts the offer as is; it seems to me that it could diminish their most powerful weapon. I think they'll either insist on a hard deadline in the not too distant future, or reject the extension offer outright.

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071218/NEWS05/712180337/1021

NYRA may get temporary extension to run racing

By JOSEPH SPECTOR

… The agreement requires NYRA to sign off on a temporary extension, and the beleaguered agency did not indicate whether it will go along with the resolution.

… "I could envision possibly working out an arrangement with the oversight board that would protect all of our rights and privileges," NYRA President Charles Haywood said last week.

… "We're working very hard to reach a conclusion there," Spitzer said of reaching a deal.

Bruno blamed Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for holding up the deal because Silver opposes video lottery terminals at Belmont.

"We could close with the Governor's Office today," Bruno said yesterday. "The speaker isn't there."

An Assembly spokesman said negotiations continue.

[Indulto]

http://www.thoroughbredracingradionetwork.com/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,137/year,2007/month,12/day,17/Itemid,35/
ATRAB interview with John Nerud

12/17/2007 -- HOUR 1 -– midway through

.. “Finest plant in the world is Belmont.

Finest racing in the United States is Belmont.” …

… “Aqueduct has to go. ... Belmont needs to be winterized.” …

Nerud spoke of his direct knowledge that two top lawyers had independently verified that NYRA owns the land.

DT is indeed fortunate to have a personal relationship with this amazing individual.
This was one of the rare times his usual effusive praise for a guest was insufficient.

[Indulto]

http://paulmoranattheraces.blogspot.com/2007/12/hits-just-keep-coming.html
The hits just keep coming
By Paul Moran

… Where does Ms. Stone think that, even were such action technically legal, a third party would hire a sufficient number of people to operate Aqueduct while maintaining the facilities at Belmont Park and Saratoga? Who would turn on the lights? Man the betting machines? Manicure the racing surface? Man the starting gate? Park the cars? Make the popcorn? Publish the program? And by the way … all the vendor contracts, which include closed circuit television, photo finish and timing, janitorial service, manure removal and other ingredients essential to the conduct of racing expire with the franchise. No third party has contracts in place to cover simulcasting and dissemination of the television signal to the state’s off-track betting outlets.

Apparently, Ms. Stone and her fellow board members believe that racing just happens by itself. One would think that the uninformed benefactors of the politcal system would carefully guard rather than so willingly expose their lack of expertise. …

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-strace185505943dec18,0,7184850.story
State board pushing to keep racetracks open
BY JAMES T. MADORE

… Stone said she hoped to have the stopgap plan worked out by Friday. "We are doing everything possible to assure that racing will continue uninterrupted beginning Jan. 1, and we'll be working with NYRA this week to make sure that occurs," she said.

NYRA, however, didn't jump at Stone's offer. Spokesman John Lee said NYRA's lawyers were "reviewing" the board resolution "to determine an appropriate course of action."

… Asked about the board, Spitzer said he hoped a new franchise agreement would be reached within two weeks. "I don't want to create an impression that we believe that will happen or that it will be necessary," he said, referring to a board takeover of racing.

"We are working very hard to reach a conclusion ... We are conscious of the Dec. 31 deadline, though there are statutory considerations and alternatives to governing in the event that there's not a decision," he told reporters.

And for those of NYP’s persuasion:

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/12/18/2007-12-18_hold_your_horses_governor.html
Hold your horses, governor
By Bill Hammond

... Spitzer and legislative leaders … should use that time to step back, take a deep breath and reread the proposals from Capital Play, Empire Racing and Excelsior Racing.

NYRA has replaced many of its top managers since barely escaping a federal indictment a few years ago. But its plan for managing the tracks amounts to a continuation of the same-old, same-old practices that have led to shrinking attendance and stagnant wagering.

The private bidders, by contrast, have big plans to draw the crowds back. At Aqueduct, they would build not just a "racino" to house the video slots, but also restaurants, hotels, concert venues and retail shops, transforming a grossly underdeveloped property into a destination resort a stone's throw from JFK Airport. Best of all, it's private developers, and not taxpayers, who would shoulder most of the risk.

… But NYRA's dubious ownership claim is no reason for Spitzer to hand it the keys for another three decades. How about giving it a short-term extension of a year or two while that dispute is settled, once and for all, in the courts?

… At least two of the would-be operators - Capital Play and Empire - say they can make that work. Capital Play - a partnership that includes the sponsors ofAustralia's Melbourne Cup, one of the world's most successful horse races - is offering $125million to jointly manage Aqueduct with NYRA. And Empire is willing to put up $100 million for a similar plan. …

[the little guy]

BIG PLANS!!!!

What a schmuck.