Will firings of the State Comptroller and the entire Racing and Wagering Board commence soon as well? How are people that were just as guilty in charge of investigating?

Yes - that's precisely what Steve's comments have me worried about. Thanks.

Actually the Racing Board will be gone soon. The latest budget has the Racing Board being merged with the Lottery Commission. There will be 7 seats and the Governor will select 5 of the 7 members. I think it is a safe assumption that John Sabini will not be head of the new commission.

who knows what they are gonna do they just need to be fired no matter who investigates.

Talk about stacking the deck. If one goes rogue he has a safety valve. Bodes well for the future of racing in New York.

I dont have much of an opinion on this entire situation, but I have to say this. I think its silly that this is a major story and the main topic of conversation Oaks/Derby week.

Agreed......but, as ALWAYS the mainstream media just loves to bring up this crap during a spotlight week for our sport! :(

Totally agree..well put!

I was talking to a well known racing mind this morning who pointed out that NYRA did not keep the lot of the 8.5 million in overcharges. The OTBs and other ADW outlets took most of that. I would think that someone from one of the OTBs or ADWs would have stepped up on the issue but, so far, they to were silent.
There will be changes in the NYRA exec staff. Unfortunately NY politicians will fix the problem (God helps us). Since Skelos is fancy with the OTBs you could perhaps see a John Signor of Capital appointed top exec of NYRA. That's government for you.

Given Cuomo administration officials previously questioning operation of NYSRWB (for example, on RWB's approval of call center in Oregon), would he even be a member of the the new Gaming Commission? For that reason, I'm suspect of a number of recent news items: Sabini named new Chair of ARCI; disclosure of "interim report" that tars NYRA and, for want of a better word, exonerates the Franchise Oversight Board and NYSRWB; and initiation by NYSRWB of public comment period regarding use of Lasix in NY. An awful lot of activity in a short period of time for a guy whose days would appear to be numbered.

Mike Vietch
 

Mike Vietch wrote a great article today regarding this whole issue. It may be viewed at www.saratogian.com. Worth reading.

Scat

Here's the e-mail I sent to the Saratogian and Albany Times-Union when this story first hit last December:

"I don't understand why the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is getting a pass on this. You need to talk to someone in what passes for their Pari-Mutuel Revenue Unit in Albany and ask them why they didn't catch this error for 15 months.

Prior to 1991, Pari-Mutuel Examiners of the Tax Dept. were in place at NY State tracks and off-track betting venues to check EACH AND EVERY POOL to insure the accuracy of the reported handle, commission, breakage, and payoff to the public. They also saw to the collection of franchise fees and admissions taxes. In that year, NY State decided, AS A COST-CUTTING MEASURE, to disband the entire unit, and lay off or transfer the employees.

I know this for a fact because I was one of the examiners so affected. All you have to do is check the history of NYRA's transgressions over the last two decades to realize the State Tax Dept.'s decision to leave the henhouse unguarded was actually a very costly one. Had we been in place, say, on 9/15/10, the error would have revealed itself after the running of the very first race with "exotic" betting."

Incidentally, my ex-boss at Pari-Mutuel who was the last remaining Tax Dept. representative at NYRA until August, 2010 (!!!) just e-mailed me to let me know he was contacted recently by a reporter from the Albany Times-Union.

Tom DiNapoli already shifting blame instead of explaining why his office missed this for so long. The seeds for the political motivations seem to be planted. He seems ideally suited for a position on the Obama campaign.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...tF3vgapzfVmMhI

Where was the oversight from the Oversight Committee?

Here's what my ex-boss just sent me:

"My phone still ringing with calls from Albany tax people and that reporter from the Times Union. He is writing an article for this Monday's edition and tells me my picture will appear. Quite a hornet's nest your note to the Times Union stirred up. It will be interesting to see what he writes. I suspect NYRA and the Racing & Wagering Board will be targeted. NYRA for failing to act when advised of their error and the Racing and Wagering Board for their inefficiency. We know our pari-mutuel crew was the eyes and ears of racing surveillance. We assured the integrity of racing in NY State and with our departure the void was not filled."

I'm looking forward to reading that article on Monday. Keep in mind that my old boss was basically "forced to retire" in August, 2010 just a month before this fiasco hit, so he might be a little "disgruntled."

Story I wanted to see published finally hit:

http://www.timesunion.com/local/art...yes-3538781.php

Guess I'm a "whistleblower" of sorts. Reporter did a great job with this story, I thought.


Ocala Mike, nee Michael Napolitano

they overlooked instead?

Your link was not working

http://www.timesunion.com/local/arti...es-3538781.php

RWB report tried to "exonerate" the Franchise Oversight Board by noting that it essentially has no staff.

It's truly an amazing article. Shock journalism