Why does the Big A run by NYRA have so many problems?
Is the "On track" product so good now. Will it stay that way in the future?

New York racing has an excellent product for 6 months(Bel-Sar-Bel) and garbage for 6 months(The Big A). That can not be acceptable for what is supposed to be the best circuit in the US. The other companies havent been in charge of New York, NYRA has. Nader didnt leave to go to HK for nothing. They have had other people in the past who have left, or were asked to leave.

They can barely run the track now on the bankruptcy financing made available. The main track at the Big A has been a major problem since last fall.
You want a proven failure to get rewarded with a pot a gold?

The racing business model has changed over the years, NYRA hasnt a clue how to keep up. You cant open your doors and say we are here, come in. The wont work anymore.

For those of you that are interested in contacting the Governor and the members of the panel, here are the addresses. I know the legislative contacts are correct, and I think the rest of the addresses will get a message to the people.

I am not sure that any effort we make will make a difference, but I am going to express my opinion either way. I did not find an address for one of the committee members, for "Jon McCloskey, a legislative staff member representing the Republican leadership of the Senate, LINK, but the rest I worked on tonight and I think they are correct.

Anyway, hope someone else will send a letter to let these guys know how you feel...

ALostTexan

Governor Eliot Spitzer
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow
Chairman
House Racing and Wagering Committee
New York State Assembly
Legislative Office Building 845
Albany, NY 12248

Assemblyman Jim Tedisco
New York State Assembly
Legislative Office Building 521
Albany, NY 12248

Senator John D. Sabini
New York State Senate
513 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247

Mr. Daniel Hogan
Chairman, New York State Racing and Wagering Board
1 Broadway Center, Suite 600
Schenectady, New York 12305-2553

Mr. David English
Chief Budget Examiner
Division of the Budget
New York State Division of the Budget
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Mr. Patrick Foye
Empire State Economic Development Corp
30 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12245

Wow what a firecracker you have going here.......even money that ATRAB is about this thread and the Gospel per St Stephen if not today then tomorrow!!!!

I heard Ragozin speak about 2 years ago at a day seminar before the Derby and the one thing that stuck in my head other than sheet theory was how down Len was about the possibility of finding bargains at NY race tracks that would make you money AS A NEWCOMER!!!!

The theory that NY race tracks have become places where the walls are crawling with sharks that suck up all of the "uninformed money" really bothered the hell out of me. I bring this up because it is the kind of thing that adds to the myth that NY racing is on skid row while the other racing in the country is just flooded with gushes of money just waiting to be taken home by anyone who plays. If you hear enough of this malarkey it becomes tougher to discount by the shear volume of propaganda that services no one.

I feel a change in the title page to DT coming from Mr Byk not to mention a bloodhorse editorial to follow.....game on!!!

DrD

He's right... the prices in NY are more efficient than any other circuit. If a horse that's 10-1 ML deserves to be 3-1... he will be at post time. If a P3 should pay $200, it pays $200. It makes winning even more difficult.

That has nothing to do with the state of the NYRA franchise, however.

What about working in conjunction with Yankee Trails (or maybe even the train line) like Foxwoods does and start running trips from upstate to Belmont Park and Aqueduct? Keep the tickets fairly low, give a voucher or admission (if that is legal?) and a quick and easy way for upstaters to get to Belmont & Aqueduct. Yankee Trails advertises on TV so they could take advantage of broadcasting about the big racing days that are outside of the Breeder's Cup and Triple Crown events (Beldame, JCGC, Met Mile etc).

I don't know too much about the public transportation system in NYC, but is it easy to get to Belmont Park by it?

This is an interesting topic.
Please help me focus in on this...
Do you think the politicians will award the franchise based on the best interests of the gamblers or based on which one they guess will generate the most revenues for the NY treasury?

The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) has trains that leave Manhattan, stop in Queens and go directly to the gate at Belmont Park. The trip is about 40-45 minutes. Trains return from about the 7th race to about 1/2 hour after the last race. It is the best way to get to Belmont on Belmont Day. Other days driving isnt bad as the lot has plenty of room.

The "A" subway line goes to The Big A. The trip is longer from Manhattan as the train makes many stops but the fare is $2.00.

The problem is to get from upstate you either have to drive down through the Bronx and LI (a major hindrance for some people) or drive to Poughkeepsie, take the metro north train down, and then switch to the LIRR to get the Belmont. Sure seems like a bus could simplify things. The track should subsidize it with betting vouchers to keep costs reasonable which is what I assume the casinos do to have all the crazy cheap bus trips to casinos.

agree 100% with him. i know steve wynn is all about the casino thing. not racing. steve crist is telling it like it is.

You are right. Thats what happens when you put an ignorant person near a ignorant reporter and the other guy is just sooooooo smart and we are all idiots.

I missed that, how damning of a statement is that...............

ny has as big a mess as maryland. baltimore will lose the preakness before md law makers do anything about it.
all the ny people have to look at are the slots at charles town. it's all about the slots and soon to be table games.

Big Lie No. 3:
 

Slot machines on the premises will attract and convert the masses into racing fans.

I feel that most of those slot heads will not even know that there is horses racing. That would just be another place to go to feed the machine. Probably an additional money maker, but nothin to do w/ horse racing.