CRIST: (Updated: Bruno proposal)
 

Steve Crist, who thankfully answers to exactly no one, brilliantly captured last week's latest nonsense from Albany regarding the franchise and the State Senate Republicans embarassing behavior in his Sunday DRF column.

I'd love to post it, but should not. Here's the link for those with a DRF subscription: http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=89405

Senate Majority magpie Joe Bruno said in September that 'other interested parties' with 'tremendous experience running racing' deserved to be a part of the NY picture. So Joe, with Magna, Churchill and Delaware North ALL leaving Empire, and Richard Fields abandoning Exselsior to concentrate on Suffolk, exactly who is left with 'tremendous expreience running racing' that deserves a hand in NY racing?

Joe has no answer, but now the NYS GOP have a new idea about trimming down the slots money that goes to racing and beefing up the portion that goes to the eventual slots operator. Crist quickly sees through this and asks: Who is being quietly lined up behind the scenes to get the Aqueduct contract, and have the politicians been promised something in exchange for cutting them an even larger slice of the pie?


If possible, those without a DRF plan should try to get to this piece.. It again demonstrates what a sad farce we're experiencing here in NY.

Unfortunately, I doubt the Daily Racing Form and Crist is read by either the State Senate Republicans, or more importantly the consituents who vote for them. Bruno et.al. have no need to worry about any negative public opinion stemming from a scathingly accurate assessment as long as it's in a small, unread-by-the-masses trade mag.

What's more ridiculous giving a non profit organization governed by the polictians the franchise or finding a suitable well run business to manage a business that is in dire need of leadership.

Obviously NYRA bought there way into the hearts of Spitzer and his agenda. They thought it was over funny that they all thought it was so easy.

NYRA or more affectionately known as "the protectors of the people" lol shouldn't be allowed to run racing just because they changed the guard. Why everyone thinks a non profit is a good format to attend to racing is beyond me. Horse racing is a business and business decisions are best served business man that have to earn. Not former business people albeit successful that will be able to spend without having to be accountable for a bottom line.

I just don't get it?

I have to agree with Riot. So few people making the decision, which is very important to us, have little or no knowledge about the facts, it is very frustrating to watch.

In addition there is not real consequence for a bad decision.

Who's bad decisions the ones NYRA made or the ones the polictians governing NYRA make. It's a joke on both ends.

Sell the tracks with the stipulation they must be operated as such to a company. A company that has a bottom line. Make the slots revenue what it is suppose to be, carve it up and give as little as possible to the track. Eventually, leadership we have to fix the inherent financial issues with racing. Continueing to subsidize racing with phony slot bucks is a recipe for long term diaster.

I love racing but its broke needs someone to fix it not just give it blood money.

Why do people think that a non profit would be bad? If the laws and rules in NY were changed so as not to strangle NYRA and give them a chance to keep some of the money earned to improve the product and facilities a non profit would be a no brainer. A for profit company has one main desire...to increase the bottom line. A non profit has a broader goal of increasing the viability of the sport.

Look at how well the for profit breeding and sales industry has helped racing...


As for the slots money, why shouldn't a legal gambling operation have a right to expand their gambling menu? Why is it called 'blood money'? Isn't Outback Steakhouse allowed to sell chicken as well as steak?

The "inherent financial issues" were created by the state government and the odious patronage power associated with the OTB's. Not that anyone has remotely begun to address that issue...

And I don't understand the "bad decisions" saddlebag constantly flung over the back of current NYRA management. How are the Kenny Noe/Barry Schwartz years NYRA administrations relevant now? Why is there no credit applied to what's been accomplished the last 3 years?

And with due respect, do you have any idea to what degree the same state government hacks that are losers in the current battle, and are now desperate to keep their fingers in the pie, were responsible for the "mismanagement" for which they chide NYRA? The same scum that take delight in citing NYRA's expenditures under old regimes are the very guys that were glomming everything they could off the NYRA teet for years... I'd find a new whipping post.

This is the biggest issue no one in Albany seems to want to address.

NYCOTB alone did over $1.06 billion in handle in FY2006, if we conservatively estimate 30% of that was on NYRA (probably closer to 40-50%), that's $54,000,000 in revenue per year at a takeout rate of 18% (approx. the blended NYRA rate). Taken incrementally over their contract, which I cannot confirm but I have heard is 6%, that's $36,000,000 in lost revenue for NYRA that could be applied to racing directly.

To put that in perspective, that's enough to cover the purses for the ENTIRE winter meet- now multiply that by a factor that includes WNYOTB, Capital OTB, Catskill OTB, Nassau OTB, and Suffolk OTB.

Steve,
The only problem with your words above are that they are rational and make very good sense....Those that want to replace NYRA are unfortunately not interested in sensible/rational discourse.

When you have to be concerned with a bottom line you have to make sure you have a competitive product that is going to sell. Obviously that means patrons and there needs become paramount. So you have to constantly make decisions that are in the best interests of the product so the patrons(bettors) keep coming.When you are a non profit gate keeping which in what NYRA is set up to do you allow any and all stimuli disrupt the decision making process. When you run a business for profit you have to not yield to any and all stimuli.. A Non profit governed agency is more likely to be passive IMO. The rub Cannon Ball is that to make money you have to have a superior product and the product has to constantly evolve or at the very least stay excellent to continue to get customers.

They glommed because the format allowed for such BS. If someone owned the company and had to be accountable as such glomming is far less likely.

BTW why should NYRA have to be accountable for past failures? Just because a company changes mgt. all is forgiven? So the past and the past indiscretions are obsolved because they cleared the deck and took out the trash? I guess if the new guys make some bad calls in the future all we need to do is get rid of them as well and start over. is NYRA a catholic non profit? Just kidding

Now that's funny..

This is the type of drama you get when the organization you want to give a 30 YR franchise to is bankrupt and has a history of corruption.

30 yrs is ridiculous.

I wonder if a few people on this site may have an interest in seeing NYRA get the contract. LOL

Just for curiosity's sake, if you do not want NYRA to run racing in NYRA, who is your preferred alternative?

YA THINK?

Its not the people I object to at the current NYRA, as from what I have been told, they are all solid(finally).. Losing Nader could not have been good and speaks to failings of a NON PROFIT format. Perhaps a real company wouldn't lose their managing talent to the competition.

I don't normally think of the Hong Kong Jockey Club as NYRA's "competition." Please name one of its vital managing talent that it recently lost to a North American-based competitor.

The issue is what regulatory world does the controlling business have to exist in? Once that is determined you can develop a business model. If the rules are always changing its tough to get serious talent involved

Why isnt it competition? Is that a joke?

NYRA can run it. Just 5 years at a time. You give anyone 30 years and by year 3 the corruption will set it. Why do you think we elect a president every 4 years, not 30 years. There has to be some accountability and NYRA wants no part of being accountable. They just want jobs for friends and to have their own little playground. No gambling entity should be non-profit though. What will happen is they will always find a way to spend any excess dollars, and usually on contracts for their friends.

well said

Based on what's going on here in Albany, I think it's fair to say that the regulatory world in which NY racing is going to operate is not going to change anytime soon - which means that a broken model in which the state grabs too much $$ and the OTBs are essentially preferred (no production cost) competitors of the tracks will remain unfixed. I'm surprised that you recognize the importance of the racing model but seemingly put blinders on when it comes to recognizing that the broken model is why NYRA has been losing money over the past few years.

Well why is NYRA fighting so hard for a business and that is impossible to make work? Give it up. This is all about money and people at NYRA and in the government love the status quo. They are all making money and taking care of their friends at the taxpayers expense.

NYRA is broke isn't getting slot money anytime soon and should be put down

[quote=DaHoss9698]It's quite a meeting of the minds when Freddy and Benevolous get together.

Ror








Thud

I guess our friends :confused: both "Freddy Mo" & "Benevolus" can't answer this! :rolleyes:
I said it once and I'll say it again; The on-track race product that NYRA puts forth is the best anywhere. All others interested in the franchise are ONLY interested in the slots side...our friends above must not be true fans of thoroughbred racing or they would see this. What do the others know about running thoroughbred racing.....PLEASE ANSWER ME THIS, NYRA DETRACTORS!

That's the problem. Without the Saratoga meet included, the product has been mediocre at best.

But, other than Churchill or Keeneland....where's it been better?
The day to - day meets in California & Florida suck, it's only good on weekends and stake days there.

i just have to try to remember in future that what cannon does is 'trainering'.

I think Kirkorian's group would have been a good choice. And in addition to running the slots, the racing side (NYRA or whomever) would have benefited from having a successful gaming executive from outside the NYRA 'family' running racing, or at least having a significant presence on the financial oversight side.

These top gaming firms (Kirkorian/MGM and Wynn, etc) are arguably far more astute and vigorous at financial management than anyone NYRA has ever had in place.

That's the difference between a non-profit and firms like Wynn/MGM. They know how to make money and are VERY good at watching the store.

The kind of thing that happened a few years ago when NYRA non-bid a 900k contract (against their own regs) for services provided by a relative of a key NYRA exec simply would not happen with more qualified management.

Does that help?

The product is too diluted. Too many tracks and too many unbettable races just to fill the standard 9 or 10 race card.

I'd like to see a 3 or 4 day race week with 6 races on the weekdays and maybe 8 races at most on the weekend for each track. There simply aren't enough quality horses to warrant 9 or 10 races a day. Because of this ridiculous industry standard we have practically been assaulted with turf sprint after turf sprint after turf sprint. ENOUGH!! It's madness!!

I actually believe that there's some merit to a lot of what is in your post about the value of some outside "fresh" minds getting involved in the business side of things, but let's not kid ourselves, "sweetheart deals" occur in the private sector as well.

This conservative chest thumping is all politics and no reality. In reality, the for profit tracks put as little as possible into the racing side of the business. Track conditions are inferior unless mandated by a state like Cali, for example. A for profit would damage horse racing in NY State by taking profits at the expense of the horse racing industry. Now the casino side I can see a for profit model I suppose. But definately not horse racing and the Albany Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for their unbridled greed.

Right about now,I sure wish we elected a President every 3 years.....It will soon be announced that Turkey owns NYRA,and any mouthing off about it will not be tolerated by these hardballers.What was the Met Mile is now to be called The Ataturk Mile.The Belmont is now going to be called the Ankara Derby.

Keeneland puts on a better product than NYRA

Keeneland doesnt have to deal with 6.5 months of something called The Big A.

Belmont is a ghost town and with the exception of a triple crown contender and the year it has the BC (or has a good giveaway) it has nobody but a handul of regulars(5-6K) who attend.

NYRA cant run the races at a profit have shown corruption and bankruptcy in its past. NYRA hasn't improved in the past few years, Saratoga has improved by use of good promotions and top quality racing and it being a destination vacation attraction.

I have never seen so many people in fear that if someone else takes over the NY tracks that Saratoga will be ruined.

I would also take Santa Anita for its 4 month meet over anything NYRA offers except Saratoga. However, since it doesnt have to run against Saratoga, It makes it much more appealing for 4 months of good racing vs 6 weeks.

Because nobody would want the NY tracks without slots is a true reflection that NY racing is not a profitable investment and is "not the best racing product anywhere" and it would be nuts to bid on it unless the slots were there. That doesnt mean NYRA should get it by default.

We are all true fans of T-Bred racing, but some of us are realistic in seeing that ineptitude, corruption, neglect of facilities, corporate nepotism, and bankruptcy should not be rewarded and definetly not for 30 years.

I love Keeneland but what they do there can never be compared to racing in "the real world"....they run about 32 dates per calendar year....they are heavily supported by the local horse industry....they are awash in money from the sales which, if added up take more days than the racing...not to mention they are profiting from polytrack sales...if they had to run races every day of the year the picture would no doubt be different....and if you GO to the races you can easily see that all is NOT well in the way that they take care of some things there.

Keeneland, while it runs for 32 days per year, does not put on a better product than Saratoga. Not in any way, shape or form. Saratoga's allowance races are much stronger. Saratoga has a more expanded stakes schedule.

I was on top of every card at the spring Keeneland meet, then Saratoga, and now the fall at Keeneland. There's really no way you can say Keeneland's racing product is better. I know the NY-bred argument will come up, but remember that California has the same issue and sometimes the state breds can offer full, competitive fields that are great in terms of betting.

NT

Keeneland is run by a nonprofit organization of local breedes that spends what would be its profit on facilities for fans and horsemen as well as charitable donations.