[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by geeker2

for those concerned like me...

NYRA holds off on sending out season ticket renewalsThe Business Review (Albany) - by Adam Sichko The Business Review
The New York Racing Association has decided to rein in its usual schedule for mailing season ticket applications for the Saratoga Race Course, citing a franchise future clouded by legislative hearings and ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Typically, NYRA sends out applications now so Saratoga season-ticket holders can renew, said NYRA president Charles Hayward. That won't be the case this year, as the state Senate is in the process of reviewing a recommendation from Gov. Eliot Spitzer to award NYRA the state's horse racing franchise.

"It doesn't seem to us to be prudent from a business standpoint and, frankly, from a public relations standpoint, to offer tickets for next year's Saratoga season until we have a determination of the franchise," Hayward said. "We don't think it's appropriate at this point to be asking that."

Renewals for season tickets and boxes typically net about $2 million in sales, Hayward said. Those requests are due near the end of the year, so that NYRA can put the remaining seats into a lottery.

Hayward said season-ticket holders aren't in jeopardy of losing their seats -- it's just a question of when they'll receive their renewal applications.

"We can't take that money from people until we know what will happen," he said.

Hayward lamented the trickle-down effect this decision has. By pushing back season ticket renewals, people who get in lotteries for single-day tickets are put in a bind, he said.

"The farther we push this out, the less ability people have to make plans, make hotel reservations," he said. "There's a knock-down effect all the way down the line."

Hotel reservations are already made. We'll be there wether they want to sell us seats or not. I don't think there are too many out there that will base their vacation plans on the ticket lottery.