CRIST: Sets the NY facts straight

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Danzig

thanks for posting that steve. but there is still a possibility of nyra retaining control, correct?

i remember reading a few years ago about the whole slots deal....when the first few tracks got them, of course their bottom line got huge. but like that article said, once everyone gets them, the playing field is level again, and it still comes down to who does their job the best.

i don't understand why horse racing doesn't market itself like the casinos. it's as tho too many in racing don't want that side of it let out--but why?? people like to gamble, let them know how much more fun it is to make an educated guess, win some money, rather then sitting and mind-numbingly feeding a coin slot.
i went to a casino once, and i hated it. i have never touched the instant racing machines at oaklawn.

NYRA has more than a " chance " to remain in control of the franchise. They are a substantial favorite, in fact, to do so. However, I agree with everyone here that says this article should be in all the above mentioned papers, and it is my sincere hope that NYRA takes out full page ads, reprinting this article, in at least some of these publications.

There is, I think unfortunately, a gap between public perception about this franchise battle and its realities. In some ways I fault NYRA for this, though in other ways I can understand their thinking, as it seems obvious that they have chosen not to roll around in the dirt with the other bidders who are intentionally skewing the facts. What I would like to see them do is a better job of presenting their case to the public without getting into a battle with the other bidders.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

NYRA has more than a " chance " to remain in control of the franchise. They are a substantial favorite, in fact, to do so. However, I agree with everyone here that says this article should be in all the above mentioned papers, and it is my sincere hope that NYRA takes out full page ads, reprinting this article, in at least some of these publications.

There is, I think unfortunately, a gap between public perception about this franchise battle and its realities. In some ways I fault NYRA for this, though in other ways I can understand their thinking, as it seems obvious that they have chosen not to roll around in the dirt with the other bidders who are intentionally skewing the facts. What I would like to see them do is a better job of presenting their case to the public without getting into a battle with the other bidders.

I totally agree, it seems they are their own worst emeny...a lot of people out there just believe everything they hear from the pols and NYRA bashers out there.

[SniperSB23]

I think if Steve or Andy or someone sent a well written piece into Tim Wilkin at the Times Union that it would likely make the paper. It may not have wide circulation but it does have wide circulation in Albany which is where these decisions are being made. The story would also be available on their website for mass circulation.

[Linny]

While I agree that the 3 other entities may be looking to grab VLT money, don't forget that NYRA has taken loan after loan, bailouts and even bankruptsy all while waiting for the VLT MONEY. No matter what happens, the VLT money will be heavily regulated and subject to NYS Lottery regulation.

I do agree that VLT's don't create racing fans, but I agree also with horsemen who claim the no effort is made to do so by "racino operators. Offering sumptuous facilities for slot players while racing fans watch from squalor, offering free admission to slotters while race fans are charged to death with admissions, expensive food and beverage and high cost information does nothing to promote racing. Geez, the NY horsemen are begging to have the in house signal piped into gaming rooms and VLT operations oppose the idea!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Linny

I do agree that VLT's don't create racing fans, but I agree also with horsemen who claim the no effort is made to do so by "racino operators. Offering sumptuous facilities for slot players while racing fans watch from squalor, offering free admission to slotters while race fans are charged to death with admissions, expensive food and beverage and high cost information does nothing to promote racing. Geez, the NY horsemen are begging to have the in house signal piped into gaming rooms and VLT operations oppose the idea!

The goal of " racinos " is to not let their patrons even know there is racing going on, of this there is no doubt, and it is seemingly true everywhere but probably nowhere worse than NY State. I am not saying you said this, but be absolutely clear that this is in NO way NYRA's fault, and strictly the fault of the STATE and, specifically, the NY State Lottery. This is another example of State regulation acting in a manner contrary to both racing's best interests as well as NYRA's.

Some of the blame for situations like this lay in the hands of your employer, an OTB in the State of NY, that has a proven track record of working in opposition to both the racing fan in NY State and NYRA. It is OTB that forced the recent increase in takeout, as NYRA was forced to allow this in order to implement their rebate program, and this was the compromise they had to make with NY State legislature due to interference from the NY State OTBs. This is the same OTB structure that not only allowed the Pick-6 scandal to occur but also encouraged the payment of the participants. But, of course, it is NYRA that is " scandal plagued ".

[Linny]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The goal of " racinos " is to not let their patrons even know there is racing going on, of this there is no doubt, and it is seemingly true everywhere but probably nowhere worse than NY State. I am not saying you said this, but be absolutely clear that this is in NO way NYRA's fault, and strictly the fault of the STATE and, specifically, the NY State Lottery. This is another example of State regulation acting in a manner contrary to both racing's best interests as well as NYRA's.

Some of the blame for situations like this lay in the hands of your employer, an OTB in the State of NY, that has a proven track record of working in opposition to both the racing fan in NY State and NYRA. It is OTB that forced the recent increase in takeout, as NYRA was forced to allow this in order to implement their rebate program, and this was the compromise they had to make with NY State legislature due to interference from the NY State OTBs. This is the same OTB structure that not only allowed the Pick-6 scandal to occur but also encouraged the payment of the participants. But, of course, it is NYRA that is " scandal plagued ".

I do blame the way the VLT's are set up for the lack of promotion of RACING at RACETRACKS.

I cannot speak to issues of OTB's and their political decisions. I am so low on the employment food chain that it's fair to say that I have absolutely NOTHING to do with decision making.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Linny

I do blame the way the VLT's are set up for the lack of promotion of RACING at RACETRACKS.

The one and only time I walked through the Racino was the first August it was open. I was with a friend of mine who had a vested interest in seeing how a racetrack ran a casino. We walked through the Racino and the most striking thing, to me at least, was that it was extraordinarily difficult to figure out how to exit the slot parlor into the racetrack. He basically explained to me that it is the design of these places NOT to let you find the racetrack.

Pretty sad.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

NYRA has more than a " chance " to remain in control of the franchise. They are a substantial favorite, in fact, to do so. However, I agree with everyone here that says this article should be in all the above mentioned papers, and it is my sincere hope that NYRA takes out full page ads, reprinting this article, in at least some of these publications.

There is, I think unfortunately, a gap between public perception about this franchise battle and its realities. In some ways I fault NYRA for this, though in other ways I can understand their thinking, as it seems obvious that they have chosen not to roll around in the dirt with the other bidders who are intentionally skewing the facts. What I would like to see them do is a better job of presenting their case to the public without getting into a battle with the other bidders.

NPR did a somewhat lengthy segment on the bidders the other day during the drive home from work..of course it too, labeled the NYRA as the corrupt plaque franchise that has been controlling NY Racing for years. I think you may be correct in that they need to form a stronger explaination for their position, the media is focusing on the negative like the bankruptcy and using terms that do not flatter their name.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

NPR did a somewhat lengthy segment on the bidders the other day during the drive home from work..of course it too, labeled the NYRA as the corrupt plaque franchise that has been controlling NY Racing for years. I think you may be correct in that they need to form a stronger explaination for their position, the media is focusing on the negative like the bankruptcy and using terms that do not flatter their name.

It doesn't surprise me that NPR would label NYRA that way, after all their "champions" for the "little" guy
and not the wealthly, greedy "right wingers" in this country.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

NYRA has more than a " chance " to remain in control of the franchise. They are a substantial favorite, in fact, to do so. However, I agree with everyone here that says this article should be in all the above mentioned papers, and it is my sincere hope that NYRA takes out full page ads, reprinting this article, in at least some of these publications.

There is, I think unfortunately, a gap between public perception about this franchise battle and its realities. In some ways I fault NYRA for this, though in other ways I can understand their thinking, as it seems obvious that they have chosen not to roll around in the dirt with the other bidders who are intentionally skewing the facts. What I would like to see them do is a better job of presenting their case to the public without getting into a battle with the other bidders.

good to know.
they weren't the ones chosen by the panel set up by the previous gov, correct? so, with spitzer throwing it back into the process, did their chances improve by much?
is this a case of going with what you know, rather than what you don't? and wasn't the group that swindal was a part of, along with the steinbrenners, the one who got the nod first time out?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Danzig

good to know.
they weren't the ones chosen by the panel set up by the previous gov, correct? so, with spitzer throwing it back into the process, did their chances improve by much?
is this a case of going with what you know, rather than what you don't? and wasn't the group that swindal was a part of, along with the steinbrenners, the one who got the nod first time out?

The panel makes recommendations....they don't choose the franchise holder. The first panel selected a group that has now pretty much dropped out of the bidding. Pretty sad to think their recommendation didn't even make the second go-round.

[Payson Dave]

It seems to me that the delay in getting the slots up and running at Aqu has been an intentional attempt to undermine NYRA....I think it is fair to explore which politians benefit from the undermining of NYRA and how do they benefit...ie some connection to Excelsior or Empire???

[blackthroatedwind]

I can't help but harken back to a recent appearance of mine on ATRAB, right after the first panel recommended Excelsior, where I was interupted ( frequently and at length ) by Excelsior shill Gary Contessa. He went on and on about how great it was going to be to have NY racing run by the Steinbrenner family and the New York Yankees.

Boy was Gary right! They were so committed to NY racing that they dropped out just a few months later. Wow would we have been lucky to have had people so determined to run NY racing that they couldn't even make it to the second cut of the bidding process.

Where is the accountability for these people and their followers? Who do they have to answer to for cheering on the Steinbrenner group who abandoned NY racing at the drop of a hat ( or should I say pants )? Of course now they are getting behind Steve Wynn. What will be their response when Wynn drops out in the coming week(s)? How can Excelsior even be considered a viable bidder when they change leadership like Gary Stevens changes occupations?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Payson Dave

It seems to me that the delay in getting the slots up and running at Aqu has been an intentional attempt to undermine NYRA....I think it is fair to explore which politians benefit from the undermining of NYRA and how do they benefit...ie some connection to Excelsior or Empire???

No doubt. If NYRA had the slots running two years ago, as they legally should have, they would have been so financially strong that replacing them would have been extremely tough. But, of course, Empire actually claimed last summer at Saratoga that NYRA had intentionally withheld the slots ( to keep money from the horsemen I suppose ). Here's another group, Empire, that is either not smart enough to understand the situation or willing to say ANYTHING to attempt to make NYRA look bad. Either way they hardly seem like a group that should be in a position to run racing in NY.