State investigating NYRA takeout issues; Hayward, Kehoe terminated

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

If what the report says is true, there is absolutely no chance that Hayward keeps his job. I can't imagine this being a case of pre-meditated fraud or theft, though. It's not like NYRA was siphoning money from the pools and paying it to execs--the extra funds were relatively negligible in the grand scheme of things and nobody had any motive to "steal." Seems like a case of ineptitude or negligence that was compounded by some very poor decisions once the mistake was found.

Any evaluation of the situation needs to factor in the atmosphere of hostility from Albany and a governor who is eager to execute his own agenda, foist the land from the association and dismantle racing in the state.

How convenient too that all responsibility of the State Racing & Wagering Board, the Franchise Oversight Board and State Legislature appears to have evaporated as part of this. Guess they didn't need to do their job in monitoring the timeline on the original increase (which the legislature foisted on NYRA and players as part of the NYC OTB transfer to state control).

People shouldn't be taken in by the smokescreen.. there's bigger motives involved here than extracting Charlie Hayward or browbeating NYRA.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

im a huge hayward fan. i think he has guided nyra well for many years and is bieng screwed..

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Any evaluation of the situation needs to factor in the atmosphere of hostility from Albany and a governor who is eager to execute his own agenda, foist the land from the association and dismantle racing in the state.

How convenient too that all responsibility of the State Racing & Wagering Board, the Franchise Oversight Board and State Legislature appears to have evaporated as part of this. Guess they didn't need to do their job in monitoring the timeline on the original increase (which the legislature foisted on NYRA and players as part of the NYC OTB transfer to state control).

People shouldn't be taken in by the smokescreen.. there's bigger motives involved here than extracting Charlie Hayward or browbeating NYRA.

Steve, these are very vaild points. The State Racing and Wagering Board and Franchise Board are just as guilty if not more here. Their job is to ensure the integrity of the sport. What is their excuse?

As for the State Legislature, don't even get me started on them. This is one of the most corrupt governments in the USA. You can't even open a newspaper without seeing a State legislator being investigated, charged, on trial or convicted of a crime on a daily basis. I believe Carl Kruger is the poster boy of the day today. Or it may be Pedro Espada. They are incredibly corrupt and it is sad that they keep getting elected until they are convicted and stripped of their positions.

DiNapoli's office is just as responsible. What happened to the audit in 2010 that didn't catch this? How did they miss that? Yet they are quick to place the blame on others and take the credit for it instead of sharing the blame, typical DiNapoli spin of taking a negative and making it a positive for him that the general public that knows nothing about this swallows up as a positive for him. Frankly, DiNapoli is incredibly inept, had no experience as a comptroller and continues to waste taxpayer money.

At the end of the day, who gets screwed? The "dengerate" horseplayer, like you and me and no one gives a $hit. We are an easy punching bag just like smokers, who cares about us. You can tax us at usurious rates and no one really cares. You can screw us and the public says we deserve it. It is a sad state of affairs.

I don't for a second think that the timing of this report by those that are more responsible for the blame than those they are scapegoating is a coincidence either.

Having said that, regardless of the atmosphere in Albany, if the allegations against NYRA are true than the decision making was truly warped and allowed this kind of scapegoating to happen IMO.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Kasept

People shouldn't be taken in by the smokescreen.. there's bigger motives involved here than extracting Charlie Hayward or browbeating NYRA.

Don't you think the Governor will use this as an excuse to fire Hayward, throw the NYRA into disarray, appoint his own people, and have his way?

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Riot

Don't you think the Governor will use this as an excuse to fire Hayward, throw the NYRA into disarray, appoint his own people, and have his way?

I think Steve is right on point that this is probably being used as a politcal ploy by Cuomo to execute his grand stupid plan to steal Aqueduct from NYRA and turn it into a convention center. If there are some casualties during the way in order for it to be executed, I doubt that Cuomo really cares.

This is a State full of politcians that have a problem with spending money that the People of this State cannot afford and they will stop at nothing to execute it and do it in a way that it appears to the taxpayers that they are not paying more. Many of the politicians have no problems iilegally stuffing cash into their own pockets at the taxpayer expense either. The corruption in Albany in mind boggling.

NYRA better put that slot money to good use as it won't be around for long. Welcome to New York, the land of the corrupt in power.

[The Bid]

They dont need an excuse to fire him, he captains the ship. He should be held accountable for anything that's mishandled wager wise, or anything in that racing office that brings the integrity of their product into question. Roll the heads, not just Hayward, but second in command and revamp what's going on over there.

Its corrupt inside, whether this is a mistake or not

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by The Bid

They dont need an excuse to fire him, he captains the ship. He should be held accountable for anything that's mishandled wager wise, or anything in that racing office that brings the integrity of their product into question. Roll the heads, not just Hayward, but second in command and revamp what's going on over there.

Its corrupt inside, whether this is a mistake or not

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?

[postpicker]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

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?

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.

[The Bid]

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

[pointman]

Originally Posted by postpicker

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.

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

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by postpicker

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.

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.

[RockHardTen1985]

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.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

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!

Originally Posted by The Bid

They dont need an excuse to fire him, he captains the ship. He should be held accountable for anything that's mishandled wager wise, or anything in that racing office that brings the integrity of their product into question. Roll the heads, not just Hayward, but second in command and revamp what's going on over there.

Its corrupt inside, whether this is a mistake or not

[Riot]

Originally Posted by pointman

I think Steve is right on point that this is probably being used as a politcal ploy by Cuomo to execute his grand stupid plan to steal Aqueduct from NYRA and turn it into a convention center. If there are some casualties during the way in order for it to be executed, I doubt that Cuomo really cares.

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

[Stall Mucker]

Where was the oversight from the Oversight Committee?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Stall Mucker

Where was the oversight from the Oversight Committee?

they overlooked instead?

[10 pnt move up]

Your link was not working

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

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Danzig

they overlooked instead?

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