NYRA Franchise: "Backwards, not forwards"

[Kasept]

STATEMENT FROM NYRA CHAIRMAN, C. STEVEN DUNCKER
Feb 11, 2008

Over the weekend, NYRA met with representatives of the State government and reviewed drafts of a proposed new franchise bill in a bid to resolve the franchise stalemate. Unfortunately, this review process indicated that the franchise discussions are going backward, not forward. The areas of concern continue to be the economic model for the future of racing in New York And governance.

It is essential that this legislation provides a proper framework to ensure that New York thoroughbred racing maintains its leadership position for the life of the new franchise. The bill does not provide the proper business model and economic terms that permits NYRA to emerge from bankruptcy nor does it correct the broken business model of thoroughbred racing in New York, a broken model that can only worsen and further imperil this industry under the legislation currently proposed.

While we agree that the NYRA Board should be streamlined, as we earlier resolved with the Governor in a Memorandum of Understanding last September, the newly proposed structure would politicize the Board and endanger the very reforms that have been accomplished to date. Such a significant step backwards would serve neither the best interests of the racing industry nor the people of New York State.

We find the current state of negotiation to be pointing irrevocably towards a cessation of racing this week.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

unreal.. any one got stock in sallee horse vans...

[pgiaco]

Un b f'ing lievable. I find it hard to fathom that this process has gone on for the better part of a year to establish a working model for racing in this state and this is the point we are at 72 hours before a shutdown of racing. I don't know how the politicians involved in this can look at themselves in the mirror let alone face the public. As a horseman in NY I am just disgusted with the whole process. I hope my NY breds can compete out of town because I don't see this coming to a good conclusion any time soon.

[blackthroatedwind]

Bruno has repeatedly " bargained " in bad faith against the interests of racing. And, even at this late date, he continues to do so.

[kenny p]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Bruno has repeatedly " bargained " in bad faith against the interests of racing. And, even at this late date, he continues to do so.

Agreed. But where have all our other state senators been? That includes mine, Sen. Owen Johnson who I have not heard a peep from. Nor has he answered my letters to him about nyra. Are they all scared of Bruno or are they just waiting to see what their cut will be? Albany, what a joke.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by kenny p

Agreed. But where have all our other state senators been? That includes mine, Sen. Owen Johnson who I have not heard a peep from. Nor has he answered my letters to him about nyra. Are they all scared of Bruno or are they just waiting to see what their cut will be? Albany, what a joke.

You're far from the only one asking that exact question.

[pmacdaddy]

The way the Pols operate is truly disgusting.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by kenny p

Agreed. But where have all our other state senators been? That includes mine, Sen. Owen Johnson who I have not heard a peep from. Nor has he answered my letters to him about nyra. Are they all scared of Bruno or are they just waiting to see what their cut will be? Albany, what a joke.

It's the culture of Albany. They won't take him on, especially with the Republicans only holding a two-seat majority in the State Senate. Furthermore, they don't know much on the subject; anyone who heard Senator Larkin, the head of the Senate Racing Committee, on the "Down the Stretch" show on the OTB channel in late December can attest to their general lack of knowledge on racing matters.

Perhaps the scariest thing is that I attended a party this past summer at which a highly-ranked member of the Senate majority was present. When I started to talk to him about the franchise issue, his response was that I shouldn't worry because Saratoga is in Bruno's district. The other implication from the conversation was that, because Bruno's district includes Saratoga, the other senators will defer to his "expertise" on the subject.

[pgiaco]

Bravo. Well said on the air Steve. I also would not support another extension so we can revisit this again in a few weeks.

[pmacdaddy]

Any thoughts on what a missed racing season would do to the economy of Bruno's Saratoga?

He better be careful what he wishes for. Horsemen and NYRA workers aren't the only ones with skin in this game.

[Kasept]

NY STATE SENATORS

Senate Members welcome incoming correspondence from the public via e-mail
over the Internet. While Senators may choose to respond to your note
directly through e-mail, there may be cases where more extensive follow-up
is necessary. Please include a mailing address on your notes in addition
to your e-mail address.

Adams, Eric 20th eadams@senate.state.ny.us
Alesi, James S. 55th alesi@senate.state.ny.us
Bonacic, John J. 42nd bonacic@senate.state.ny.us
Breslin, Neil D. 46th breslin@senate.state.ny.us
Bruno, Joseph L. 43rd bruno@senate.state.ny.us
Connor, Martin 25th connor@senate.state.ny.us
DeFrancisco, John A. 50th jdefranc@senate.state.ny.us
Diaz, Ruben , Sr. 32nd diaz@senate.state.ny.us
Dilan, Martin Malave 17th dilan@senate.state.ny.us
Duane, Thomas K. 29th duane@senate.state.ny.us
Farley, Hugh T. 44th farley@senate.state.ny.us
Flanagan, John J. 2nd flanagan@senate.state.ny.us
Fuschillo, Charles J., Jr. 8th fuschill@senate.state.ny.us
Golden, Martin J. 22nd golden@senate.state.ny.us
Gonzalez, Efrain , Jr. 33rd gonzalez@senate.state.ny.us
Griffo, Joseph A. 47th griffo@senate.state.ny.us
Hannon, Kemp 6th hannon@senate.state.ny.us
Hassell-Thompson, Ruth 36th hassellt@senate.state.ny.us
Huntley, Shirley L. 10th shuntley@senate.state.ny.us
Johnson, Craig M. 7th johnson@senate.state.ny.us
Johnson, Owen H. 4th ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us
Klein, Jeffrey D. 34th jdklein@senate.state.ny.us
Krueger, Liz 26th lkrueger@senate.state.ny.us
Kruger, Carl 27th kruger@senate.state.ny.us
Lanza, Andrew J. 24th lanza@senate.state.ny.us
Larkin, William J., Jr. 39th larkin@senate.state.ny.us
LaValle, Kenneth P. 1st lavalle@senate.state.ny.us
Leibell, Vincent L., III 40th leibell@senate.state.ny.us
Libous, Thomas W. 52nd senator@senatorlibous.com
Little, Elizabeth O'C. 45th little@senate.state.ny.us
Maltese, Serphin R. 15th maltese@senate.state.ny.us
Marcellino, Carl L. 5th marcelli@senate.state.ny.us
Maziarz, George D. 62nd maziarz@senate.state.ny.us
Montgomery, Velmanette 18th montgome@senate.state.ny.us
Morahan, Thomas P. 38th morahan@senate.state.ny.us
Nozzolio, Michael F. 54th nozzolio@senate.state.ny.us
Onorato, George 12th onorato@senate.state.ny.us
Oppenheimer, Suzi 37th oppenhei@senate.state.ny.us
Padavan, Frank 11th padavan@senate.state.ny.us
Parker, Kevin S. 21st parker@senate.state.ny.us
Perkins, Bill 30th perkins@senate.state.ny.us
Rath, Mary Lou 61st rath@senate.state.ny.us
Robach, Joseph E. 56th robach@senate.state.ny.us
Sabini, John D. 13th sabini@senate.state.ny.us
Saland, Stephen M. 41st saland@senate.state.ny.us
Sampson, John L. 19th sampson@senate.state.ny.us
Savino, Diane J. 23rd savino@senate.state.ny.us
Schneiderman, Eric T. 31st schneide@senate.state.ny.us
Serrano, José M. 28th serrano@senate.state.ny.us
Seward, James L. 51st seward@senate.state.ny.us
Skelos, Dean G. 9th skelos@senate.state.ny.us
Smith, Malcolm A. 14th masmith@senate.state.ny.us
Stachowski, William T. 58th stachows@senate.state.ny.us
Stavisky, Toby Ann 16th stavisky@senate.state.ny.us
Stewart-Cousins, Andrea 35th scousins@senate.state.ny.us
Thompson, Antoine M. 60th athompso@senate.state.ny.us
Trunzo, Caesar 3rd trunzo@senate.state.ny.us
Vacancy, 48th SD48@senate.state.ny.us
Valesky, David J. 49th valesky@senate.state.ny.us
Volker, Dale M. 59th volker@senate.state.ny.us
Winner, George H., Jr. 53rd winner@senate.state.ny.us
Young, Catharine M. 57th cyoung@senate.state.ny.us

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by pgiaco

Un b f'ing lievable. I find it hard to fathom that this process has gone on for the better part of a year to establish a working model for racing in this state and this is the point we are at 72 hours before a shutdown of racing. I don't know how the politicians involved in this can look at themselves in the mirror let alone face the public. As a horseman in NY I am just disgusted with the whole process. I hope my NY breds can compete out of town because I don't see this coming to a good conclusion any time soon.

this is horrible for the horseman in Ny this winter who rely heavily on the purses during the winter months. If there is stoppage of racing then i would have to think that most of the Ny breds are going to be hurt the most, especially the mdn claimers. I would doubt that they can compete anywhere else. Im sorry you have to through this aggrivation. Hope things turn the corner soon!

[the_fat_man]

While it sucks for the horsemen, and I feel for them, my point of view is from the gambling end, and as I hardly ever go to the track, and having recently branched out to other tracks, rather than having POLITICAL hands in the pot, just shut the damn thing down. Plenty of other action out there.

If the NY politicians won't allow the game to operate without their intervention then tear down AQU and put up condos. I'd certainly want to live in the HIGHLY DESIRABLE Ozone Park area of Queens, directly UNDER the JFK Apt's flight path. I'd move in tomorrow.

Last thing we need is NYRA run as if it were OTB.

Screw 'em.