NYRA Deal Passes NY Legislature

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...,1620161.story

ALBANY, N.Y. - State officials say the New York Racing Association will continue to operate the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks for another 25 years under a deal struck among political leaders in New York.

NYRA's board still has to approve the deal, which was confirmed by two state officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn't been officially announced.

Under the tentative agreement, NYRA would get $105 million from the state to get out of bankruptcy and would agree to end its claim on the race track properties. NYRA has held the franchise since 1955.




Blood-Horse:
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43621

The New York Racing Association, in control of Thoroughbred racing in the state since 1955, will continue to run racing under a deal that came together Feb. 12 at the state Capitol in Albany, government and industry sources say.

The deal calls for NYRA to end its ownership land claims for Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks and, in return, get another exclusive franchise to continue running racing. A contentious issue over the governance of NYRA and who controls appointments to the NYRA board has been worked out, sources say.

State officials either were unavailable or declined immediate comment.

NYRA chairman Steven Duncker declined comment when asked about the deal as he emerged from a closed-door meeting at the Capitol with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and as he and other top NYRA officials, including president Charles Hayward, headed down the hall to a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

Glad the Tsuris is over.......

[pgiaco]

If only......but haven't we heard this before?

[Riot]

I'll believe it when I see it, but certainly hope it's true.

NYRA's board still has to approve the deal, which was confirmed by two state officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn't been officially announced.

Sounds like more of Bruno's aids just trying to deflect attention from Bruno as a big part of the problem. Stuff like this gets "leaked" only on purpose and with Bruno's full approval. It's Bruno trying to make NYRA the "guilty party" if racing stops.

[Kasept]

Tom Precious, Blood-Horse:

"NYRA chairman Steven Duncker declined comment when asked about the deal as he emerged from a closed-door meeting at the Capitol with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and as he and other top NYRA officials, including president Charles Hayward, headed down the hall to a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

After his meeting with Bruno, a smiling Duncker said the details of what negotiators have been working on will be presented possibly today to other NYRA board members."

Wouldn't be smiling or presenting to Trustees if the package wasn't what NYRA 'could live with'..

[Riot]

Smiling is an excellent thing!

[pmacdaddy]

Sounds like good news! Glad I decided to wait to the last minute drain my NYRA account...

I will do my part to fix OTB situation by putting as little as possible through thier windows.

[Kasept]

DRF's Matt Hegarty, who was more guarded last week, with a cautiously optimistic interpretation of today's events:

http://www.drf.com/news/article/92245.html