State investigating NYRA takeout issues; Hayward, Kehoe terminated

Riot · #1 05-01-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

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 · #2 05-01-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

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 · #3 05-01-2012, 04:51 PM

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 · #4 05-01-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

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 · #5 05-01-2012, 08:44 PM

Quote:

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 · #6 05-01-2012, 08:49 PM

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

pointman · #7 05-01-2012, 08:55 PM

Quote:

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 · #8 05-02-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

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.

#9 05-02-2012, 11:51 AM

Mike Vietch wrote a great article today regarding this whole issue. It may be viewed at www.saratogian.com. Worth reading.

Scat

#10 05-02-2012, 03:21 PM

Here's the e-mail I sent to the Saratogian and Albany Times-Union when this story first hit last December:

"I don't understand why the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is getting a pass on this. You need to talk to someone in what passes for their Pari-Mutuel Revenue Unit in Albany and ask them why they didn't catch this error for 15 months.

Prior to 1991, Pari-Mutuel Examiners of the Tax Dept. were in place at NY State tracks and off-track betting venues to check EACH AND EVERY POOL to insure the accuracy of the reported handle, commission, breakage, and payoff to the public. They also saw to the collection of franchise fees and admissions taxes. In that year, NY State decided, AS A COST-CUTTING MEASURE, to disband the entire unit, and lay off or transfer the employees.

I know this for a fact because I was one of the examiners so affected. All you have to do is check the history of NYRA's transgressions over the last two decades to realize the State Tax Dept.'s decision to leave the henhouse unguarded was actually a very costly one. Had we been in place, say, on 9/15/10, the error would have revealed itself after the running of the very first race with "exotic" betting."

Incidentally, my ex-boss at Pari-Mutuel who was the last remaining Tax Dept. representative at NYRA until August, 2010 (!!!) just e-mailed me to let me know he was contacted recently by a reporter from the Albany Times-Union.

RockHardTen1985 · #11 05-01-2012, 09:23 PM

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 · #12 05-02-2012, 05:34 AM

Quote:

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!

#13 05-02-2012, 07:15 AM

Totally agree..well put!

Quote:

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 · #14 05-01-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

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.