NYRA increases purses

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ELA

Chuck, I am not on either side of the Spitzer aspect to this, and I am not so sure it's important as to whether or not he can lay claim to being the savior. From afar, I am more positive than negative about him as Govenor. Be that as it may, I see 3 NYRA's here -- first, the NYRA that was, the one "thrown under the bus" so to speak. I don't care whether it was Spitzer or anyone else that did the throwing -- it was absolutely, positively neccessary. I have been a critic of NYRA's for many years and I've never hidden that fact.

I also see the NYRA of today -- much improved, certainly not ideal and perfect, but far improved nevertheless.

I also see -- and very much hope to see -- the potential newly created, reconstituted, reformatted, whatever you want to call it NYRA -- the NYRA of the very near future. I want to see a transparent NYRA, one that is held accountable and one that works WITH the NYTHA, the state, the legislature, the owners, breeders, fans, bettors and everyone else. That is what I see the state pretty much demanding from a new NYRA. If NYRA can't meet these standards, then there must be repercussions. I never saw that possibilility from the "for profit" model, the "investors" or whatever you might want to call it. Like I've always said, I like the Woodbine model and what I've seen there, but I don't like what I see at Finger Lakes. That is the business model of the "franchise holder" and that is what the success or failure of NY racing will hinge upon.

Who gets the credit is not important to me. If Al Gore wants to say he invented the internet, then so be it. It's semantics. I more care that the internet is there.

Eric

Eric you are correct in what you are saying. But who "saved" NYRA is important to Spitzer, or at least it was. If I thought that another outfit could do a better job I would be all for them. But I have seen how some of the other operators work and it is not so great. Allowing some casino company to come in and be in control you can pretty much say good bye to major racing in NY. The pols are already shrinking the slot money cuts and they are not that great to start with. At the very least NYRA is interested in horse racing and if they get a good deal that includes a cut of the slot money and possibly a better deal with the OTB's I believe they will do just fine. NY racing is important for the whole industry and to see it controlled by politicians or casino operators will no doubt weaken the sport in NY and as a consequence, everywhere else.