Cuomo proposal allows gov control of New York Racing Association

[TexasTowelie]

ALBANY -- A key senator said Wednesday that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to re-privatize the New York Racing Association gives the governor a way of maintaining control over the entity that runs horse racing at Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park.

And that’s not a good thing, said Sen. John Bonacic, chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.

Under Cuomo’s plan, unveiled a day earlier as part of his proposed state budget, NYRA’s board no longer would contain a majority of government appointees, which is what the industry wanted, Bonacic said. However, the plan also calls for continued use of a NYRA oversight board – to which Cuomo names three of the five appointees. Further, the oversight board would have the power to “impound” NYRA revenues under certain conditions.

“I have a problem with that because he would still control NYRA through the oversight board,” said Bonacic (R-Mount Hope).

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/key-senator-cuomo-proposal-allows-backdoor-control-of-nyra-1.12976313

[TreasonousBastard]

1. NYRA also includes the Saratoga track upstate and...

it has been a money loser for years-- not in the least due to your basic political slime and bullshit. And there just aren't that many racing fans any more. A large part of the problem was that when track profits were good, everyone in the state wanted a piece of the pie and robbed it blind.

But, they hired a guy from the private sector to run things, and he's done a pretty good job so far, but the state is still jerking around about slot machines at Aqueduct. NYRA has been slightly in the black for a couple of years now, after going pretty much belly up when the politicians ran it. The future, however, is dim. Belmont is hanging on thanks to the Stakes and Triple Crown, but not many people are playing the horses any more.

I do have a personal soft spot for Belmont. For years I went to fundraisers in the clubhouse, and even organized a few myself. They did a pretty good job of including a rubber chicken lunch, parking and admission cheap enough so that in those days we could make a good buck charging just $25 for the afternoon of racing. Every time we did one we all had a great time.

(Bets and booze additional, of course.)