CRIST: (Updated: Bruno proposal)

[Kasept]

Steve Crist, who thankfully answers to exactly no one, brilliantly captured last week's latest nonsense from Albany regarding the franchise and the State Senate Republicans embarassing behavior in his Sunday DRF column.

I'd love to post it, but should not. Here's the link for those with a DRF subscription: http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=89405

Senate Majority magpie Joe Bruno said in September that 'other interested parties' with 'tremendous experience running racing' deserved to be a part of the NY picture. So Joe, with Magna, Churchill and Delaware North ALL leaving Empire, and Richard Fields abandoning Exselsior to concentrate on Suffolk, exactly who is left with 'tremendous expreience running racing' that deserves a hand in NY racing?

Joe has no answer, but now the NYS GOP have a new idea about trimming down the slots money that goes to racing and beefing up the portion that goes to the eventual slots operator. Crist quickly sees through this and asks: Who is being quietly lined up behind the scenes to get the Aqueduct contract, and have the politicians been promised something in exchange for cutting them an even larger slice of the pie?


If possible, those without a DRF plan should try to get to this piece.. It again demonstrates what a sad farce we're experiencing here in NY.

[Riot]

Unfortunately, I doubt the Daily Racing Form and Crist is read by either the State Senate Republicans, or more importantly the consituents who vote for them. Bruno et.al. have no need to worry about any negative public opinion stemming from a scathingly accurate assessment as long as it's in a small, unread-by-the-masses trade mag.

[Alydar]

I have to agree with Riot. So few people making the decision, which is very important to us, have little or no knowledge about the facts, it is very frustrating to watch.

In addition there is not real consequence for a bad decision.

[freddymo]

Who's bad decisions the ones NYRA made or the ones the polictians governing NYRA make. It's a joke on both ends.

Sell the tracks with the stipulation they must be operated as such to a company. A company that has a bottom line. Make the slots revenue what it is suppose to be, carve it up and give as little as possible to the track. Eventually, leadership we have to fix the inherent financial issues with racing. Continueing to subsidize racing with phony slot bucks is a recipe for long term diaster.

I love racing but its broke needs someone to fix it not just give it blood money.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Who's bad decisions the ones NYRA made or the ones the polictians governing NYRA make. It's a joke on both ends.

Sell the tracks with the stipulation they must be operated as such to a company. A company that has a bottom line. Make the slots revenue what it is suppose to be, carve it up and give as little as possible to the track. Eventually, leadership we have to fix the inherent financial issues with racing. Continueing to subsidize racing with phony slot bucks is a recipe for long term diaster.

I love racing but its broke needs someone to fix it not just give it blood money.

Why do people think that a non profit would be bad? If the laws and rules in NY were changed so as not to strangle NYRA and give them a chance to keep some of the money earned to improve the product and facilities a non profit would be a no brainer. A for profit company has one main desire...to increase the bottom line. A non profit has a broader goal of increasing the viability of the sport.

Look at how well the for profit breeding and sales industry has helped racing...


As for the slots money, why shouldn't a legal gambling operation have a right to expand their gambling menu? Why is it called 'blood money'? Isn't Outback Steakhouse allowed to sell chicken as well as steak?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why do people think that a non profit would be bad? If the laws and rules in NY were changed so as not to strangle NYRA and give them a chance to keep some of the money earned to improve the product and facilities a non profit would be a no brainer. A for profit company has one main desire...to increase the bottom line. A non profit has a broader goal of increasing the viability of the sport.

Look at how well the for profit breeding and sales industry has helped racing...


As for the slots money, why shouldn't a legal gambling operation have a right to expand their gambling menu? Why is it called 'blood money'? Isn't Outback Steakhouse allowed to sell chicken as well as steak?

When you have to be concerned with a bottom line you have to make sure you have a competitive product that is going to sell. Obviously that means patrons and there needs become paramount. So you have to constantly make decisions that are in the best interests of the product so the patrons(bettors) keep coming.When you are a non profit gate keeping which in what NYRA is set up to do you allow any and all stimuli disrupt the decision making process. When you run a business for profit you have to not yield to any and all stimuli.. A Non profit governed agency is more likely to be passive IMO. The rub Cannon Ball is that to make money you have to have a superior product and the product has to constantly evolve or at the very least stay excellent to continue to get customers.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Who's bad decisions the ones NYRA made or the ones the polictians governing NYRA make. It's a joke on both ends.

Sell the tracks with the stipulation they must be operated as such to a company. A company that has a bottom line. Make the slots revenue what it is suppose to be, carve it up and give as little as possible to the track. Eventually, leadership we have to fix the inherent financial issues with racing. Continueing to subsidize racing with phony slot bucks is a recipe for long term diaster.

I love racing but its broke needs someone to fix it not just give it blood money.

The "inherent financial issues" were created by the state government and the odious patronage power associated with the OTB's. Not that anyone has remotely begun to address that issue...

And I don't understand the "bad decisions" saddlebag constantly flung over the back of current NYRA management. How are the Kenny Noe/Barry Schwartz years NYRA administrations relevant now? Why is there no credit applied to what's been accomplished the last 3 years?

And with due respect, do you have any idea to what degree the same state government hacks that are losers in the current battle, and are now desperate to keep their fingers in the pie, were responsible for the "mismanagement" for which they chide NYRA? The same scum that take delight in citing NYRA's expenditures under old regimes are the very guys that were glomming everything they could off the NYRA teet for years... I'd find a new whipping post.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The "inherent financial issues" were created by the state government and the odious patronage power associated with the OTB's. Not that anyone has remotely begun to address that issue...
And I don't understand the "bad decisions" saddlebag constantly flung over the back of current NYRA management. How are the Kenny Noe/Barry Schwartz years NYRA administrations relevant now? Why is there no credit applied to what's been accomplished the last 3 years?

And with due respect, do you have any idea to what degree the same state government hacks that are losers in the current battle, and are now desperate to keep their fingers in the pie, were responsible for the "mismanagement" for which they chide NYRA? The same scum that take delight in citing NYRA's expenditures under old regimes are the very guys that were glomming everything they could off the NYRA teet for years... I'd find a new whipping post.

This is the biggest issue no one in Albany seems to want to address.

NYCOTB alone did over $1.06 billion in handle in FY2006, if we conservatively estimate 30% of that was on NYRA (probably closer to 40-50%), that's $54,000,000 in revenue per year at a takeout rate of 18% (approx. the blended NYRA rate). Taken incrementally over their contract, which I cannot confirm but I have heard is 6%, that's $36,000,000 in lost revenue for NYRA that could be applied to racing directly.

To put that in perspective, that's enough to cover the purses for the ENTIRE winter meet- now multiply that by a factor that includes WNYOTB, Capital OTB, Catskill OTB, Nassau OTB, and Suffolk OTB.

[Payson Dave]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The "inherent financial issues" were created by the state government and the odious patronage power associated with the OTB's. Not that anyone has remotely begun to address that issue...

And I don't understand the "bad decisions" saddlebag constantly flung over the back of current NYRA management. How are the Kenny Noe/Barry Schwartz years NYRA administrations relevant now? Why is there no credit applied to what's been accomplished the last 3 years?

And with due respect, do you have any idea to what degree the same state government hacks that are losers in the current battle, and are now desperate to keep their fingers in the pie, were responsible for the "mismanagement" for which they chide NYRA? The same scum that take delight in citing NYRA's expenditures under old regimes are the very guys that were glomming everything they could off the NYRA teet for years... I'd find a new whipping post.

Steve,
The only problem with your words above are that they are rational and make very good sense....Those that want to replace NYRA are unfortunately not interested in sensible/rational discourse.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The "inherent financial issues" were created by the state government and the odious patronage power associated with the OTB's. Not that anyone has remotely begun to address that issue...

And I don't understand the "bad decisions" saddlebag constantly flung over the back of current NYRA management. How are the Kenny Noe/Barry Schwartz years NYRA administrations relevant now? Why is there no credit applied to what's been accomplished the last 3 years?

And with due respect, do you have any idea to what degree the same state government hacks that are losers in the current battle, and are now desperate to keep their fingers in the pie, were responsible for the "mismanagement" for which they chide NYRA? The same scum that take delight in citing NYRA's expenditures under old regimes are the very guys that were glomming everything they could off the NYRA teet for years... I'd find a new whipping post.

They glommed because the format allowed for such BS. If someone owned the company and had to be accountable as such glomming is far less likely.

BTW why should NYRA have to be accountable for past failures? Just because a company changes mgt. all is forgiven? So the past and the past indiscretions are obsolved because they cleared the deck and took out the trash? I guess if the new guys make some bad calls in the future all we need to do is get rid of them as well and start over. is NYRA a catholic non profit? Just kidding

[freddymo]

What's more ridiculous giving a non profit organization governed by the polictians the franchise or finding a suitable well run business to manage a business that is in dire need of leadership.

Obviously NYRA bought there way into the hearts of Spitzer and his agenda. They thought it was over funny that they all thought it was so easy.

NYRA or more affectionately known as "the protectors of the people" lol shouldn't be allowed to run racing just because they changed the guard. Why everyone thinks a non profit is a good format to attend to racing is beyond me. Horse racing is a business and business decisions are best served business man that have to earn. Not former business people albeit successful that will be able to spend without having to be accountable for a bottom line.

I just don't get it?

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Yes you don't get it.

Freddy seems to be posting in a rather "normal" way.......Byk must have him blowing into one of those breathalyzer's before he is allowed to post.....not the same Freddy we all know and love....

[sumitas]

...if they do not receive the franchise...and it will happen Joe because of your conduct.
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41373

At the end of the article Joe acts like a playground bully. He thinks he can just take away the NYRA land because he says so.

The NYRA soap opera is getting old. The focus should be on racing, not these incompetent fools who seem to cry constantly. Why is it they need slots to save racing in NY? NY racing could easily break even if the stooges weren't running it. There must be big money in slots for them personally.

If you asked me, toss NYRA and just let the government run it. What is the point if NYRA is just going to be a non-profit, or in their case a lose money entity, anyway?

The racing runs itself. NYRA wants you to believe the actually do something but everyone knows the guy betting his dollar is keeping the engine going.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

The NYRA soap opera is getting old. The focus should be on racing, not these incompetent fools who seem to cry constantly. Why is it they need slots to save racing in NY? NY racing could easily break even if the stooges weren't running it. There must be big money in slots for them personally.

If you asked me, toss NYRA and just let the government run it. What is the point if NYRA is just going to be a non-profit, or in their case a lose money entity, anyway?

The racing runs itself. NYRA wants you to believe the actually do something but everyone knows the guy betting his dollar is keeping the engine going.

WOW... that's the worst idea I've heard in a LOOOOOONG time.

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

WOW... that's the worst idea I've heard in a LOOOOOONG time.

If NYRA is a non-profit that is basically getting screwed by the government right now, then it is essentially government run.

Put private entity in charge. Enough of this ridiculous soap opera. I have never heard a bankrupt group with a history of corruption fight so hard for a business that loses money. Hilarious. I guess we all know the reason they are fighting so hard is because the current system is a cashcow for NYRA's friends.

If NY really wanted to improve racing they would just close all the OTB's and make it so you have to go to the track or bet online. If OTB's are the problem, which all the NYRA fans cry all the time, get rid of them. The thing is NYRA loves them because it is a built in excuse for their incompetency.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

If NYRA is a non-profit that is basically getting screwed by the government right now, then it is essentially government run.

Put private entity in charge. Enough of this ridiculous soap opera. I have never heard a bankrupt group with a history of corruption fight so hard for a business that loses money. Hilarious. I guess we all know the reason they are fighting so hard is because the current system is a cashcow for NYRA's friends.

If NY really wanted to improve racing they would just close all the OTB's and make it so you have to go to the track or bet online. If OTB's are the problem, which all the NYRA fans cry all the time, get rid of them. The thing is NYRA loves them because it is a built in excuse for their incompetency.

When did they fire you? Because only someone who has been personally offended or a politician posturing could come up with such a distorted view.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

If NYRA is a non-profit that is basically getting screwed by the government right now, then it is essentially government run.

Put private entity in charge. Enough of this ridiculous soap opera. I have never heard a bankrupt group with a history of corruption fight so hard for a business that loses money. Hilarious. I guess we all know the reason they are fighting so hard is because the current system is a cashcow for NYRA's friends.

If NY really wanted to improve racing they would just close all the OTB's and make it so you have to go to the track or bet online. If OTB's are the problem, which all the NYRA fans cry all the time, get rid of them. The thing is NYRA loves them because it is a built in excuse for their incompetency.

You seem to know a lot about the situation Want to end racing in N.Y.? - Go with your ideas! You must not live in N.Y.state.....the politicians here screw up everything. Please...take your nonsense elsewhere; face it - you can't stand NYRA.......

Originally Posted by sumitas

...if they do not receive the franchise...and it will happen Joe because of your conduct.
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41373

At the end of the article Joe acts like a playground bully. He thinks he can just take away the NYRA land because he says so.

They can just take away the NYRA land. What do you think NYRA can just sell the land for a billion dollars and go out and spend it? They are a non-profit and the land and any money gotten from it would go back to the state because without the land there would be no racing, thus no NYRA. This whole thing is hilarious.

Maybe a non-profit food group like Feed the Children could just raise millions for food and then just say the hell with it and sell the trucks and the food to a supermarket and then go run off to the islands with the money. LOL

[GPK]

Well, if Jerry says so...

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...Las-Vegas.aspx