NYRA Knockers TAKE THIS!!!

[blackthroatedwind]

I have no problem with the Not-for-Profit vs. for-profit argument and am sure with more knowledge one could easily argue both sides. Certainly the Government involvement that has come with this Not-for-Profit model, along with former administrations, has not necessarily served NYRA particularly well in the past. It has not, however, prevented them from running the most successful year round racing enterprise in the country and that fact should not be lost. In this specific instance I have a great deal of confidence in the current NYRA management team going forward. That is not to suggest, however, that another group could not also do well, with a for-profit model, but in this particular instance I have seen nothing to give me any confidence in the other bidders. From what I have seen, one of these groups would certainly be a poor choice while another has not shown its hand in any way. So, in this particular circumstance I would be more comfortable with the administration of NYRA, but I have no problem with the general argument.

The problem in this thread is a lot of slanderous and untrue allegations were being thrown around by a foolish instigator, with little to no understanding of the situation. The intelligent argument about the future of the franchise, and for-profit vs. not-for-profit, is a much more interesting and enlightened argument that I welcome.

[SniperSB23]

If keeping it in the hands of the NYRA means I'll only have to pay $3 admission and can bring in a cooler full of any food and drink I want then I am all for the NYRA.

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

If keeping it in the hands of the NYRA means I'll only have to pay $3 admission and can bring in a cooler full of any food and drink I want then I am all for the NYRA.

Who cares about admissions and costs of refreshments. New Yorkers dont even go to the track with the exception of Saratoga. Big deal if they raise the price of admission. And by the way, it is only $2 to get into Churchill so I don't understand this arguement that admissions would increase. To me that point is a non issue. The issue here is running an organization without having to ask the state for millions of dollars. If I lived in New York and I didnt care about horse racing I would be pissed that millions are going to support a non-profit. I would be even more pissed if I worked at a non-profit hospital and havent had a raise in years and I saw the NYRA getting millions of dollars to bail out a poor business model. Also, I am assuming the NYRA is clean now because no one is really complaining about corruption. However, that stigma will always be there and rightfully so. The new leadership has to change the culture before people can start having confidence in the "new" NYRA.

Teachers----I do not think teachers are under paid at all. People choose to be a teacher. You actually have to go to college and get a Masters. You know the pay going in so it is your choice to make that pay. They work about the same amount of hours as a person who is not a teacher that works a 40 hour a week job in a years time. The benefits, the retirement and the age of retirement are all very attractive. I believe in Indiana you can retire by using a formula--something like years of experience plus age and if that number is 52 or 58 you can retire. What many teachers do in Southern Indiana is to retire from Kentucky and then move over to Indiana to teach and then they pull down 2 retirements. Now find me a job where you can retire at the age of 55 and receive full pension and benefits.

[randallscott35]

Euro,
if you think teachers will be able to hold on to health benefits and pension by the time I'm 55 I have a bridge to sell you. It won't be there....I have no problem with you saying that teachers know the pay going in. Very fair and I really don't complain about. I'm much more angry when they say teachers are overpaid. Last I looked I got about a 3% raise last year. The cost of living in New Jersey went up by 3.5%. Do the math, I am losing each year, not gaining....I can't think of another job where people say you "should get paid this or that." I don't go to a doctor's office or a mechanic and tell them what I think they are worth. I think the issue is that everyone went to school and everyone thinks they could do the job....You should realize, however, if you have kids or want kids that schools are about as important as it gets. And if you do, you'd also realize that without changes to the pay scale, the teacher pool and moreover the quality of the teachers will continue to diminish. If that's what you want for your kids then that's fine. It's not what I want.

[blackthroatedwind]

There seems to be a major disconnect going on here. NY Racing, aside from the obvious jobs it provides in NY State, also contributes enormous revenue to the State. This is undeniable and should be obvious. The money needed for the " bailout " is a LOAN, something that is done by the State in many situations, and will be paid back.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Who cares about admissions and costs of refreshments. New Yorkers dont even go to the track with the exception of Saratoga. Big deal if they raise the price of admission. And by the way, it is only $2 to get into Churchill so I don't understand this arguement that admissions would increase. To me that point is a non issue. The issue here is running an organization without having to ask the state for millions of dollars. If I lived in New York and I didnt care about horse racing I would be pissed that millions are going to support a non-profit. I would be even more pissed if I worked at a non-profit hospital and havent had a raise in years and I saw the NYRA getting millions of dollars to bail out a poor business model. Also, I am assuming the NYRA is clean now because no one is really complaining about corruption. However, that stigma will always be there and rightfully so. The new leadership has to change the culture before people can start having confidence in the "new" NYRA.

It cost me $25 to get in to Churchill on Oaks Day and $40 on Derby Day. Not to mention they doubled the prices of every item in the concession stands. On Traver's Day I had to pay $5 and all the concessions were the same price. I could have brought in a case of beer if I wanted to as well. I definitely don't want to see Saratoga become like Churchill.

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by oracle80

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36003

This is for all the walking garbage that bashes NYRA constantly for no reason. Revolution I hope this doesnt ruin the circle jerk you boys have nightly.
Gee, and without polytrack? LOL!!!!
Great job by NYRA once again. Saratoga up, Belmont fall up, this is called a trend.

Give me a break. They got 70,000 at the Spa for blanket giveway day. The real attendance was probably 30,000. At Belmont on Oct 7 with 5 G1s on the card, they gave away the same blanket and with spinners the attendance was 16,500. There were not more than 8000 people at Belmont that day. I was there. Bunch of phony numbers if you ask me.

[sumitas]

I think NYRA does a super job. The only thing I'd like to see is the poly at all 3tracks. If the NYRA was like Churchill you'd really see a HUGE decline in attendance. It would kill the Saratoga meet.

Originally Posted by Slewbopper

Give me a break. They got 70,000 at the Spa for blanket giveway day. The real attendance was probably 30,000. At Belmont on Oct 7 with 5 G1s on the card, they gave away the same blanket and with spinners the attendance was 16,500. There were not more than 8000 people at Belmont that day. I was there. Bunch of phony numbers if you ask me.

I was there, too. We arrived five minutes after the giveaway ended, so even though there were about two thousand left over blankets, our paid admissions got us nothing. It looked like a bigger wasteland than three years ago when we saw Mineshaft run away with the Woodward. NY fans are simply not supporting Belmont or Aqueduct. The Meadowlands and Monmouth have bigger crowds.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by Bold Reasoning

I was there, too. We arrived five minutes after the giveaway ended, so even though there were about two thousand left over blankets, our paid admissions got us nothing. It looked like a bigger wasteland than three years ago when we saw Mineshaft run away with the Woodward. NY fans are simply not supporting Belmont or Aqueduct. The Meadowlands and Monmouth have bigger crowds.

Belmont and Aqueduct are ghost towns. NYRA has done an absolutely miserable job marketing the two tracks with their stupid commercials about horse names. They have no concerts there, nothing. It is a complete joke.

[sumitas]

They would draw zilch if Churchill or Magna ran the tracks.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by sumitas

They would draw zilch if Churchill or Magna ran the tracks.

You know this based on what? Atleast Churchill and Magna make efforts to attract people.

Saratoga is a goldmine. Even the idiots at NYRA couldn't screw that up.

[blackthroatedwind]

The Meadowlands and Monmouth do not give away their signal for free the way NYRA does pretty much all over NY State. They also don't have OTBs next door to them, or even close, the way the NY tracks do.

Don't get me wrong, I wish more people went to Belmont and Aqueduct, but NYRA has gone out of its way to give its signal to those that want it and the betting figures reflect that.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Revolution

You know this based on what? Atleast Churchill and Magna make efforts to attract people.

Saratoga is a goldmine. Even the idiots at NYRA couldn't screw that up.

Granted you are extremely qualified to identify idiots, but you love to throw out generalities ( obviously because you know no actual specifics ), and perhaps you would specifically like to identify these so-called " idiots ". Certianly you have learned by now that nobody is falling for your false generalizations.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The Meadowlands and Monmouth do not give away their signal for free the way NYRA does pretty much all over NY State. They also don't have OTBs next door to them, or even close, the way the NY tracks do.

Don't get me wrong, I wish more people went to Belmont and Aqueduct, but NYRA has gone out of its way to give its signal to those that want it and the betting figures reflect that.

It still is no excuse for not having concerts and poor promotion.

God forbid people went to the track then all the mobsters who own car dealerships wouldn't have anywhere to park the new cars they are selling.

Shut down that dump they call Aqueduct and build some more stalls at Belmont. There is no reason to have two racetracks. NYRA can sell the land they claim to own. LOL.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Granted you are extremely qualified to identify idiots, but you love to throw out generalities ( obviously because you know no actual specifics ), and perhaps you would specifically like to identify these so-called " idiots ". Certianly you have learned by now that nobody is falling for your false generalizations.

You're right. The same amoutn of people that are falling for my false generalizations is the same amount of people that go to NYRA's tracks. Zero.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Revolution

You're right. The same amoutn of people that are falling for my false generalizations is the same amount of people that go to NYRA's tracks. Zero.

You got your first thing right in this thread....you at least acknowledge you have zero credibility.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I think NYRA does a super job. The only thing I'd like to see is the poly at all 3tracks. If the NYRA was like Churchill you'd really see a HUGE decline in attendance. It would kill the Saratoga meet.

dont start with that polysh*t the death of racing

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

You got your first thing right in this thread....you at least acknowledge you have zero credibility.

That coming from a guy who worked for NYRA is comical. Did you work for them before 2003? Were you one of the ones they got rid of for corruption.

[randallscott35]

kgar, can you fix your avatar. It doesn't come up at all. Just a big x there. Don't know if everyone can't see it either but I definitely can't.