End of New York Racing?

[sledge4]

Not sure how many of you are from New York or near-by, but the news has been not good for horse racing in the state. Sure, most of it is probably posturing by the NYRA to get what they want, but as the saying goes...where there is smoke, there is fire!

NYC OTB recently gave out pink-slips too employees and is essentially shutting down in 2 weeks.

Grumblings have been made recently that if NYRA does not get a "bailout", of which millions are due from NYC OTB, that the upcoming Saratoga season may be in danger, let alone all of NY racing.

NYRA trainers/owners recently did strike of sorts, but not coming to the security barn by a set deadline, causing NYRA the need to cancel the first race, I believe this was on a Saturday.

Anyone have thoughts?

[Roys]

This has been all over other racing forums - Paulick and dmff
http://www.paulickreport.com/
and
http://www.dmtc.com/

Personally, I think it will be resolved before Saratoga - but saw on the Paulick report this morning that someone wants to bulldoze Aquaduct for a world class cassino and put a cover over Belmont for the horse industry. Just like other places - once the casinos get a foothold away from, or even with a racetrack - it isn't long before they realize what a drain the track is on their profits.

[sledge4]

Yeah, the person that said that was the mayor of Albany, who I think is a stupid for saying that. Ironically, the Mayor's son lives in my town and is coaching my son's baseball team this spring. Better watch what I say, lol!

Here's a couple articles from my local paper published this morning...

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st ... yID=916998
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st ... yID=916797

Monmouth increasing there purses this summer, will hurt some, but I don't think it will have the negative affect some are thinking. I mean, no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it's still a pig!! LOL!!!

Will

[gocashbaby]

The "Pig" did $9,000,000 handle yesterday...hmmmm