tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post6923811664447436483..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Now What? (Updated)Alan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-75909959477284725252010-04-16T18:28:59.757-04:002010-04-16T18:28:59.757-04:00Here's a fun race to watch.
http://www.youtub...Here's a fun race to watch.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s0WSoKhlHA&feature=youtube_gdata<br /><br />dirty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-77764176371876352532010-04-16T14:14:15.750-04:002010-04-16T14:14:15.750-04:00Finally some commenters who have been paying atten...Finally some commenters who have been paying attention to Alan's posts on the franchise crisis! Perhaps a NYRA insider, or well connected at NYRA, trying to get the real story out.Quite agree on the private enterprise angle for the NY racing franchise but how could that ever come to pass in NY? The pols insist on extracting their pound of flesh from the hides of all enterprise but they prefer the kind regulated by Albany and therefore beholden to Albany. It never ends. /S/greenmtnpunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-53789596688472223662010-04-16T13:12:40.818-04:002010-04-16T13:12:40.818-04:00Nice free advertising for NYRA there by Bossert!
...Nice free advertising for NYRA there by Bossert!<br /><br />Capitol Confidential reports that the NYSRWB is <a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/24978/racing-board-to-bettors-dont-forget-those-uncashed-nyc-otb-stubs/" rel="nofollow">on the case</a>. Still, I sure as hell wouldn't keep any money in there.alannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-26111924822253579012010-04-16T13:08:10.138-04:002010-04-16T13:08:10.138-04:00Jerry Bossert wrote an important piece in today...Jerry Bossert wrote an important piece in today's NY Daily News:<br /><br />http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2010/04/16/2010-04-16_untitled__races16s.html<br /><br />He warns anyone with a New York City OTB wagering account to PULL THAT MONEY OUT NOW before (if) the company folds up. You may never see that money again if OTB is liquidated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-60991192831996242862010-04-16T11:20:06.947-04:002010-04-16T11:20:06.947-04:00Interesting comments from the lame duck;
Paterson...Interesting comments from the lame duck;<br /><br />Paterson said he feels sorry for the 1,300 employees who are about to be laid off and is still willing to consider bailout proposals, but they can't include taxpayer dollars.<br /><br />"Everybody's solution to their problem in the recession is for taxpayers to bail them out," Paterson said. "We used to have a choice; now we can't do it."<br /><br />Paterson also suggested the state's dismal finances may eventually force it to shed other-money losing ventures, including the Aqueduct racetrack.<br /><br />"We're getting to the point where those are they types of decisions that we're having to consider," Paterson said when asked by Gambling if the state should sell Aqueduct. "We're now having to consider the viability of programs."<br /><br />Paterson also marveled at how a gambling operation like the city OTB could lose money.<br /><br />"It wasn't run properly," Paterson said. "It's a wonderful industry and it works in some places but apparently the encumbrances that we placed on it in New York City and New York State are top heavy."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-60638707854158143982010-04-16T11:06:07.711-04:002010-04-16T11:06:07.711-04:00GMP, we agree that govt should be out of the gambl...GMP, we agree that govt should be out of the gambling business, trust me I am not "fooled: by any politicians anymore, but NYRA is taking the easy way out by signing on for a bailout they are entitled to anyway. <br /><br />They have the ability right now to take a stand against NYC OTB and instead are signing on to the parasites continued existence, so yes NYRA is at fault in addition to the Albany criminals, plenty of blame to go around.<br /><br />I truly believe that if the Franchise was being run by private entity right now they would see the pot at the end of the rainbow and invest the necessary funds to buy out NYCOTB, and it would be much tougher for the Albany crooks to deflect the blame for this calamity.<br /><br />As long as NYRA exists the politicians can blame them every time something goes wrong. Not so easy if it were a private company without their perceived history.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-62310383964912316402010-04-16T09:28:59.468-04:002010-04-16T09:28:59.468-04:00The NYRA bashing commenters still don't get it...The NYRA bashing commenters still don't get it. The pols continue to fool them despite all of the facts to the contrary. Alan has presented a graduate level seminar on NY racing, the NY racing franchise agreement, off track betting revenues and splits, etc, and clearly made the case that it is the state's failure to live up to the bargain it made with NYRA. NY racing fans should be bashing the lying pols in Albany who cannot do what must be done with the OTB's and the Aqueduct racino. Moral of story: Government regulated business fails again. /S/greenmtnpunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-86280966161204401902010-04-16T07:52:51.206-04:002010-04-16T07:52:51.206-04:00As an addendum to the above, I now recognize what ...As an addendum to the above, I now recognize what a mistake it was to award the franchise back to NYRA. I was one of their supporters all along, not because I thought they did a great job, far from it, but I believed the not for profit model was best for NY.<br /><br />But imagine this scenario if the Franchise had been awarded to a "For Profit" model without the percieved baggage of NYRA. <br /><br />Do you not think the franchisee would be all over this, trying to take over OTB instead of enabling it? Do you think the politicians might actually allow it to happen instead of expressing concerns about the "corrupt" NYRA being handed more responsibility?<br /><br />Do you not think the VLT contract would have been awarded by now?<br /><br />NYRA, stop slumbering, from every crises arises opportunity if only you will recognize and sieze it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-41507364610837174332010-04-16T07:44:39.435-04:002010-04-16T07:44:39.435-04:0040+ years ago NYRA made the big mistake of letting...40+ years ago NYRA made the big mistake of letting a parasite form. It now, for the first and maybe last time, has the opportunity to rid itself of the parasite, but only if it has the will to sustain the short term discomfort and pain that always accompanies the removal of such a creature.<br /><br />Charlie has a choice, let the thing continue to feed off NYRA keeping it from reaching its full postential, or take a chance and drive the wooden stake into its vampire like heart, hoping that long term the host can return to its glory.<br /><br />$71,000 MSW purse at Woodbine Sunday, VLT's plus controlling the OTB's can result in the same thing here if NYRA has the guts to stand up to OTB instead of taking the easy temporary bailout.<br /><br />Tell them to shut down, then hire twenty buses to bring customers from the shut OTB parlors to the track. Enlighten their lives, get them out of the rut they have been stuck in, some for 40 years.<br /><br />Insist on taking over the internet and telephone accounts, bring some of them to the track even at the cost of a few bus rentals, make a big push to win back your business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-76373936782424186822010-04-15T19:12:41.625-04:002010-04-15T19:12:41.625-04:00Me too, let it fail. The problem was the union wou...Me too, let it fail. The problem was the union would not sign on without those ridiculous severence packages and RAISES!!!<br /><br />IN THIS ECONOMY??<br /><br />For what a job well done???<br /><br />Get paid extra for Sunday, that are the hours, if you dont like it go find a job elsewhere.<br /><br />Regarding NYRA selling its soul to survive, do you know if the "reductions in payments to to the racing industry" come out of there pockets or out of purses?<br /><br />Are the horsemen at the table or are they meekly standing by begging to stay in business?<br /><br />Need to play hardball, and I for one hope the deal falls apart. It will be tough short term with OTB, but NYRA will figure out a way to survive and the industry will be stronger long term down the road.<br /><br />Under the Franchise agreement the state needs to fund NYRA regardless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-24697708959687361222010-04-15T18:17:39.215-04:002010-04-15T18:17:39.215-04:00I'm with jk. If you run your business into th...I'm with jk. If you run your business into the ground, you either go out of business or reorganize under bankruptcy protection.<br /><br />At least that's the way it used to be.ljkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15345829432231688681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-33729735884491125032010-04-15T17:27:36.390-04:002010-04-15T17:27:36.390-04:00Alan, your reporting is again spot on in presentin...Alan, your reporting is again spot on in presenting the issues as they really are. Solutions and outcome? Still a longshot given the fact that Albany is in the driver's seat as always. Let's hope that something comes together soon for all concerned, especially those whose livelihoods are tied to the NY racing industry. /S/greenmtnpunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-31795109771398234402010-04-15T10:32:04.671-04:002010-04-15T10:32:04.671-04:00It is easier to shut it down and start over. All o...It is easier to shut it down and start over. All of the "stakeholders" are ignoring the fact that OTB is in bankruptcy and a major restructuring is on order. A clean slate is the way to go. Get rid off the expensive office space, bloated management and ridiculous subsidies to the harness tracks.jkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16593805152169668395noreply@blogger.com