tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post7139244577270046239..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Thursday Night Notes - Jan 3Alan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-19058445211899544522008-01-04T15:50:00.000-05:002008-01-04T15:50:00.000-05:00ljk -Are you the same commenter as jk? :/Besides t...ljk -<BR/><BR/>Are you the same commenter as jk? :/<BR/><BR/>Besides the fact that I personally love the Big A, my comment is based on the thought of 10 1/2 months of one-turn dirt racing at Belmont. Besides the fact that I dislike that track configuration to start with, it's the change from one-turn to two-turns and back again which I think provides a lot of angles and juice throughout the year.<BR/><BR/>Whatsmore, Belmont is aligned so that the sun would never shine on the front of the track during the winter, turning it into what I'm sure would be a frigid and empty wasteland. <BR/><BR/>If Charlie has a plan to conduct two-turn races at an alternate oval at the Belmont site - one that people can actually go outdoors and observe without freezing to death - then I'd have an open mind about it.Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-8161844983171545092008-01-04T15:39:00.000-05:002008-01-04T15:39:00.000-05:00"Aqueduct would probably shut down, which would be..."Aqueduct would probably shut down, which would be a disaster for New York racing"<BR/><BR/>Now I'll admit it's been over ten years since I've been to the big A, but unless they've made HUGE improvements...<BR/><BR/>Charlie was on Capital OTB during the Spa meet saying they had previously considered how to race winter long at Belmont. Seems to me he discussed utilizing the training track with a winterized or synthetic surface and smaller heated facility that could handle the "modest" winter attendance. I don't think that would be a disaster. <BR/><BR/>A month or two of no racing (a political impossibility) wouldn't be a disaster eitherljkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15345829432231688681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-49990923445307231542008-01-03T23:30:00.000-05:002008-01-03T23:30:00.000-05:00Come on, Alan, where is the news on Frank Stronach...Come on, Alan, where is the news on Frank Stronach's energy drink contest at Gulfstream Park?<BR/><BR/>Yes, it's true! Stronach has a contest going for an energy drink model.<BR/><BR/>Will they serve this stuff at Saratoga?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-41494710509306534922008-01-03T22:55:00.000-05:002008-01-03T22:55:00.000-05:00http://timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?St...http://timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=652055<BR/><BR/>Deal would weaken NYRA power <BR/>Association's control of board cut under state plan <BR/> <BR/>By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau <BR/><BR/>First published: Thursday, January 3, 2008 <BR/> <BR/>ALBANY -- State officials are crafting a deal that would weaken the New York Racing Association's control of its board of trustees.<BR/>NYRA is objecting privately to the plan, which is part of a deal being worked out by negotiators for Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Sen. Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to extend NYRA's franchise to run state racetracks for another 20 to 25 years.<BR/><BR/>Under the plan, NYRA would have to reduce its board from 28 members, 20 of whom are NYRA appointees, to 21 members, 11 of whom would be appointed by NYRA.<BR/><BR/>Of the other 10 board members, the governor would appoint three, the Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader would each appoint two, and horse owners, breeders and organized labor would each name one.<BR/><BR/>snipAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com