- New post up at Breederscup.com, in which I kill some time while we wait for the pre-entries with, among other things, some interesting changes of plans for some prominent European horses. And here's a plug for the Breeders' Cup site - there happens to be a lot of excellent information available if you look for it. I can't say it's the most user-friendly site in the world - it even lacks a search box - but there's a lot of material well-organized by division, bios of the horses, replays of preps, historical information, and, in particular, video of every Breeders Cup race ever run. I think that if you take the time to find everything, you'll be well-rewarded.
- Joe Bruno announced the Senate's new franchise proposal, and let's just say for now, since I'm busy at work, that it's beyond belief. A year and a half or so after this fiasco started and just over two months until the expiration of the franchise, Joltin' Joe wants to basically start over again with a new state corporation to handle the bids. "You've got the best brains in the whole world" seeking the franchise, Bruno said. "This concept utilizes those brains." Previously, Bruno had identified Magna as one of those brains, so I don't know exactly who he has in mind. The last time I looked, neither Keeneland nor Del Mar were interested. And he certainly can't be including himself. I'm not one for petty name calling, but I think Bruno is being a real idiot. I don't believe that his constituency in Saratoga will be pleased, so perhaps we'll see if he's more attuned to their interests or to his petty dispute with the Governor, which is starting to border on the infantile. More on this later on....
RSS Feed for this Blog
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Best Brains!?
Posted by Alan Mann at 2:19 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 Comments:
On the bright side, Bruno mentions consolodation of the OTB system. This key issue has been rarely mentioned during the enitre bidding process. I will cut Bruno some slack if he is truly willing and able to tackle the OTB issue.
I haven't read Bruno's proposal (and as I'm sitting in a faculty meeting, I probably shouldn't)...does he suggest that this can be done by January 1st? Or does NYRA get an extension? Can't see NYRA going for that one...
OK, I just skimmed it, and read this: "Bruno did not provide details on how the other six members of the (advisory) board would be selected, other than to say that companies interested in bidding on the franchise should have the opportunity to lobby for seats."
Oh, yeah, that's a great idea. Take the people who want to get the job and give them spots on the board that chooses who gets the job?
Article makes no mention of a timeline. Can't wait to see what the TU and Saratogian have to say about it.
Absolutely agree about the Breeders Cup site. It's a little more difficult to navigate but there is a wealth of good information on there.
I love all the historical replays and the access to old charts and stats as well as the current stuff like the blogs, news and recent race replays.
Speaking of Europeans, I wish Darjina would come over -- I strongly suspect that she'd beat everyone up to and possibly including Dylan Thomas. Oh well.
Bruno's idea is laughable, if he weren't serious about trying to put the screws to Spitzer. Thanks a lot Eliot, for kicking racing to the curb by waging a personal vendetta against Joe Bruno.
Please toughen up and tell us how you REALLY feel about Bruno?
"...but I think Bruno is being a real idiot."
Let's review:
According to published reports, Bruno flatly rejected the governor's proposal: "We are not going to do that, pure and simple," Bruno said.
Speaker Silver criticized the Bruno plan saying it had “no details” and “no clear vision” and “no substance.”
Spitzer weighed in later, arguing that the Senate plan was late - six weeks after the Spitzer recommendation was made. Spitzer also complained that the Bruno "plan appears to raise as many questions as it answers, including which entities would actually operate racing and the VLT facility at Aqueduct."
Okay: The pot calling the kettle. The Spitzer plan took nine months and raised as many questions as it answered and still doesn't answer who runs vlt's at Aqueduct ...
The Bruno plan, like the Spitzer plan, has, by any reasonable standard, "no details", “no clear vision” and “no substance" ...
And the Silver plan? Well, apparently he lacks one. Great exhibit of leadership there, huh?
And people wonder why racing is in trouble?
Spitzer keeps shooting himself in the foot so all Joe needs to do is stand back and let it happen. Spitzer has very little political capital left as he continues to alienate even the Dem legislators in Albany with his idiotic no doc drivers license plan and such. In short, Spizter has to be the most politically arrogant & inept governor ever, he's even more arrogant than Cuomo, and that is pretty arrogant. Joe has nothing to lose by holding out until the end as he seems to hold the upper hand according to the latest Siena College polls. /S/ Green Mtn Punter
Post a Comment