tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post7533116568011889412..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Tuesday Morning Notes - Jan 22Alan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-27994355071757879682008-01-23T07:53:00.000-05:002008-01-23T07:53:00.000-05:00Apparently, no hope for prompt resolution:NY Panel...Apparently, no hope for prompt resolution:<BR/><BR/>NY Panel Stymies Chairman's Actions <BR/>The Blood Horse<BR/>by Tom Precious <BR/><BR/>A state government panel overseeing Thoroughbred racing in New York has made it more difficult for its new chairman to broker deals on his own with the New York Racing Association in order to keep racing going temporarily.<BR/><BR/>The Non-Profit Racing Association Oversight Board adopted a resolution Jan. 22 severely cutting short the power of Steven Newman, the new chairman recently appointed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.<BR/><BR/>"The purpose is to shut him down," said one government source.<BR/><BR/>Beyond the immediate nature of the move, the panel’s resoluton was been seen as another sign of trouble in the broader franchise negotiations. The panel is run by appointees of top government officials involved in the talks, and the latest power play could represent a setback in the more important, permanent franchise discussions that have been going on for months.<BR/><BR/>The Republican-dominated board had given its previous chairwoman, Carole Stone, who was appointed by former Gov. George Pataki to the post, broad powers to unilaterally act on the board’s behalf in negotiating deals with NYRA or selecting another entity if NYRA could not or would not keep racing going. The oversight panel has been legally running racing since Jan. 1, a day after the expiration of NYRA’s franchise to run Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.<BR/><BR/>But Stone was bounced from her position by Spitzer, a Democrat who then appointed Newman, an ally of Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, as chairman. Since his appointment in December, Newman has brokered two temporary extensions to keep NYRA racing while state negotiators try to find a more permanent solution. The most recent deal keeps NYRA in control of racing until Feb. 13.<BR/><BR/>The panel’s resolution noted a deal might not be in place in three weeks when the extension expires, thereby requiring further action by the board to keep racing going. Instead of giving unilateral power to Newman, the board’s resolution requires that a majority of the board approve any further extensions.<BR/><BR/>Newman could not be reached for comment, and the Spitzer administration did not immediately respond for comment. The action came the same day Spitzer unveiled his 2008 state budget plan — a document that includes a proposal to open a video lottery terminal casino at Belmont.<BR/><BR/>The Belmont question has been a major sticking point in the franchise negotiations. The state has already approved a VLT casino for Aqueduct, though construction has been stalled for years.<BR/><BR/>The GOP-led Senate wants a Belmont casino, but the Democratic-controlled Assembly opposes it. Spitzer has embraced the casino expansion in the past, but backed away recently in the franchise talks, a move most sides saw as a sign the issue would return as part of the state budget talks.<BR/><BR/>The governor’s plan calls for 4,500 VLTs at Belmont — the same size as Aqueduct’s planned facility. He believes a fee to be paid by a future operator will bring the state $250 million, a figure he put into his fiscal plan to help balance the budget.<BR/><BR/>Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno embraced the Belmont addition, but Silver said his chamber still opposes the expansion to Belmont.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-63544985210264274732008-01-23T00:25:00.000-05:002008-01-23T00:25:00.000-05:00New England by 28.Why doesn't NTRA have one centra...New England by 28.<BR/><BR/>Why doesn't NTRA have one central replay archive(like Calracing)for all the racetracks In the US,at <BR/>no-fee.<BR/><BR/>The sight would get more hits than The Drudge report,and the advertising would pay for it self,if not profit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-71562357897393413122008-01-22T21:28:00.000-05:002008-01-22T21:28:00.000-05:00>>More rain Forecast for Santa Anita this weekBad ...>>More rain Forecast for Santa Anita this week<BR/><BR/>Bad timing with Frank's Millions scheduled for this weekend.Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-13538135317794421262008-01-22T20:45:00.000-05:002008-01-22T20:45:00.000-05:00More rain Forecast for Santa Anita this weekMore rain Forecast for Santa Anita this weekAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-38829488050261638352008-01-22T17:08:00.000-05:002008-01-22T17:08:00.000-05:00If they used a bunch of old videos they might actu...If they used a bunch of old videos they might actually get me to watch. <BR/><BR/>This sports non-use of it's video archives is yet another example of piss poor marketing. I read recently that KEE Association is undertaking the video conservation and preservation of NYRA's property, hopefully they release some DVD's.<BR/><BR/>"History of The Wood Memorial" etc...<BR/><BR/>Yet another free money making idea I just toss out there to Mr. Hayward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-79227962174701184872008-01-22T13:54:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:54:00.000-05:00Green Mtn Punter, being a life long New Englander,...Green Mtn Punter, being a life long New Englander, has to stick with the Patriots. A mortal lock to win if ever there was one! At least as "sure thing" as Secretariat to show. Message to Alan: please don't go out on a limb and pick the Patriots, will ya?!... Too bad it isn't Green Bay, New England fans would like to even the score with the cheeseheads.... Curlin's Eclipses were nice to see, hope his connections decide to hit the Grade I handicap circuit this winter, he brings much needed excitement to the sport. /S/Green Mtn PunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-55997785918948014612008-01-22T13:37:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:37:00.000-05:00Any readers or commenters planning to be at the Ho...Any readers or commenters planning to be at the Horseplayer World Series this weekend?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1989396022680668102008-01-22T13:10:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:10:00.000-05:00More VLTs, Quick Draw Expansion in $124 Billion Bu...More VLTs, Quick Draw Expansion in $124 Billion Budget<BR/>January 22, 2008 at 10:01 am by James M. Odato<BR/>Gov. Eliot Spitzer laid out a plan for $124.3 billion in spending in the upcoming fiscal year, up 5.1 percent from this year’s $118.3 billion budget.<BR/><BR/>Spitzer would rake in one-time revenues of $1.1 billion. One way would be by capturing $250 million by selling development rights to a video lottery terminal franchise holder for Belmont Park, which has not been approved.<BR/><BR/>Another gambling plan involves permanent long-term funding from easing restrictions on the keno-like lottery game Quick DrawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-10853646889636095862008-01-22T13:03:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:03:00.000-05:00Glimmerglass -No, I did not watch the ceremony, pa...Glimmerglass -<BR/><BR/>No, I did not watch the ceremony, partly because I figured it would be just as you said. But it definitely seemed as if TVG cut back on their production costs. I recall in the past, they had a "red carpet" preview show, and a post-awards wrap-up; this year, just the three hour awards show. Sure, those other shows were gratuitous and unnecessary. But it sure ain't as if they had anything better to show on a Monday night. And you're correct in that it wouldn't have cost them much to throw in some videos.Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-84242606314986209482008-01-22T12:57:00.000-05:002008-01-22T12:57:00.000-05:00Did anyone else watch the Eclipse ceremony on TVG?...Did anyone else watch the Eclipse ceremony on TVG? It was almost as lame as if watching an annual awards banquet for golf at a country club. No enthusiasm in general, wretched acceptance remarks, flat jokes, and just weak in general. <BR/><BR/>This is 2008 so you'd think video could be better used to pump up the event. How about video shorts dispursed throughout the telecast reflecting the year in review, a look back at who has passed away or even what records were broken?<BR/><BR/>There could be so much more produced relatively cheaply to reflect what was 2007.<BR/><BR/>Gee aside from John Henry we also lost a horse like Runnaway Groom who in '82 gave all fans a shock in the Travers. Replaying that stretch call would've jolted the attendees a little bit between their glum looks down at their martinis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-2557402970517510912008-01-22T12:41:00.000-05:002008-01-22T12:41:00.000-05:00Jeez Alan...Rangers AND Jets? And we're supposed t...Jeez Alan...Rangers AND Jets? And we're supposed to use your racing selections??? jk.<BR/><BR/>Gotta root for Big Blue. Just heard Mad Dog Russo on KNBR out here saying that NY "has fallen in love with the Giants". Good times!<BR/><BR/>Don't worry, it's ONLY two weeks of hype.Ruben Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13430962731987931728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-39927407523960045642008-01-22T10:39:00.000-05:002008-01-22T10:39:00.000-05:00The Nightmare Bowl for we Jet fans.The Nightmare Bowl for we Jet fans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com