NY state and NYRA at odds over figs?
 

According to the ny post ,Tom DiNapoli , state comptroler , wants NYRA to open it's books , but NYRA is fighting the suboenas.

Please open the books guys so that we can move forward and get the $30 mil needed in order to run the Belmont Stakes next year guys , think about the fans please!

That's crap and the state know it. The agreement between NYRA and NY specifically states that NYRA would need cash by April 2010 if the VLTs weren't ready to go. More bullshiat from the state.

they got 105 mil last year and consented to oversite from the comptroler's office , why not just open the books to expedite getting the 30 mil?

105 million for a billion dollars worth of property. Don't think there was a clause for comptroller oversight given the not for profit status now. After the sham Hevesi audits, NYRA should tell DiNapoli to take a hike.

i just hope the suits work it out , it will be a shame if they don't run the belmont stakes next year

Let me guess...I bet you fall for the Stern Show holiday cliffhanger every year too.

Marty,

The state is full of crap. They've already seen all the accounting. You are aware of all the state government appointees on the Board of Trustees, right? You think they didn't get to see the numbers? It's yet more political posturing by the ongoing embarrassment that is Albany.

You're alternately the most disingenuous or gullible person on anything related to opportunities to attack NYRA...

steve i read the story in the paper (ny post) , i'm not creating it , maybe the post shouldn't print stuff if it isn't true .... why not send a letter to them questioning their facts in the story rather than worrying about what my opinion is ....do i know the whole story no? do i know as much as you about the issue no? is the story valid ... if i read it in a newspaper i have to assume they have the facts right , if not they will get sued

First, it wasn't a story. It's an editorial. You do understand there's a nuance there? The Daily News had a similarly laughable and wholly inaccurate attack today in their editorial section... Have the Post and Daily News editorial writers, or any other non-racing media source, been such consistent fonts of truth and accuracy on these topics that you eagerly buy their interpretation of the situation? Didn't we walk through this on the similar mirage of NYC OTB's 'bankruptcy' and how it was being 'reported' and editorialized with motive-based agendas?

They write these editorials because it's an easy target to pretend that they are a watchdog for the taxpayer. It doesn't serve their purpose to accurately report the monies NYRA were and will be given are part of the negotiated 'sale' of the 3 properties in the franchise package. It's a convenient and disgusting smear to call the money a 'handout' in an atmosphere that will rile readers.

I thought this was going to be about Beyers vs Thorograph.

It seems to me that NYS should name the VLT operator . That's what the point of "cancelling" the Belmont S. was imo . So instead of naming the operator NYS is intimidating NYRA . Why ? Your guess is as good as mine .

i agree, the state should open THEIR books to the public and explain the vlt deal or non-deal. its been 8 f'in years. all the other ny tracks have had them. something stinks here and its all on the state of ny. this governor promised a gaming franchise, and yet another 5 or 6 months have gone by. what gives????! how about an explaination, a bone, a friggin word. nyra should tell them ..hand over the money or have a franchise for the machines , otherwise.....c'ya. its obvious someone or something is in the way...8 years....8 years

I don't get the whole thing..Why in the world wouldn't NYRA want to open its books. What's the big deal? Why would they care? It's a not for profit business model that operates to service an industry and to provide tax dollars to the state. How or why should they care who reviews anything about the organization? Wouldn't opening the books make the whole need for money more legit? I really don't get the whole mess

The "outrage" of the NY Daily News and the NY Post is interesting -- particularly since they seem to display far less outrage that the state has delayed naming a NYRA/VLT operator for eight years.

At the estimated $1mil/day that delay is leaving on the table -- Albany's dysfunction has cost the state almost $3 billion in that eight-year period.

Why aren't there outraged editorials on that?!? Like every week?!?

Does not repping the ineffectiveness of Albany mean that opening the books isn't a worthy idea? I get it that NYRA has been playing behind the eight ball but two wrongs dont make a right..Just two wrongs

The threat of not running the Belmont is pretty much the emptiest threat evah....

I'm surprised they didn't go with, "We'll close Saratoga" instead.

Steve,

I completely agree with you.

The problem I see is that this whole mess is really a complete black-eye for everyone in NY State to the racing industry. I can't imagine canceling the Belmont Stakes...but with Maryland's own woes maybe the second leg would be dropped too. ...and if that happens what does it do American racing to the rest of the International community?

But back to the story....It must be that the Comptroller has no faith in the Board of Trustees. And for petes sake how long has the actual Board operated? Additionally, what is the Board's stance on the Comptroller's demands?

i can't disagree with you on that , yonkers send 54% of all vlt $ to albany , certainly the figureheads in albany should know that a slots terminal at the big a will help purses for nyra and also send more tax $ to albany in the long run

there will be some decrease at yonkers once the big a is up and running but i think both will be cash cows for the state and for years. yonkers was a dead place , the purses were shrinking , the horsemen asked for help from the meadowlands and were given the thumbs down .......now yr is thriving , purses are up , albany has got to get these slots in to help NYRA get its groove back

steve - please write to the ny post a letter to the editor and explain the other side of the issue , the post is fair and objective and if you write a concise response to them about the issues with the land i'm sure they will publish it so that all can see the other side of the story

you are nuts. the post is a rag. they sensationalize everything. its one notch below a real paper a and one notch above the enquirer. steve can try and they might print it. but people that don't follow the issue are slanted to blame NYRA. the whole idea of making this NYRA's fault is sickening. some of the owners up here are talking about pulling out or holding back entries. one of them called in sunday, on trackfacts. they are not questioning NYRA, its the state thats in the way, been in the way for years now. some political force or leverage is holding this thing up. people are asking the STATE for answers not NYRA. of course, the state government is trying to deflect the blame and their cronies at the post are glad to oblige. the bottom line is the state is screwing up and people want to know if its intentional....after 8 years, they have ALL the explaining to do. someone said it was a veiled threat......watch how hard the state cries if racing days are lost. these politicians are criminals conspiring or just plain inept...i'm not sure which.. thats the problem. they won't even speak about it.....but they'll bitch about NYRA loud and hard...wake up!