NYRA bid up to $1.8 billion

[sumitas]

This from the creative Australian group Capital Play.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/sto...ate=12/27/2006

Also reported today that Empire Racing has "reached a mutual agreement with Jared Abbruzzese to purchase his shares in the organization. Abbbruzzese owned 6 per cent of Empire, said Robert Bellafiore, a spokeman for the group.

The lobbying commission is looking into whther Abbruzzese provided Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno with an illegal gift when he flew him between NYC and Albany on a private plane.

Earlier this month the AP reported that Bruno directed $500,000 in state grants over the past two years to a private company linked to Abbruzzese.

Bruno will help decide which group gets the lucrative state franchise to operate thoroughbred racing in NY."

Bruno has recently disclosed that the FBI is investigating him for his business interests.
source: Binghamton Press