I'll make book on Magna being at least a partner with NYRA and, more likely, in outright control of NY racing, within three years. A few numbers which I'm basing this opinion on:

- April 1, 2003; the date by which slot machines (or "Video Lottery Terminals" if you prefer the spin-friendly term) had to be installed at Aqueduct in order for NYRA's franchise to be extended through 2012.

- $68 million; NYRA's debt to NY's Thoroughbred Capital Investment Fund.

- $10 million; NYRA's debt to NY's horsemen.

- $3 million; amount in Federal fines NYRA must pay as punishment for the mutuel dept. fiasco.

- $15,000 per month; amount Magna is paying Ken Bruno and his law firm for lobbying on their behalf in Albany. Ken Bruno is Joe Bruno's son, of course.

- $10,000 per month; amount Magna is paying Al "Senator Pothole" D'Amato's lobbying/consulting firm. D'Amato is widely regarded as Gov. Pataki's mentor and a key force behind his 1994 upset of then-Gov. Mario Cuomo.

- $110,000 per year to lobbyist Patricia Lynch, a former top aide to Assembly Speaker Shelly "Marbles In My Mouth" Silver.

Looks like an awfully weak hand for NYRA, at least to me. While Stronach has a lobbying all-star team ready to bring the full court press on the three guys who run New York state gov't, NYRA has huge debt, no real way of paying it, a slots installation plan that seems totally up in the air, and a state facing never-ending budget shortfalls (which are only going to get worse due to, among other things, a court-ordered change in the way school districts get funded that could result in a spending explosion unlike anything ever seen in NY). Do I think that, when push comes to shove, when the lobbyists start making the Big Pitch, the state legislature, desperate for revenue, is going to make the franchise decision based on fears that Stronach might desecrate the charm of Saratoga Race Course? Not so much.

Saratoga is the single biggest reason I got hooked on this game, and I am indeed frightened about what Magna might do to the place if and when they get their hands on it. I just think it's more a matter of when than if.

Hope I'm wrong about all this...