Note to "ImALWAYSin":

Sure its easy to criticize NYRA. Because NYRA does business year around, year in, year out, in a tough market, NYRA and New York racing are closely scrutinized.

A lot of NYRA problems, including the trumped up charges against Greg Martin (1 count in a 75 count indictment) and Braulio Baeza (accused of doing something which was being done in almost every jocks room in the country for about a century) have been forced into the limelight by New York's state attorney general,who will not rest until he is elected President of the United States (both AG Spitzer and Senator Schumer are in a match race to become our nation's first Jewish president).

Lets review some of the major racing circuits in the US and see, as former NY Mayor Ed Koch would say, "How's NYRA doin'?

Lets start with the cradle of American racing, the Bluegrass state, where the inmates (owners, trainers, breeders) run the asylum. Can you say "permissive medication"? In terms of facilities, two world class facilities and two absolute dumps, Ellis (do they still grow soybeans in the infield?) and Latonia, er, Turfway. I haven't been to hEllish or Turfway in nearly 20 years, and some hardboot like BellsBendBoy will tell me that these two facilities have improved. Sorry, but you can't polish a turd, or to put it another way,any attempt to "fix up" these two places would be like "fixing the drapes on the Titanic".

I will be curious to see what happens to Keeneland's national handle after the installation of Polytrack.

Lets go to California. They insist on continuing to operate Bay Meadows and Golden Gate, they continue to have short fields at all tracks. Home of superior horsemen like Milkshake Mullins and Vladimir Syringe. How about the admirable and humane way the Cal powers that be handled the Sweet Catomine affair last year?

And soon Cal will be all poly all the time. We need to replace Bing Crosby's "Where the Surf Meets the Turf" with a grunge band singing "Where the Pacific meets the Polytrack". And of course they need Polytrack at Del Mar, where they run a 6-8 week meet under optimal weather conditions.

But I love betting Cal races. On Friday night, race 6, 12 horse field. 10/1 winner, place horse 16/1, exacta $101 for $1?

The most tragic circuit will be Maryland, because the Frankster controls the whole circuit. The Maryland circuit will be the sacrificial lamb when cash poorMagna makes its bid for NYRA. In light of the awful attitude of Maryland politicians towards Racing ("Politicians to Maryland Racing-- Drop Dead"), it is hard to imagine any operator taking over these facilities.

Florida also has Frankstro problems. The slot proceeds split (50/50 with the state/county) is not acceptable, and Magna's cash flow problems will prevent necessary purse increases (how long does Frank think Magna (Parent)shareholders will allow Magna (Parent) to float loans to Magna Entertainment)? (I believe the first shareholder derivative suits have been filed in Ontario courts). It was written this winter that non stake purses at Gulfstream were so low that horsemen were using Gulfstream and Palm Meadows as training facilities, waiting for the venues with more lucrative purses to open. The greatest shame in Florida is that one of the most beautiful racetracks ANYWHERE has become a fallow plot of ground.

So yes, NYRA has problems, and maybe a couple of idiots. But when New York racing has a big day, like Belmont Day or Travers Day or Breeders Cup Preview Day, its as good a day of racing as we have in this country. And I still contend that the day to day product year round is as good or better than anywhere in the U.S.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2006 08:30AM by richiebee.