Bit,

If possible they would give no slice to purses or NYRA,period!

When Cuomo's attack on NYRA/NY racing began, he barked of the NYRA/racing "free ride" loans, bailouts, debt forgiveness,criminal activity.

Cuomo somewhat relented and exchanged a slice of the new Aqu slot money to NYRA/racing for complete control(basically seized NYRA in spite of a Franchise agreement awarded by the State Of NY) The then Board was threatened, point blank, that the State would use its substantial power to defeat any attempt to save NYRA's legal and binding franchise deal.Sign racing over, they were told in effect. While some board members wanted to fight the Cuomo grab in court, the sheer weight and power of the State, along with a popular anti racing Governor,was too much.The Board capitulated with a gun to its head!

Cuomo floated pulling the plug on all racing subsidies but could not get that thru Albany. So plan B is now in effect, let privatization deal with that nuisance racing crowd(figs say it ONLY generates a billion or so for the State coffers along with 5-6k jobs)Privatization of NY racing will never happen unless the State gives guarantees that puts the buyer at no financial risk. Not gonna happen.

Even if the NY casino referendum fails, not likely, Cuomo has stated he will flood NY with VLT's to stop New Yorkers from going to NJ, PA,CT to gamble. No matter how you slice this, without future support from the State,in the form of subsidies, racing in NY will be at deaths door.


Mike