Thanks Magic. Some observations from a different angle.Not nearly as polite as you, nor as articulate.

1.Chris Kay is not a CEO of a $2billion GAMBLING business by any stretch of the imagination. During his time as NYRA CEO he has stonewalled any discussion of takeout, transparency, pool integrity, drug issue.His idiotic theme of "enhancing the guest experience" is a line taken directly from his days at Toys R Us.Gambling billions ain't about toys!!!

2.NYRA has been "reached out" to regarding the issues mentioned above and took umbrage and became very defensive when confronted about them.

3.When NYRA was contacted by Cuomo's Gaming guy about their smug attitude regarding critical player issues, the phone rang quickly and their attitude changed. Regretfully, NYRA's promise to get back about the issues was never fulfilled and during that time the Cuomo gaming guy retired.

4. Chris Kay and his team, along with certain NYRA Board members are desperate to hold on to the NYRA franchise which will be decided by Cuomo in April 2015. To that end NYRA has cooked the books by moving P & L items around on the balance sheet to show an overall profit without the slot subsidy but it's nothing more than fancy accounting.

5.Handle is being watched very carefully and an alarming trend has emerged. Briefly, in spite of a favorable gambling climate overall, handle is tanking with no apparent reason.Except perhaps for bankroll fatigue, players seem to be exiting from the game or cutting back their handle.The explanation given by Chris Kay is absurd, ranging from weather, to the college football playoffs, to the closure of Atlantic City casinos which carried NYRA,s signal.

6.One thing NYRA has done and probably will continue to do is to make unannounced shakedowns(raids) on barns to try to catch cheats. To date, it is my understanding that no trainer has been caught. In spite of what NYRA claims, the usual suspects were targeted and none came up dirty.

NYRA's winter racing product is brutal, not playable for the most part.Depending on horse population, they will go 4 or 5 days this winter.A mini war broke out when the suggestion to close for 6 weeks in winter was made.The bean counters, Violette and others arguing financial disaster all around if NYRA closed.

So while NY racing has critical issues which require urgent attention, the Clueless Clowns and politically appointed stooges are patting each other on the back while gamblers exit or cut back handle in disgust.

Mike