If you're not from NY, it would be hard to explain the power this man has wielded in NY politics since forever. Today, he was brought in on charges of taking millions in bribes and kickbacks. The only thing that came to mind was the comment by Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca, when he closed up Rick's casino: "I'm shocked, shocked to find out gambling is going on here." The clear message for horse racing in NY is that they haven't been paying enough. Actually, it's more complicated than that, and it's anybody's guess (though some of you might have more than a guess) as to the role of Silver's former Republican counterpart and big racing fan, Joe Bruno, might still be playing as a racing advocate. Bruno was also arrested on charges of corruption, was tried, convicted, had convictions overturned, and was scheduled for re-trial in the midst of more motions, and ultimately acquitted. I think.