A consortium of major horse industry companies vying for the Thoroughbred franchise in new York began falling apart Oct. 10, as Magna Entertainment and Churchill Downs announced their withdrawal from Empire Racing Associates.
Thursday, October 11, 2007New York's top Republican lawmaker said a plan by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to give another exclusive racing franchise to the New York Racing Association will not be approved by the legislature in its current form.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is breaking its ties with Empire Racing Associates, a move that will further throw into confusion the process for naming a franchise holder to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007A report by the New York Office of Inspector General to Gov. Eliot Spitzer lists four "general areas of concern" among the four entities seeking the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga, including relationships with rebate shops and bookmakers who take bets on racing from the United States.
Monday, July 02, 2007New York state officials told three Thoroughbred franchise bidding groups they want to let the New York Racing Association continue running the state's major racetracks and begin a new bidding process for rights to operate casinos at Aqueduct and Belmont Park.
Friday, June 08, 2007New York officials have called a meeting with the four Thoroughbred franchise bidding groups for June 8 to discuss the future "structure" of the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007Empire Racing Associates has accused two of its competitors of secretly meeting to discuss a possible joint venture involving New York's Thoroughbred franchise, which Empire contends violates state procurement rules involving collusion.
Thursday, May 31, 2007Empire Racing Associates has released the names of a team of racing-operations professionals, many from Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment Corp., that will lead its racing transition team should Empire Racing be awarded the New York Thoroughbred racing franchise.
Friday, May 11, 2007The New York Racing Association keeps bleeding funds, according to the racing group's latest disclosure to a federal bankruptcy judge overseeing its reorganization.
Friday, April 20, 2007Four groups vying for the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga will present their proposals during hearings April 10-11 in Albany, N.Y.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007Steve Swindal, the New York Yankees executive embroiled in divorce proceedings with the daughter of George Steinbrenner, has dropped out of Excelsior Racing Associates, one of four groups vying to win the New York Thoroughbred franchise whose proposals were made public April 5.
Thursday, April 05, 2007Four groups have submitted bids to operate New York's Thoroughbred racing franchise, and a final decision could be made by the end of May.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007Excelsior Racing Associates lost some of its major backing April 1, with the announcement that the Steinbrenner family and a major New York City development firm will no longer be involved in the effort to obtain New York's lucrative Thoroughbred racing franchise.
Monday, April 02, 2007March 31 is the deadline for bidders interested in the New York Thoroughbred franchise to submit proposals, and they also must undergo an "integrity review" by the state inspector general.
Thursday, March 15, 2007Two new groups, including a mystery entity, have joined the process to try to win the state Thoroughbred racetrack franchise now held by the New York Racing Association.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007Officials said New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer doesn't plan to reopen the bidding process for the state's Thoroughbred franchise--but he doesn't feel obligated to follow the recommendation of a screening panel, either.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007Empire Racing Associates will hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss the future of racing in New York Jan. 17 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007New York Yankees partner Steve Swindal said his Excelsior Racing Associates group is already discussing future track management and laying plans to take over racing in New York on Jan. 1, 2008 when, he believes, Excelsior will begin operating Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga racetracks.
Friday, December 08, 2006Empire Racing Associates said it is willing to put more money on the table for the state of New York in order to win the franchise to run racing over the next 20 years at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga racetracks.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006Empire Racing Associates, which made a bid for the franchise to operate three New York racetracks, released a plan Nov. 30 to protect the historic charm of Saratoga Race Course and strengthen racing there. The plan will form a major part of the proposal Empire Racing will take to the state legislature in January, officials said.
Thursday, November 30, 2006Empire Racing Associates, a finalist for New York's Thoroughbred racing franchise, on Nov. 27 released a plan addressing measures designed to improve racing and training safety.
Monday, November 27, 2006A state panel in New York is poised to recommend its choice for a new franchise holder to run racing at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga racetracks on Tueday, Nov. 21.
Monday, November 20, 2006The New York Racing Association has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, charging that the state of New York's failure to approve a long-stalled casino project for Aqueduct Racetrack has pushed it toward insolvency.
Thursday, November 02, 2006The New York Racing Association will get its $19-million bailout from state government provided it gives assurances that it "does not anticipate" filing for bankruptcy protection in the next six months.
Monday, October 30, 2006The first bids for the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga for 20 years beginning in 2008 were submitted Aug. 29 by the current operator and two groups that included developers and casino and racetrack companies allied with Thoroughbred owners and breeders.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006Tim Smith was a racing outsider when he was recruited as the first commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association in 1998. Now, he's again an outsider--maybe even an outcast--caught up in the acrimony dominating the quest for the franchise to operate the three major Thoroughbred racetracks in New York.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006How did the New York Racing Association choose the name Cab Calloway for one of the divisions of its Saratoga stakes for New York stallion-sired horses?
Monday, August 07, 2006Bidders vying for the major Thoroughbred franchise in New York blew their own horns -- and did a bit of not-so-subtle bashing of each other -- before an Aug. 1 who's who of racing industry insiders, including members of a state panel considering the bids to operate Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga racetracks.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006The long-awaited Request For Proposals for the franchise to operate racing at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga was approved for release June 13 by a state government panel, though it appears increasingly unlikely the winning bidder will be selected this year.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006Jeffrey Tucker, a New York breeder, has been named chairman of the fledgling Empire Racing Associates, a group of horsemen and breeders trying to position itself to be among the holders of a new Thoroughbred racing franchise in New York.
Thursday, May 25, 2006A fledgling group of owners and breeders in New York has launched a new effort to study a variety of issues affecting the safety of Thoroughbred horses, including whether some of the state's racetracks should install alternative racing surfaces.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006Empire Racing Associates (ERA), a New York horsemen and breeder bidding entity, announced April 25 the appointment of Dennis Brida as executive vice president of racing operations/industry relations.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006A group formed under the name Empire Racing Associates will try to join up with partners to make a bid on the expiring franchise to run Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
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