The governor of New York suggested Aug. 26 there are no guarantees a decision will be made soon in the selection of a developer for the long-stalled Aqueduct casino project.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., which is now controlled by the state government, is facing insolvency unless it can get its financial affairs in order, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported Aug. 14 in a long-awaited audit.
Friday, August 14, 2009
MGM Mirage is back in the hunt to develop New York City's only legal casino with word emerging May 14 that it has joined forces with two other entities trying to win the bid for a sprawling new gambling facility at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
More information was released May 11 about some of the groups seeking to build and operate a casino on the grounds of Aqueduct racetrack in New York.
Monday, May 11, 2009
New York's lottery director caused a bit of a stir this week when he suggested to state lawmakers that racetracks are a drag on the profitability of their racino operations - leading to less money going to the state's education budget.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The long and twisting turns of efforts to develop a casino at Aqueduct racetrack has gone to a new venue: state court. SL Green Realty Corp., a Manhattan real estate company, has sued Buffalo-based Delaware North for breach of contract and other causes with allegations that include taking confidential information it obtained from SL Green for use in its bid for the casino.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
New York Thoroughbred breeder Ernie Paragallo is being charged with 22 counts of cruelty to animals, the chief prosecutor in the case told The Blood-Horse April 10.
Friday, April 10, 2009
New York Thoroughbred breeder Ernie Paragallo was charged with 22 counts of cruelty to animals, the chief prosecutor in the case told The Blood-Horse April 10.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Investigators found serious violations of animal cruelty laws in at least 40 Thoroughbred horses at the New York farm owned by Ernie Paragallo following a raid April 8 by State Police and animal protection agency officials.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Legislation has been given final approval in New York to block a looming 1% takeout increase on out-of-state pari-mutuel wagers. The legislation now heads to Gov. David Paterson for his consideration.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The New York Racing Association lost a five-year-old lawsuit Feb. 24 when the state's highest court refused to hear its appeal in a case potentially worth millions of dollars in back simulcasting payments to the racing entity.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A New York state government panel said Belmont Park can support a sprawling casino, hotel, retail, and housing development to bring jobs and money to the state.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Three casinos would be permitted in New York's Catskills tourist region under a constitutional amendment introduced in the Legislature for consideration next year.
Friday, December 12, 2008
An effort is underway by racetracks and OTBs in New York state to derail a looming hike in the pari-mutuel takeout before it takes effect next month.
Friday, August 15, 2008
The new top regulator of racing in New York state offered a tough assessment of an industry he says is in decline in many ways because of its own doing.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Negotiators are eyeing a plan to have the state of New York take over the running of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., which is threatening to shut down this weekend unless a revenue sharing structure is changed.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
A major commercial real estate developer said April 28 it has combined forces with the Hard Rock Entertainment hotel and restaurant chain in a bid with New York state to operate a video lottery terminal casino at Aqueduct.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Negotiators on February 11 failed again to broker a new Thoroughbred franchise deal in New York, raising the chances that Aqueduct could go dark later this week.
Monday, February 11, 2008
A Republican-dominated state panel overseeing Thoroughbred racing in New York has curbed the ability of its new chairman to broker deals with the New York Racing Association. The chairman was appointed by Democrat Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The move came the same day Spitzer released his 2008 state budget plan, which includes revenue from a proposed casino at Belmont Park.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
State racing regulators failed to approve a temporary license for the New York Racing Association to continue racing in January while talks about a permanent franchise deal continue.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
The New York Racing Association can agree to new performance benchmarks for its operations as part of a franchise extension deal, but state officials must be more flexible to take into account future changes in the racing industry that could affect those new standards, according to the president of NYRA.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
A senior advisor to New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said the governor has not decided on any one plan for the state's Thoroughbred racing franchise, but acknowledged that a slew of ideas "from shutting down Aqueduct to splitting up the franchise" have been on the table.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
New York's largest off-track betting corporation wants to be able to merge with the next holder of the state's Thoroughbred franchise to help end the "perpetual cycle of conflict'' between tracks and OTBs.
Friday, December 01, 2006
With the future of the racing industry in New York up in the air, the most immediate beneficiaries appear to be state officials running for office this fall, thanks to a steady flow of money from individuals and companies tied in one way or another to the Thoroughbred franchise renewal process.
Monday, October 09, 2006
A group vying to replace the New York Racing Association as operator of three Thoroughbred racetracks has joined NYRA's effort to get the state to release $19 million in funding for the financially ailing operator.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Bidders 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, 2006
Empire Racing Associates has added another potent partner, Woodbine Entertainment Group, to its team vying to take over the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Internet gambling on horse races would become legal under a measure given final approval by the New York State Legislature.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The 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, 2006
The head of the New York panel overseeing the bidding process for a new operator of the state's Thoroughbred racetracks is pushing to release the bidding package this week.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
A report by a New York state legislative panel is issuing a warning signal to the state's racing industry to embrace deep, structural reforms or face a continuing erosion of its fan base.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Violators of New York's racing laws would face sharply higher fines under a new bill pending in the state Senate.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A New York state panel approved a deal Tuesday to have the state's obligations owed by the New York Racing Association take a back seat to the $170 million MGM Mirage will be lending to NYRA to build its video lottery terminal casino at Aqueduct racetrack.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
A 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
The New York state panel involved in the renewal process for a new Thoroughbred racing franchise to replace the New York Racing Association will hold two public hearings later this month to help it carry out its mandate.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
New York Governor George Pataki and state officials agreed Dec. 30 to a $30 million bailout plan for the New York Racing Association to help stabilize its finances and keep racing going uninterrupted.
Friday, December 30, 2005
A deal is in the works to provide up to $5 million to the cash-starved New York Racing Association from the sale of land near Aqueduct to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
The former chairman of the now-defunct New York State Thoroughbred Capital Investment Fund tapped into the agency's budget to foot expenses for a bed and breakfast and Mexican restaurant he owned, while CIF funds were used to pay for such personal items as overnight mailings to watch repair stores, gasoline and entertainment, New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi said in an audit released Dec. 5.
Monday, December 05, 2005
New York Gov. George Pataki, after a day of intrigue at the state Capitol over the leadership of the state's racing regulatory agency, has relieved Michael Hoblock of his duties as chairman of the state Racing and Wagering Board.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
New York's top racing regulator said court action is still being considered as a result of the New York Racing Association's plans to auction off 19 pieces of artwork without first getting state approval.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
A state oversight panel is recommending the New York Racing Association boost takeout, defer dues to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and get a cash advance from its casino partner in order to cope with NYRA's worsening fiscal picture.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
The racing industry's major stakeholders in New York state, more accustomed to battling than cooperation, came together Tuesday, Nov. 15 for an unprecedented gathering to try to reach consensus on ways to improve the state of their financial affairs.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The franchise now held by the embattled New York Racing Association, which is facing insolvency by the end of November, should be awarded to a new operator within six months, New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said Thursday.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
The New York Racing Association could be insolvent by the third week of November unless several plans to raise money and cut expenses occur, NYRA President Charles Hayward told a state oversight panel today.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Five jockeys named as un-indicted co-conspirators will have their fate decided by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
The bidding process for the three-track franchise held by the New York Racing Association would be sharply accelerated and NYRA would come under new oversight by the state government under measures being pushed by Gov. George Pataki.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The New York Racing Association has struck a tentative deal with horsemen on a revenue-sharing arrangement for future proceeds from video lottery terminals at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
The New York Racing Association, facing legal and political battles on a growing number of fronts, will not be getting its request to lower takeout on bets for the upcoming Saratoga meet.
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said he came away from a one-hour meeting with New York Racing Association Chairman Barry Schwartz convinced that NYRA will now be taking steps to improve the operations he sharply criticized last month following a three-year investigation.
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
