CONTESSA: CATASTROPHIC SITUATION WITH NEW YORK RACING
Today’s first race at Aqueduct was cancelled due to a horsemen’s boycott designed to draw attention to their plight and the failure of Gov. David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, among others, to agree on an operator for video lottery terminals or slot machines at Aqueduct, which has been delayed a decade.
Gary Contessa, a leading New York trainer, told the Paulick Report more than 1,000 horsemen attended a rally at Belmont Park Sunday morning calling for action by the governor and others to make a decision on the VLT contract.
Following are Contessa’s comments to the Paulick Report:
“We are trying to get the attention of Albany to let them know what a catastrophic situation we have with New York racing right now, the political ineptness, the absolute inability to get anything done. We are in support of racing. We had a thousand or more people at Belmont today. We had a big rally and cancelled the first race. We did this the right way. We let NYRA know we weren’t coming long before today.
“Hopefully we can wake somebody up, get the governor out of bed, get him to move, get him to do something, or there is going to be more. There is going to be more. We need to move.
“We have an absolute political nightmare in New York right now, and I hold the governor and Sheldon Silver personally responsible for this mess. The bottom line is the state is losing a million dollars a day by not having VLTs in new york—a million dollars a day that would go to education, and all we want to do is survive.
“We get a small piece of that and it would help us immensely, just to be competitive. We don’t want to be second–the second best in racing to New Jersey or second best racing to Penn National or Philadelphia Park. We want to be the best. We want to stay on top. We’re not.
“We’ve fallen from grace, and without the governor getting off his behind and making a decision about these VLTs, we are never going to regain what New York is supposed to be, which is the capital of American racing. The bottom line is we are just trying to get someone’s attention. It’s all about getting these politicians getting off their hands and doing something.
“The bottom line is we are just trying to get somebody’s attention today.
Read more about the rally at Thoroughbred Times
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think
Tags: aqueduct, david paterson, gary contessa, Paulick Report, penn national, Philadelphia park, Ray Paulick, Sheldon Silver, thoroughbred times, VLT
March 21st, 2010 at 3:30 pm
What a bunch of sickening welfare queens. Instead of demanding that the guv gets of his behind, why don’t the welfare queens, and more importantly, the track owners, get off their collective behinds and make racing self sufficient and self sustaining. Try pricing the product competetively with a lower takeout. Then add fixed odds and/or peer-to-peer, rebates, comps, and similar amenities that other gambling venues have. Nah, handouts are the new American dream. Go, queenie, go.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
The governor and the legislature can’t even figure out how to budget for education , health care, etc. They have turned the governing of the state into a laughingstock.It will probably take something like the sudden cancellation of the Belmont Stakes or the total shutdown of Saratoga before they will notice the needs of the racing community.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Another out of touch with reality reply. The takeout adjustment needs to go through the state and there is no chance they would do that. Fixed odds is currently against the law, there are already rebates, etc.
March 21st, 2010 at 4:06 pm
The ability and audacity of New York politicians to taint everything within their purview, including a 500 year old sport that has managed to elude such common corruption, until now, was left to raw and primitive desperation. And rightly so! In an age where
bloated alphabet groups flounder for lack of effective leadership, even supportive comment is muted. Horseracing is one of the
few sports where the contestants practice on the same field. It appears that the practice is over and they know full well that racing’s
most important and valuable asset is the horse herd and that the asset is portable. It can be geographically removed, totally, in less than 12 hours, leaving empty, useless real estate. The state bought that real estate but they can’t buy the horse herd! This is the caveat emptor that will be useless to discover when these catalysts of doom sober up! The age of common sense is no longer common.
March 21st, 2010 at 4:57 pm
The six trainers that refused to bring their horses the “security” barn were eached fined $500.oo by the State-how ironic. Could we get NYRA or NYTHA to pony up the $3k for these horsemen. That would be a fitting jesture and the right thing to do! Geez I wonder what the State will do with that $3k….lunch anyone!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I agree with #2, sara. NY is broke and has a lot of problems now. NYRA is not a priority for politicians in Albany, or they would have put a racino at Aqueduct years ago. It is very possible that they will close Belmont when saratoga ends its meet
March 21st, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Trainers have never held together on any subject. Now one that doesn’t make sense, they all come together. Hey dummies, wake up. What if the state wakes up and says, don’t run, We don’t need you. We will take what we were going to “GIVE” you and give it all to education. They are crying at the wrong time.
March 21st, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Man this is a tough crowd. Don’t you folks have any sympathy for the people whose livelihoods are at risk here? There are more people who provide for their families because they work in the horse racing business than there are gamblers who bet on horses for a living. Politicians in my state and most others don’t understand the business of racing and breeding but those boys up in Albany are a bunch of dishonest and disingenous b.s. artists.
As a horseplayer I want the best horses and best jockeys and biggest fields and hope a million a day in purses at Monmouth brings that this year. i’m afraid NYRA racing is going to look like what Jersey was last year
March 21st, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I was at today’s rally at Belmont, and thought made a lot of sense. It’s not about “welfare queens” looking for a handout; it’s about the incompetents in Albany fulfilling their (contractual) promises, and about the preservation of 35,000 New York jobs, from the race track to the upstate breeding farms to the track communities, that are directly provided by the thoroughbred industry. Not to mention that the continuing delay in Albany is costing the state itself — which will get the lion’s share of the slots money — something like $1 million a day. That might keep a lot of teachers, cops, firemen and EMTs on the job.
Thanks to all the Nassau County politicos who showed up at Belmont today. They recognize that the issue is jobs, not “welfare.”
March 21st, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Doomsday is upon us in the deepest, darkest part of the NY racing season; Umm, let me guess, nobody including the NY Legislature gives a R**s A** about racing right now, Contessa shoulda saved his belligerence for after the Preakness. Maybe a couple more people would give a damn.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Doesn’t that sinkhole Yonkers Raceway have some money to lend ? O that’s right they have no product , just the same 1 mile race 12 times a night & delaying their post time by 10 minutes to keep everyone pulling the slots . They use ch. 71 as a crutch to be the only in state night time track to get their handle. A triple sided billboard in TIMES SQUARE !! Bunch of thieves & crooks, you dont see them helping NY racing with all their probable billions.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:50 pm
There’s so much greed, corruption and incompetents in this country I’m ashamed to be an American with the exception of our military and intelligence agencies. They are the only government employees that I can think of that are competent and well worth what we pay them. Let’s get real here, not only is racing in trouble in New York, it’s in trouble all over the country. Our nation is on the brink of bankruptcy and those corrupt Washington scum bags are hell bent on destroying any economic stability that’s left as I speak. We could very well be headed for a deep recession for years to come. That will drive another nail in coffin of racing for sure.
March 21st, 2010 at 9:16 pm
26% takeout rates = A “we need welfare to survive” rally
March 21st, 2010 at 9:30 pm
#9 Steve Zorn has it right. Also, no VLTs at Aqueduct is not the only problem for NY thoroughbred racing and breeding and farms. The planned closure of NYCOTB is another hole sinking this industry. State legislators need to fix the obsolete, archaic laws that govern OTBs so they can compete with ADWs. NYC needs quick bet kiosks in sports bars that young sports fans patronize. Without younger fans, thoroughbred racing will not survive or thrive. Quick bet kiosks already exist in OTBs in Nassau, Suffolk and the Capital District. These OTBs are not bankrupt like NYCOTB.
March 21st, 2010 at 9:36 pm
It’s amazing New York racing has lasted as long as it has when you think about the stinking OTB system, the arrogance that the New York Racing Assn showed for so long [it's not nearly as bad as it used to be], and the corrupt state and local pols..
Contessa is right. New York racing should be number one. Good for the horsemen to make their point and I hope they continue to do so.
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:01 am
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.slots21mar21,0,2534420.story
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:27 am
I was at the rally as well. Probably the most articulate demonstration the NY industry has ever had. WE are fighting for our livelihoods and keep NY, NY. I thought the Ex Dir of the Breeders (Cannizzo) was a fantastic speaker who should run for office himself, then maybe we could get something done in Albany…
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:24 am
While I agree the harness product needs to be improved, let me set the record straight on why there have been post time delays at Yonkers; it has nothing to do with getting people to keep playing the slots. It has everything to do with OTBs not supporting the New York racing product. OTBs have been trying to ignore harness racing for years, preferring to take in out of state signals and showing them on their television station instead of a home grown product. Post times at Yonkers have been getting shifted so they can get some visibility on the OTB network. By doing this, Yonkers gets roughly $200,000 more in handle nightly as people like to watch the race they are betting on. It would be one thing if a private industry was ignoring NY harness racing, but this is from a state agency which is supposed to be helping New York racing.
That being said, the runners and trotters have one thing in common. Rather than working to improve their product, they are more concerned with getting their hands on VLT revenue. Perhaps if the tracks lowered their takeout and sped up their races they would not be in the situation where they need a governement handout.
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 am
TSR says:
21 Mar 2010 at 05:03 pm | #
It was great to see the horsemen stick together for a rally that was long coming. How the stewards in good conscience could fine anyone that was to busy to run a horse and attend a rally that helps keep there jobs is unthinkable. Someday they will realize that were all in this together. Sometimes I think that a $500.00 fine to them is easy for trainers to come up with. When they have made poor decisons like posting wrong orders of races are they fined or when there late to work are they fined. Do they ever have a problem collecting there check on Fridays when many trainers have a tough time making payroll. Come on guys get on the right side and do the right thing what’s the worst that can happen you can go to work for a trainer that struggles to pay your check every week. But just maybe those trainers you fined today might help get the slots so you can keep your job…thanks for the support!!
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
What a missed opportunity for NY State — They should have backed up a giant van at Belmont, funneled all the crooked trainers and owners gathered at Bemont into it, and carted them off to jail, creating more jobs in the prisons to look after these rampant miscreants and cheats. Whenever the politicians decide to get a VLT vendor (which will happen when they decide how to split the upfront money among themselves), the horses’ assmen will be supporting the introduction of games that cheat people more than they do.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Um , no #18. Several calls & inquiries into the Yonkers delays is to keep sucking people in to stay to pull slots. That has already been confirmed by many Yonkers officials, there is no harness product, & if there was a sliver left it should be switched to ch. 73 or its own other channel with the rest of the harness, instead of denying fans more thoroughbred action at night from other tracks , regardless of the talent its better than Yonkers. They only have clout because they have all that slot revenue! OTB television network has done an excellent job with restoring their channel with informative programming & great thoro racing from around the world , as well as their handicapping shows , features, press conference interviews for big races etc.. at least thats one good thing about NYCOTB, the rest is pathetic, there saying they are now closing April 11th.. GOOD !!! Merge them with NYRA , get 1 tote platform, slash every c–t from upper management, let the TV studio prosper, move to Aqueduct to save on rent ,close unproductive branches, get some kiosks, get a slot operator , preferably SL Green, & have an entertainment center across from Kennedy airport!
March 22nd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
The 1st race at Aqueduct boycott, and the Belmont gathering were good ideas. But our state government also has local offices and activities. Don’t wait for just a few planned demonstrations organized by the professional horsemen. Find your state rep’s local offices, and appearances. Visit their offices, voice your concerns, write letters. Check out your own Senator or Assembly Member at http://www.nysenate.gov/ and http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/. And the Racing & Wagering Committee at
http://www.nysenate.gov/committee/racing-gaming-and-wagering.
I’m a bit tired of everyone characterizing the issues as being only addressable to those “in Albany”. “They” are in your backyards.
March 23rd, 2010 at 1:18 pm
This reminds me of many moons ago (a little Native American lingo) when I resided in Charlotte, NC. A group of welfare queens were picketing and protesting the public housing community because the government hadn’t picked up the trash in the ‘hood. (a little urban lingo) Instead of picketing, you would think that the welfare queens would just clean up their own trash themselves. But, noooooooooo! They wanted handouts and someone else to pick up after them.
The racing industry is in a similar situation. They ruined the racing experience through oppressive taxation, aggressive pricing, and hostile treatment of their customers. So, instead of cleaning up their own mess, they are begging for handouts.
Why are horse owners entitled to slot machine owner’s income? If it were reversed, if racing was prospering and slot machines were not, would horse owners agree to subsidize slot machine owners?