NYRA placed under "temporary public control"

Horse 1.JPGAndrew Cuomo and the legislative leaders announced today that they've agreed to create a "NYRA Reorganization Board" that will place horse racing org under direct state control. From the press release:

The NYRA Reorganization Board will be comprised of a majority of publicly appointed directors, with a Chair nominated by the Governor. The Board will be in effect for 3 years to restructure and reorganize NYRA, following which NYRA will revert back to majority private control. The current NYRA Board will be dissolved. The NYRA Reorganization Board will go into effect when a majority of the new public directors are appointed. Once appointed, the new board will conduct a national search for a new CEO and General Counsel for NYRA.

The short story behind all this: NYRA has been a train wreck.

The racing org was indicted by the feds on fraud and conspiracy charges in 2003, but worked out a deal to escape trial. It filed for bankruptcy in 2006 -- it emerged in 2008 thanks to the state waiving $200 million in debt and giving the org about $100 million for the deeds to race tracks at Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct. It had to be propped up with a $25 million loan from the state in 2010. More recently, it was predicting that it was finally afloat for good (first profit in 11 years -- for an org that makes money from gambling) thanks to an infusion of cash from the Aqueduct racino deal -- but there were concerns NYRA would figure out a way to screw it up again. [BloodHorse] [BloodHorse] [Biz Review] [ESPN] [YNN] [NY Post] [Biz Review]

And then there's the takeout issue. Late last year it came out that that NYRA had been improperly withholding winnings from bettors. NYRA said it had done so as an "unintentional oversight." An investigation by the state's Racing and Wagering Board concluded it was actually the opposite. [TU] [NYT]

It was right about then that Andrew Cuomo apparently was honing his "You have failed me for the last time" speech. [TU]

So, what? Mismanagement, public benefit corporation, the state, blah blah blah -- what's all this matter to most of us? Well, NYRA pretty much is horse racing in New York. It operates the Saratoga Race Course, which is not only a good time for a lot of people in this area, it's also an important economic engine in this region. And it's been seriously broken.

While we're talking about horse racing: The NYT has an ongoing series about "death and disarray" at race tracks around the nation. It's sobering.

Comments

Applying more state workers to it won't fix it. It needs to be totally privatized and run like a business.

@Ron - How could a private race track or casino operator possibly work? Can you give me a single example of a private sector success in that market?

What is that you say? There are hundreds of example of profitable non-state race tracks and casinos? Well I'll be a monkey's uncle!

Hi there. Comments have been closed for this item. Still have something to say? Contact us.

The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine