NYRA Hearing

Representatives from the Governor’s Office sounded a conciliatory tone at the first hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, but at least one Republican on the committee acknowledged that it may be too late to do anything other than give the New York Racing Association the franchise for the next 30 years.

Senator Elizabeth Little (R - Queensbury) told CBS 6 News that in order to maintain the financial health and stability at the tracks and to avoid a possible disruption in racing, the only option at this point may be to pass some form of the Governor’s recommendation, rather than find a new group to run New York’s three thoroughbred race tracks.

“It seems as though that’s where the Governor is,” Little said shortly after the hearing. “He wants NYRA to have this, so if we’re looking at it, I’m wondering if we can do anything else other than make the NYRA contract the best we can make it for the communities and for racing.”

Little also says Senate leadership will not try to “run out the clock” on NYRA’s franchise, and will negotiate in good faith to try and reach an agreement prior to the January 1st deadline.

“It’s critical,” Little said, “and Senator Bruno knows how important Saratoga is as well, and the whole racing industry for New York State. If you start putting some bumps in the road, then people start looking else where, rather than New York State, and we don’t want that to happen.”

Patrick Foye, acting co-chairman of the Empire State Development and speaking on behalf of the Governor’s Office during the hearing, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached between Spitzer and NYRA was only a preliminary draft of what will be the final proposal that will also include input from the Senate and Assembly.

“I think that chairman (Senator Bill) Larkin’s words about us all being presented with an opportunity to tighten the MOU is exactly right,” Foye told CBS 6 News. “That’s a dialogue that we frankly look forward to with the Assembly and the Senate and it’s a dialogue that needs to happen.”