February 2008 Archives
On Saturday February 2nd, Aqueduct held the 29th running of The Whirlaway, a $100,000 added stakes. It was a major step-up for most of the runners entered.
Barrier Reef outduels Roman Emperor in the Whirlaway at Aqueduct
It was a good race for the winner, Barrier Reef, a Darley runner who seems to be figuring it out. He dueled down the stretch with a determined Roman Empire, whom the added distance seemed to help. My personal favorite, the New York-bred Spanky Fischbein, who, unfortunately seems to have taken a step backwards, and it will probably be doubtful to see him in the Gr. III Gotham Stakes, on March 8th.
Actually, it remains to be seen if these or any other horses for that matter will get a chance to run in the Gotham, or any other races after February 13th, the day the New York Racing Association’s temporary extension expires. NYRA employees were given a letter yesterday basically saying ... “we’re trying to do everything possible to work this all out with the state politicians, but we expect them to drop the ball again, so come February 14th racing will shut down, and you’ll be unemployed. Happy Valentine’s Day.” NYRA also told horsemen that all 2,300 horses stabled at the two tracks and 1000 people living in dormitories would be required to vacate the grounds by February 27th. Well isn’t that just special.
State Senator Joe “Larry” Bruno (remember I previously dubbed him Larry in the Three Stooges analogy) remains a bit more optimistic. He feels because they didn’t shut down after December 31,2007, nor after the first extension expired, they won’t do it know, they are just bluffing. “In fact, I believe that an agreement on a racing framework will be announced very shortly.” Bruno has been making statements like this before, since November he’s been saying something would be announced shortly.
But NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward says they are no closer to a deal than on December 31, 2006, and will not take another short term extension, saying racing in New York will shut down without a long-term deal in place. The deal supposedly in place is a plan calling for the following:
* A 25-year extension with reviews every four years;
* A “reconstituted” board with 11 NYRA members and 10 political appointed members;
* Albany to bail NYRA out of bankruptcy;
* The Oversight Board would remain to decide the operator of the Video Lottery Terminals and other racing issues.
There are a few more issues, which apparently need to be fine-tuned, but it was very clear that NYRA has blamed Bruno, majority leader of the Republican controlled senate. Joe Bruno has blamed the Governor and Assembly leader Sheldon Silver, both Democrats, that they are being “fiscally irresponsible,” and that the “old racing model does not work, that significant changes are necessary to make racing even better.” Now you can believe that is Bruno’s sole reason. But those who know New York politics know that Bruno is waiting for his piece of the pie, he’ll give his ok when Joe Bruno has taken care of Joe Bruno.
But neither Joe Bruno (Larry), Spitzer (Moe), Silver (Curly), nor NYRA are anxious to getting the blame for shutting down racing in New York. A commenter, NJ , had posted he basically thought it was doubtful that New York would allow racing to come to a stand still. I say it’s very easy - remember a few years back in New Jersey, their state politicians couldn’t get the state budget in on time, and non-essential services were shut down. Non-essential included racing, which lost 3 or 4 days. Now I know it is a different situation, but believe me racing can shut down, very easily. And of course some of the consequences were previously discussed.
Trainer Richard Violette, who is also the President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen Association, said ”We prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We still have some faith that intelligent reasonable men will come to an agreement by the 13th.”
At least someone still has faith in the Stooges up in Albany …
