A half-century ago the racetracks in New York joined forces, realizing that instead of killing each other it would be to their mutual benefit to work together.
That's the quick story behind the creation in 1955 of what's known as the New York Racing Association.
The moral of the story is as valid as ever: the individual tracks are a more powerful and competitive entity in the racing world when linked together. It's especially true with the impending introduction of video lottery terminals downstate.
NYRA runs Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct under a contract that expires at the end of this year. It is one of four contenders for the new contract.
Throughout the state's ongoing process of reviewing the contenders, the three thoroughbred tracks have been considered the way they should be, as a package deal.
Until the other day. The specter of splitting the operation of Saratoga Race Course from the downstate tracks arose last week under disturbing circumstances - an unattributed trial balloon that the governor would neither comment on nor discount.
But we've got plenty to say, none of it positive, about the proposition.
Joe Dalton, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, explains well why the proposition must be vigorously opposed: "If an idea is floated and goes unchallenged, that idea gets legs. We don't want this to get legs."
Here's why: It is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine, how Saratoga would benefit from being separated from downstate, particularly if the downstate tracks would be bringing in money from VLTs in addition to racing.
Dalton and others who formed a group called Concerned Citizens for Saratoga Racing have been emphatic from the start that the tracks should not be split, because doing so would force them to compete against one another.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Valerie Keehn, who was on the committee that last year reviewed the candidates for new track operators, is equally adamant.
"Everybody knows that Saratoga is a successful racetrack. We've been carrying the other two tracks," Keehn told The Saratogian. "All three tracks should be sharing the same pot of money."
The latest scuttlebutt is the claim by Empire Racing, one of the competing entities, that two of the others, NYRA and Excelsior Racing Associates, have discussed divvying up the franchise - a serious accusation that's been strenuously denied.
The plot also thickened as the nine-year head of the Saratoga County Convention and Tourism Bureau accepted a senior position with NYRA, which makes one wonder what he and NYRA know that the rest of have yet to find out.
And with the state and the contenders salivating over the VLTs, one also wonders how long before horse racing is shunted aside - a catastrophe for the area economy.
If someone can show how a split could be good for Saratoga, let's hear it. If not, the state legislators and governor ought to pop this trial balloon, now.
©The Saratogian 2007
That's the quick story behind the creation in 1955 of what's known as the New York Racing Association.
The moral of the story is as valid as ever: the individual tracks are a more powerful and competitive entity in the racing world when linked together. It's especially true with the impending introduction of video lottery terminals downstate.
NYRA runs Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct under a contract that expires at the end of this year. It is one of four contenders for the new contract.
Throughout the state's ongoing process of reviewing the contenders, the three thoroughbred tracks have been considered the way they should be, as a package deal.
Until the other day. The specter of splitting the operation of Saratoga Race Course from the downstate tracks arose last week under disturbing circumstances - an unattributed trial balloon that the governor would neither comment on nor discount.
But we've got plenty to say, none of it positive, about the proposition.
Joe Dalton, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, explains well why the proposition must be vigorously opposed: "If an idea is floated and goes unchallenged, that idea gets legs. We don't want this to get legs."
Here's why: It is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine, how Saratoga would benefit from being separated from downstate, particularly if the downstate tracks would be bringing in money from VLTs in addition to racing.
Dalton and others who formed a group called Concerned Citizens for Saratoga Racing have been emphatic from the start that the tracks should not be split, because doing so would force them to compete against one another.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Valerie Keehn, who was on the committee that last year reviewed the candidates for new track operators, is equally adamant.
"Everybody knows that Saratoga is a successful racetrack. We've been carrying the other two tracks," Keehn told The Saratogian. "All three tracks should be sharing the same pot of money."
The latest scuttlebutt is the claim by Empire Racing, one of the competing entities, that two of the others, NYRA and Excelsior Racing Associates, have discussed divvying up the franchise - a serious accusation that's been strenuously denied.
The plot also thickened as the nine-year head of the Saratoga County Convention and Tourism Bureau accepted a senior position with NYRA, which makes one wonder what he and NYRA know that the rest of have yet to find out.
And with the state and the contenders salivating over the VLTs, one also wonders how long before horse racing is shunted aside - a catastrophe for the area economy.
If someone can show how a split could be good for Saratoga, let's hear it. If not, the state legislators and governor ought to pop this trial balloon, now.
