And they're off!
Six bidders sprang out of the gate yesterday in the race to run 4,500 slots at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens.
Representatives from the gaming industry appeared at a bidders' conference sponsored by the state Lottery Division at the Queens track.
In the running are: SL Green-Hard Rock International; Empire City Gaming-Yonkers Raceway; Delaware North-Saratoga Raceway; Penn National Gaming; Asian-powerhouse Genting; and Canadian-based Clairvest.
Clairvest was part of the controversial AEG consortium whose winning bid was disqualified in the last go-around following accusations of favoritism and licensing problems.
Bidders faced new upfront costs to help bail out the state's ailing horse-racing industry.
The winning bidder would have to assume payment of a $25 million loan to the cash-starved New York Racing Association and pay it an additional $2 million per month before the racino opens.
Photo: Reuters
