Saturday, July 21, 2007

Forbes: Spitzer Said to Seek More Racetrack Bids

Read original @ Forbes.com:

"NEW YORK - The pool of entrants in a hotly contested bid to operate three upstate New York race tracks may get bigger, according to a report on Wednesday.

Governor Eliot Spitzer is looking for new proposals for the franchise that runs the Saratoga, Aqueduct and Belmont racetracks, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

Spitzer has previously suggested the franchise could be split, with one group running racing and another running video slot machines at Aqueduct and Belmont.

A call to Spitzer's office seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The New York Racing Association currently operates the franchise, but its contract expires on Dec. 31.

NYRA is looking to keep the tracks, but has faced competition from Empire Racing, Excelsior Racing Associates and Capital Play.

Empire Racing's members include Churchill Downs Inc. (nasdaq: CHDN - news - people ), Magna Entertainment Corp. (nasdaq: MECA - news - people ), Delaware North Cos., Woodbine Entertainment Group and Scientific Games Corp. (nasdaq: SGMS - news - people )

Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts Ltd. (nasdaq: WYNN - news - people ), is part of Excelsior's team. Others in the group include Steven Roth of Vornado Realty Trust (nyse: VNO - news - people ) and Richard D. Bronson of The Bronson Cos."