Spitzer Sets Deadline

The current franchise that operates the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga thoroughbred tracks is set to expire December 31st. There are several groups vying to take over the franchise, as unless something changes the New York Racing Association will no longer be handling it. They are among the groups trying to get the position.

On Friday, Governor Eliot Spitzer said that the four groups that are trying to get the franchise may join forces, and that he will be picking on of them to operate the tracks and the slot machines by September 4th. Their updated proposals, as to who is joining forces with who, will be due by August 7th.

The NYRA has held the franchise since 1955, and they are now looking to possibly join forces with one of the other groups trying to get the franchise away from them. The other three groups are Excelsior Racing Associates, Capital Play, and Empire Racing. It may make sense for them to team up so that more than one gets the deal.

There has also been talk of Spitzer choosing one to run the track, and another one to run the slot machines. There are currently slot machines at Aqueduct, and the Belmont is considering adding slot machines as well.

The new deadline does not allow for new proposals from outside groups, just from the four who have been competing for the past year. The deadline comes from a delay in the installing of the slot machines at Aqueduct, and that is why they need new proposals from the groups.



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