Fix is in for New York to cut purses

Posted by noonante on August 22, 2012
Posted in: Horse Racing, Political/Social commentary, Politics. Tagged: , , , . 3 Comments

As a firm believer that past performances are indicative of future behavior, it looks like the fix is in to take VLT payments that have been going to horse racing to use them for whatever Governor Andrew Cuomo thinks is a more deserving option.  As we learned from the state takeover of New York’s horse racing, when Cuomo speaks, his minions listen.

When Video Lottery Terminals were first authorized by a law passed in 2001, that law directed that a portion of net revenues go to education programs in New York, and that a smaller percentage go to the tracks hosting the VLT’s, or “racinos.”  While the Saratoga Harness Track was up-and-running by January, 2004, it took almost an additional eight years for Aqueduct to go live.  In less than a year after its October opening, however, Aqueduct has been remarkably successful, drawing a million customers who wagered over a billion dollars in July alone.  The VLT revenue has long been viewed as a necessary supplement to the New York Racing Association in its struggle to attain financial solvency.  Because of this revenue stream, NYRA is projecting a surplus in 2012.

Enter Governor Cuomo, whose first demonstrable interest in horse racing was his realization that he should run it.  After cowing an impotent NYRA Board of Trustees and a somnolent Legislature, he achieved his goal with a law passed in June, less than six weeks after first floating the idea he should be in charge.  Now the revenues produced by the Aqueduct casino that have been going to NYRA are in his sights.  In a press conference on June 4 to address questions resulting from the collapse of negotiations to award a multi-billion, no-bid contract to the operator of the Aqueduct racino, Cuomo raised the possibility of eliminating the payments by the racino to NYRA.  Among his remarks, he called payments by VLT operators to tracks a “scandal,” without either explaining why or recognizing that such payments were required by law.  As the great philosopher once said, “It’s deja vu all over again.”

In early July, the Franchise Oversight Board, chaired by Cuomo’s Budget Director, and on which his Lottery Director also serves, decided that “NYRA must establish a long-term financial goal to end its reliance on VLT subsidies and immediately develop plans on how it will meet this goal.”  Later in the month, the State Comptroller issued a report questioning whether the VLT revenues going to racetracks “are having their intended effect.”  The Lottery Director, who is responsible for administering the VLT payments, “shared” the Comptroller’s concerns and then added his own anecdotal perspective supporting the Comptroller’s conclusions about the “effectiveness of the horse racing subsidies.”

The conclusions of the reports by both the Franchise Oversight Board and the Comptroller are based on premises that are supported by neither the law nor the purposes of the VLT revenues.  The Board acknowledges that one purpose of VLT revenues, as stated in the law, is “ensuring the continuation of high quality thoroughbred racing.”  Their report then posits that if NYRA does not better control its expenditures, even the VLT revenues will not keep it solvent.  They then jump from that patently obvious statement to the conclusion that “NYRA must establish a long-term financial goal to end its reliance on VLT subsidies.”  What???  Keep in mind that when the Governor gets around to signing a bill that has been on his desk for two months  –  and that he wrote  –  these same state officials will be controlling NYRA and its expenditures.  So why is cutting off a necessary revenue stream from the VLT’s even being contemplated?

Lest you think I am being unduly paranoid, let’s move onto the report produced by the State Comptroller.  While the Comptroller is an elected official not subject to the Governor’s control, do not lose sight of the fact that the Governor’s Budget Director enthusiastically supported the Comptroller’s conclusions, specifically referencing the “ineffectiveness” of VLT revenues.  The Comptroller acknowledges that “the VLT revenues are to provide much needed financial assistance to the racetracks.”  He goes on, however, and makes the following statement:

“Pursuant to the Tax law, the commissions paid by VLT facilities to enhance racetrack purses are expected to result in an eventual increase in the number of horses entered in each race, an increase in the quality of the horses racing, and ultimately in increased wagering and more financially-stable racetracks.”  (Emphasis is mine.)

While I think that enhanced purses may well lead to the outcomes identified in this quote, the Comptroller is saying those are the results expected “pursuant to the Tax law.”  The report did not identify which portion of the Tax Law called for those outcomes, and I did not read the entire Tax Law to find them, but I did read Section 1612 which is devoted to distribution of lottery and VLT revenues.  That section describes the purpose of the VLT payments to NYRA as being for “enhancing purses.”  Period.  Also, the payments are made “as consideration for the operation of the video lottery gaming facility at Aqueduct racetrack.”  In other words, the State of New York is agreeing to a contractual arrangement with the NYRA tracks that it can have money for enhanced purses because it agreed to have one of its tracks host a VLT facility.  By law, NYRA is entitled to the VLT revenues with no strings attached.

That, however, is not the way the Cuomo Administration likes to operate.  As with the takeover of NYRA, the Governor puts forth a faulty premise and then crafts a solution that does nothing to address the purported problem inherent in the premise.  He succeeds, however, in getting others to play the game on his terms.  The media dutifully reports the headline conclusions of the government reports without assessing whether the conclusions are based on facts or even simple logic.  We even have leading  New York horsemen now arguing that attendance and handle are up, instead of making the case that NYRA has a legal right to this money by statute.

Worse of all, however, is that there is no discussion of what cutting revenue to NYRA will mean for the thoroughbred industry in New York.  We can hope that the Cuomo takeover of racing will result in improvements for the sport, but the next person I talk with who thinks that is likely will be the first one.

Rape comment not unique in today’s GOP

Posted by noonante on August 20, 2012
Posted in: Political/Social commentary, Politics. Tagged: , , , . 1 Comment

Missouri Senate candidate Congressman Todd Akin’s idiotic comment on “legitimate rape” does not actually stand out in today’s Republican Party.  In case you missed it, the Tea Party favorite said that a woman’s body would reject a pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape,” whatever that is.  While the Romney-Ryan campaign issued a statement that neither candidate opposes abortion in cases of rape, similarly asinine remarks by other GOP figures are hardly unique.

As Irin Carmon points out in today’s Salon.com, we have the Republican Governor of Pennsylvania suggesting that a woman deal with the affront of a government-required ultrasound by closing her eyes, an Idaho legislator saying women would use rape as an excuse for an abortion, and Rush Limbaugh’s calling a woman a slut for expressing her views.  Then there was the Rick Santorum fundraiser who said that an aspirin between a woman’s knees was the only necessary birth control.

As for the statement from the Romney-Ryan campaign that neither man opposes abortion in the case of rape, that would be at least the third reversal of position by Congressman Ryan since becoming the running mate.  He has backed away from the $716 billion cut to Medicare that is in the Ryan Budget passed by the Republican-controlled House, his opposition to sanctions against China for currency manipulation, and now his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape.  And we thought it was Romney whose views would be altered by placing the conservative darling on the ticket.

Has Paul Ryan boarded the Romney truth train?

Posted by noonante on August 13, 2012
Posted in: Political/Social commentary, Politics. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

There are many interesting aspects of the Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan interview with Bob Schieffer on Sunday’s 60 Minutes, a clip of which is copied here from Salon.com.  There is Ryan’s comment that he and his wife have “dedicated much of our lives to saving this country,” a comment that would suggest that the young man  –  described by Romney as not being ambitious  –  may have more than the Governor thinks.  Romney further described him as a Congressman who “has been able to make things happen” because of his ability to work with Democrats, an attribute last heard when George W. Bush first campaigned for President.  Without any sense of irony, Ryan, who chairs the Budget Committee for the House of Representatives (controlled by the GOP), proceeded to criticize the Senate (controlled by the Democrats) for not passing a budget in three years.

Schieffer asked if Ryan was still running to retain his Congressional seat because he was hedging his bets.  Ryan’s response, which we know numerous folks are checking on, is that he “cannot get off the ballot.”  The CBS correspondent later asked how many years of tax returns he had turned over to the Romney campaign.  This is a question that is so obvious given Romney’s refusal to turn over more than two years’ worth (he has yet to turn over fully even one year), that Ryan had to be ready.  He evaded the question, saying he would release publicly the same two years that Romney may someday release.  Bob “Mad Dog” Schieffer let Ryan slide on that one and moved on to the all-important question  –  repeated ad nauseam in multiple media sources  –  about Romney’s mistakenly introducing him as the next President of the United States.  Yes, the campaign that is suddenly going to be about substance cannot get away from a meaningless verbal slip.  Thanks Bob.

Half-time at the Spa

Posted by noonante on August 13, 2012
Posted in: Horse Racing, Political/Social commentary. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

With the Saratoga meeting just having passed the half-way point, here are one fan’s observations:

  • The high point for me was Allen Jerkens winning yet another Grade I in an upset.  While Emma’s Encore may not have slain any giants in a thrilling nose win in The Prioress, the three-year old filly had been so lightly regarded to this point that she went to the post at 39-1 in her prior start, a Grade III event.  Kudos also go to The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association for running a daily series of quotations from The Chief in The Saratoga Special.  Many fans know that Jerkens upset Secretariat in the 1973 Whitney with Onion, but less remarked upon is the fact that the Giant Killer beat Secretariat twice in the same year with different horses.
  • Another high point was the two-hour Jockey Club Roundtable, presenting intelligent and informed presentations concerning the future of racing.  With one of the premier racing franchises in the world about to be taken over by New York’s state government without anything even remotely approaching a discussion, let alone one that is intelligent and informed, it was good to hear that there are people who have thought about some of the sport’s biggest challenges, including the role of drugs and the development of a fan base.  This warrants a fuller discussion, but if you would like to observe it, it is replayed at The Jockey Club’s web site.
  • One of the ideas presented at the Roundtable was the importance of offering a quality product to racing fans and prospective fans.  Paul Moran, writing in ESPN.com (courtesy of equidaily.com) recently observed that one of the appeals of Saratoga is the “gentle energy in the morning that gains momentum in early afternoon.”  There is nothing better than what I call the “full Saratoga”  –  watching the morning backstretch activity, grabbing breakfast at the snack bar on the main track, then easing into a day of handicapping and racing.  But, as Moran observed, an 11-race card with over 5 hours of waiting causes many people, including those who arrived just in time for the first post, to leave early.  On Sunday, I arrived after 4:00, in sufficient time to watch the last five races, and was met by hundreds already leaving.  By the time my wife and I worked our way back to the grandstand from the Shake Shack to watch the first of the day’s features, the crowd leaving had become a stream.  When Sam summoned horses to the track for the first of the two-year old stakes, the clubhouse was almost empty.  With post times of 6:14 and 6:46, it is little wonder that families and those who had to go to work the next morning opted to leave.  I understand the post times may be caused by the NBC television schedule, and NYRA is to be commended for seeking to expand broadcast coverage.  But a television picture of horses racing against the backdrop of an empty grandstand is not going to convince many that Saratoga is the “August Place To Be.”
  • Speaking of quality products, I conducted a rough survey of the cards for the first 20 days.  Of the 203 races run on the “flats,” 52 percent were either claiming races or maidens, and I did not include open two-year old Maiden Special Weights or optional claiming races.  After observing that Saturday’s card included six $20,000 claiming races, I looked at the cards for the third full week (Wednesday through Monday) and saw that 61 percent of the flat races were claiming or maiden (with the same exceptions as noted).  Now, I think any good card has a mix of claiming, state-bred and turf, but it is hard to argue that six $20K claimers on a Saturday at Saratoga represents quality.  Nonetheless, most field sizes are large and racing has been competitive.
  • Speaking of attracting new fans, why does NYRA allow the rail at the Paddock to be taken over by people who push their picnic tables and blankets up to the rail?  Another of the Spa’s appeal has always been to get up close with thoroughbreds, including some of the nation’s finest.  Now, thousands each day are being deprived of that pleasure because of the rudeness of a few.
  • Another meet highlight is the sales week that just ended.  The high-end Select Sale that began the week is a fun event attended by many neighborhood residents rubbing elbows with stars of the industry, as well as stars of, shall we say, a seemingly different industry.  I do not know what to make of the sales results and what it means for the health of the sport.  The Select Sale had declines in both the average price ($319K to $299K) and median price ($250K to $225K) from 2011.  The percent of horses not sold for failing to meet a reserve climbed from 22 percent in 2011 to 34 percent this year.  The New York-bred sale experienced increases from 2011 in both the average price ($54K to $63K) and median ($35K to $50K).  The RNA’s, however, also increased, although not as dramatically as for the Select Sale, from 32 percent to 38 percent.

All in all, it’s kind of a mixed bag for the first half of the meet.  It is regrettable that the most significant news that comes out as we get to Labor Day is the naming of the State of New York’s government-controlled Board of Directors.  I would like to think that Governor Andrew Cuomo is paying close attention to what is going on since he has demonstrated no prior interest in the sport, but I doubt it.

Can Mitt Romney tell the truth about anything? – #4

Posted by noonante on August 13, 2012
Posted in: Political/Social commentary, Politics, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

In an interview with Bob Schieffer, broadcast on 60 Minutes last night, Mitt Romney, accompanied by his running mate Paul Ryan said the following:  “There’s only one President that I know of in history that robbed Medicare, $716 billion to pay for a risky new program of his own that we call Obamacare.”

Where do we begin with this one?  For starters, the Medicare cuts to which Romney refers is part of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare if you prefer, that was enacted as a law by both houses of Congress.  The “program of his own,” of course was not something imposed by executive fiat, but was passed by both houses of Congress.  The “robbing” of Medicare that candidate Romney appears to oppose so vehemently are also included in a budget that was passed this year by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.  That budget is often referred to as the “Ryan Budget,” has been supported by candidate Romney and written by the same Paul Ryan sitting immediately to his right during the Schieffer interview.

One of the more remarkable things about Romney’s obvious willingness to say anything, regardless of its veracity, is the seeming lack of awareness that his words can come back to haunt him.  Don’t you think these words are now being spliced into a commercial along with clips of his supporting Ryan’s Budget?

Ryan pick is defining moment of 2012 election

Posted by noonante on August 11, 2012
Posted in: Political/Social commentary, Politics. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Whether or not you like Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan to be his running mate  –  and both conservatives and Democrats seem delighted by the pick  –  it figures to be the defining event of this year’s campaign for President.  If Romney wins, Ryan will not only get much of the credit from objective observers, but add to his deification by the right wing.  Should Romney lose against an incumbent saddled with a poor economy, Ryan’s conservative ideology will be a major factor.  This all changes, of course, if there is a major disaster in the economy or in international events.

There has been some comparison of this pick with the John McCain “Hail Mary pass” in selecting Sarah Palin.  While I agree that Romney would not have picked Ryan if his substance-free campaign of running as “I’m not Obama” showed signs of being successful, Ryan undoubtedly reads newspapers and is not afraid to mix it up with those who disagree with him.  He will likely agree to regular interviews with members of the media not employed by Fox “News,” unlike either Palin or Romney.

I am having a difficult time in seeing this as a good pick, however.  This is the Ryan of the Ryan Budget that would gut the Medicare program in order to reduce the deficit, but then give the savings as tax breaks to the rich.  While Romney has already said his budget as President would be the Romney budget, not the Ryan budget, he has offered almost no details on what he would propose, offering the rather dubious  –  even if accurate  –  rationale that his proposals would be criticized.  Ryan actually has a written document that was passed by the Republican House of Representatives that will be a bottomless well of opportunity for criticism by the Obama campaign.  Additionally, he lacks any sort of foreign policy or national security credentials that would counterbalance the lack of same by the head of the ticket.  Romney, you may have noticed, did not exactly burnish his diplomatic credentials by his recent trip to England, Israel and Poland.

A word that will be heard often over the next few days will be “unthreatening.”  As in, the victims of his budget slashing will be lulled into complacency by Ryan’s unthreatening appearance.  Yes, he is an attractive guy with a nice smile who also has an actual personality and charisma, but will that be sufficient to convince people they should give up Medicare, particularly when this same duo pledges to repeal the Obama health reform law?  Ryan’s personal appeal will also be put to the test since the standard role for the VP nominee is to play the bad cop to the Presidential nominee’s good cop.  It may be hard to believe that this campaign can get any nastier, but if Ryan steps into that standard role, his charm may not be sufficient to save his good guy image.

So Romney has taken a decisive step to lock up the conservative vote in November  –  a constituency that wasn’t going with Obama in any event.  Had he selected the anticipated “boring white guy”  –  or, should we say “another boring white guy”  –  he may have had the ability to move closer to the center.  The Ryan selection makes that all but impossible now.  We will instead have a real choice between the visions of the respective party’s for the future of our country.

Can Mitt Romney tell the truth about anything? – #3

Posted by noonante on August 10, 2012
Posted in: Political/Social commentary, Politics. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

President Obama’s super PAC has been running an ad in which a worker laid off when Bain Capital closed his factory connects his resulting loss of health care with the inability of his wife to obtain treatment for the cancer that killed her.  The ad has been criticized by independent fact-checkers for being, at best, misleading.  This is how Romney responded yesterday, according to Politico.com:

“You know, in the past, when people pointed out that something was inaccurate,  why, campaigns pulled the ad,” Romney said on the radio. “They were embarrassed.  Today, they just blast ahead. You know, the various fact checkers look at some  of these charges in the Obama ads and they say that they’re wrong, and  inaccurate, and yet he just keeps on running them.”

Now, I think the super PAC should stop running this ad.  The connection between Bain Capital’s closing of the factory and the women’s death is quite attenuated.  But Romney is acting as if his campaign has been running principled, policy-oriented commercials instead of presiding over what is quickly becoming the most dishonest one in American history.  His very first television commercial, run during the GOP primary contest, was one in which Obama is shown making what would be an embarrassing statement.  That statement, however, was from 2008 when Obama was quoting the McCain campaign.  When Romney was called on this blatant distortion, his campaign seemed to revel in living in a “post-truth” world.

Spa restaurants

Posted by noonante on August 10, 2012
Posted in: Saratoga thoughts. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

The Saratoga restaurant scene is a constantly changing one with new ones coming, old ones going, and established ones slipping.  Here is one diner’s assessment of ones recently visited, in order of preference:

  1. Mexican Connection  –  This is a long-time favorite.  Chef Donna Duerr has to be ranked among the best three in the city, and may well be in the Number 1 slot.  There are weekly specials that change every week, and feature the best ingredients and imaginative recipes.  Her soups are so good they would warrant a visit just for a bowl.  And, there is no better place to get fish or seafood.  I use to travel regularly from Boston to Saratoga and can say without hesitation that her fish is as good as, or better than, anything in Boston.  The staff is very knowledgeable, and you can get an outstanding margarita, especially if you take their advice on tequilas.  41 Nelson Av.,  518-584-4466
  2. Karavalli  –  Once again, a long-time favorite.  I’m not dismissing other Indian restaurants in the area, but when you find a place that is always good, it’s hard to switch.  I cannot claim to be a connoisseur of Indian food since I tend to always get the Tandoori Chicken, but the sides are great and other companions rave about their particular dishes.   The staff is also outstanding.  47 Caroline St.,  518-580-1144
  3. Druthers  –  This brew pub on Broadway just opened and I have only been there once.  I went for the beer and was astonished at how good the food was.  My spouse, who cannot stand beer, loved the Smoked Mac and Cheese, and my Cubano sandwich may be the best sandwich in Saratoga, including the estimable Ben and Bill’s in the Price Chopper.  Oh, and I really like the Pilsner, and my spouse liked her cocktail.  381 Broadway, 518-306-5275
  4. Boca Bistro  –  Another place that just opened and to which I have been only once.  I have a difficult time coming up with an assessment because I ordered one dish that I knew I would probably not like (don’t ask).  I also ordered the anchovies tapas, and was surprised to see them served in their tin, although that may be standard tapas presentation (and they were good).  My three companions all liked their food, and I will definitely be going back.  The two wines we ordered were both very good (Rioja and La Boca Chardonnay).  Saratoga can certainly use a tapas restaurant.  384 Broadway, 518-682-2801.
  5. Maestro’s  –  This well-regarded restaurant is one that I thought was very good in the winter, but after two dinners there in the past two months, I don’t think I will be returning.  In June, six of us ordered different dishes and we were all disappointed.  More recently, we went with another couple, and only one of the four thought her meal was better than ordinary.  And, it is very expensive.  It seems to be a good spot for lunch, but I am hard-pressed to say it is anything exceptional.  353 Broadway, 518-580-0312