JC / Railbird

NYRA-MidAtlantic Archive

For the Fans

Lowell Sun racing correspondent Paul Daley spoke with Suffolk Downs’ Robert O’Malley on Saturday about the restoration of the Belmont signal, and reports to readers of the Derby List that, while thoughts of the bottom line played a part, “O’Malley and the Suffolk staff sincerely felt their decision to make their own deal with NYRA was in the best interest of New England racing fans.”

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on October 24, 2004

Suffolk Breaks Ranks?

The Belmont signal has returned to Suffolk Downs after an absence of nearly six weeks owing to the dispute between NYRA and the MidAtlantic Cooperative. No word yet if Suffolk resigned from the cooperative or merely broke ranks. “‘It’s funny,’ NYRA Senior Vice President Bill Nader said on Thursday. ‘The [Boston] Red Sox beat the [New York] Yankees yesterday, and today the NYRA signal is back in Boston.'” Yes, that is funny. (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on October 21, 2004

More on NYRA-MidAtlantic

Long-simmering tensions, a push for restrictions, and the pursuit of customers are at the heart of the NYRA-MidAtlantic simulcasting dispute, writes Matt Hegarty in a thorough report published today in the Daily Racing Form.

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on October 20, 2004

No Resolution In Sight

As the frustrating, baffling NYRA-MidAtlantic Cooperative dispute drags on, both sides dig in. (Lowell Sun)

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on October 15, 2004

When Will It End?

The NYRA-MidAtlantic Cooperative dispute drags on. When might it end? “Neither side was willing to predict an end to the stalemate, though they made clear it could go for the long haul.” (Blood-Horse)

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on October 10, 2004

Angry Fans at Rockingham

Fans who didn’t know about the NYRA-MidAtlantic Cooperative kerfuffle were upset Wednesday at Rockingham Park when they learned there would be no Belmont simulcast. “I’m very angry,” Bob Bucci of Stoneham told Paul Daley. “I didn’t know anything about this until I got here. I feel I’ve been left out of the loop. New York and California comprise about 80 percent of my betting action. I feel like I’ve just wasted $10 on programs and other stuff that is useless to me now.” (Lowell Sun)

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on September 24, 2004

NE Racing Fans Shut Out

“Picture this. You’re a New England thoroughbred racing fan, fresh off the high of another exciting Saratoga summer. You can’t wait for the Oct. 30th Breeders’ Cup from Lone Star Park and hope to sharpen your handicapping by watching and wagering on Belmont Park’s spectacular fall meeting, which includes several premier stakes races.” Wait, you can’t — at least, not at Suffolk Downs or Rockingham Park, owing to the dispute between NYRA and the MidAtlantic Coop. Yet again, writes Paul Daley, fans are paying the price for an industry squabble. (Lowell Sun)
More: “When there’s a squabble among members of the horse racing industry, they have a funny way of settling it. They take a baseball bat and hit you, the horse player, over the head with it.” (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on September 17, 2004

NYRA Pulls Signal

Effective September 15, Belmont simulcasts won’t be transmitted to the 19 MidAtlantic Cooperative members, including Laurel, Monmouth, and Philadelphia Park. Suffolk Downs will stop receiving the signal on September 19. At issue is account wagering rights. “Martin Lieberman, executive director of the cooperative, said NYRA restricted its signal in a change from previous contracts. He said NYRA insisted it would allow limited account wagering in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but had conveyed the rights in other states to the TV Games Network in a deal announced in early September.” (Blood-Horse)
More: “Tracks to cut Belmont signal” (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in NYRA-MidAtlantic on September 14, 2004