A sharp-eyed reader wrote in to note two rather well-timed fundraisers being held in Albany tonight, the timing of which is all quite serendipitous, I’m sure.
The chairs of the Assembly and Senate Racing & Wagering committees – Gary Pretlow, a Mt. Vernon Democrat; and John Bonacic, a Mt. Hope Republican – are both holding $500-per person events tonight.
Pretlow’s fundraiser is at the University Club, Bonacic’s is at the Fort Orange Club. They’re actually a mere block apart, which makes it easier for the racing interests in town to hit both events without breaking much of a sweat.
The racing industry reps are in town for Bonacic’s hearing on the future of racing, wagering and gaming in NY. Only those invited to testify were allowed to do so. The list of those expected to speak included:
Michael Amo, Chairman of the Board of the Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association based out of Saratoga; Michael Speller, President of Resorts World New York; Charles Hayward, President and CEO of NYRA; representatives of several OTB Corporations including Donald Groth of Catskill OTB, John Signor of Capital OTB, Arthur Walsh of Nassau OTB; Joseph D’Amato of Empire Resorts; Joseph Faraldo of the Standardbred Owners Association of New York; Richard Violette, Jr. of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc. and Jeffrey Cannizzo of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders.
Some news coming out of the hearing: Jim Odato reports Genting, which hasn’t even opened its Aqueduct racino yet, is already talking about expanding the number of VLTs on site.