Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Martn Panza prepares to read the Cuomos

NY Const. Art. 1, Sec 3 . You simply can't close NYRA when there are tracks all across the United States that bettors want to bet even if Andrew and Mario are in church praying.

 

Thanks for the help. The item’s below. I’d be happy to mail you a copy, if you give me a mailing address.

Claude Solnik
(631) 913-4244
Long Island Business News
2150 Smithtown Ave.
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7348 

Home > LI Confidential > Stop scratching on holidays

Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012



Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
 

 

Panza to start NYRA job next month

Martin Panza will start his new job as senior vice president of racing operations for the New York Racing Association in late November, the organization said Sunday in a press release announcing his hire.
Daily Racing Form reported Panza’s hiring Friday.
Since 1994, Panza has served as vice president of racing and racing secretary at Betfair Hollywood Park, a track that will shutter following its fall meet.
"This is a very significant step in the continuing effort to successfully reorganize the New York Racing Association," Dr. David Skorton, chair of the NYRA Reorganization Board, said in the press release. "Martin is a proven leader with more than 25 years' experience. He will work very effectively with the other skilled executives currently in place at NYRA. The organization is moving in the right direction."
In addition to working at Hollywood Park, Panza served two terms on the American Graded Stakes Committee, and he serves on the Breeders' Cup Selection Committee, the Dubai World Cup Selection Committee, and the North American Ratings Committee for The Jockey Club.
"It's a great honor to join the New York Racing Association team," Panza said in the release. "I will work hard to present great racing and to create innovative ways to further increase the fan base."
Prior to working at Hollywood Park, Panza served in a variety of racing positions at tracks including Santa Anita Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

"Martin will bring skills that are so important as we strive to continuously improve our quality of racing," said Chris Kay, NYRA chief executive and president. "He will also work closely with New York State's Equine Medical Director to promote safety."

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