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Claude Solnik

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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.

Dear 

Just before dawn on April 24th, 1916, over 1,600 Irish men and women took up arms to end British rule in what would become known as the Easter Rising. 

It’s been a century since that April morning, which marked the resurgence of the Irish independence movement. Even today, the spirit and determination shown by those revolutionaries can be seen in the over 36 million Irish-Americans as they contribute to our state and nation's thriving civic and public life. 

St. Patrick’s Day is often associated with wearing green, being “Irish for a day,” and enjoying delicious corned beef and cabbage. But while we celebrate these traditions, it's important that we also remember the deep and abiding connection between New Yorkers and the Irish. 

Irish-Americans represent one of New York’s largest ethnic groups. Their contributions have been both enduring and impactful and they continue to enrich our lives. From Margaret Sanger and Robert F. Wagner Jr., to former governor Hugh Carey and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, influential Irish New Yorkers have shaped our nation, brought forth change and social progress, and made this state a better place for all. 

I’m proud to proclaim today, March 17th 2016, as St. Patrick’s Day in the State of New York. 

In recognition of the holiday, today I’ll be marching in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade alongside members of the National Guard’s 69th Infantry. The “Fighting 69th” traces its lineage back to the Civil War’s Irish Regiment, and they have marched at the head of the parade every year since 1851. 

On behalf of all New Yorkers, I wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. 

 
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 


P.S. If you have time, please follow us at the parade on Twitter at @nygovcuomo and Snapchat at nygov.