"It's very frustrating to be dealing with the state, which does not play by its own rules," Hendrickson said by phone from Kentucky.
Hendrickson, the husband of Marylou Whitney, serves on the board as Gov. Andrew Cuomo's special non-voting adviser on issues pertaining to Saratoga Race Course.
The criticism comes as NYRA board members are said to have developed a plan to privatize the association, according to the original agreement through which the state took control of the board three years ago.
"We've done our job," Hendrickson said. "The state needs to do theirs."
Having gone through bankruptcy and facing rivers of red ink and scandals, NYRA's board was taken over by the state in 2012. Cuomo's 16-member "reorganization board" consists of seven directors appointed by him, two directors each named by the Senate and Assembly, and five designated by the former NYRA board. Wait was a member of the last group.
The special board was supposed to last three years and in that time, develop a plan to once again operate independently of the state and return to private control by this October.
But in a surprise move, Cuomo's executive budget proposal called for an additional year of state control, suggesting the reorganization board's control will remain in place until next year.
That came even as the board in December said they were on track to finish the 2014 season in the black for the first time in more than a decade.
"What prevents the state from controlling New York racing indefinitely?" Hendrickson asked.
NYRA spokesman John Durso praised Wait's service on the board, but didn't get into why or for how long the state takeover would remain.
"We are deeply grateful for Mr. Wait's service to our organization — and his commitment to our great sport," Durso said in a prepared statement.
The extension of state control has sparked some degree of angst, especially in the Saratoga Springs area, where there is fear of lingering state control.
Mayor Joanne Yepsen on Monday said she thought "it would be good to have a Saratoga Springs replacement for Charles."
"I hope that was merely a question of timing and not of philosophy," added Democratic Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.
The race course is in the districts of both Marchione and Woerner,
"The (privatization) plan has been circulated for a number of months," added Saratoga Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, who added: "The sooner we can privatize it the better.''
Observers offered several reasons why Cuomo might want to keep NYRA under state control for a longer period.
Gary Greenberg, part owner of the Vernon Downs harness track and racino, said the administration may want to see how the development of full-scale casinos, which are a few years off, may affect NYRA's finances. The association receives a subsidy from video lottery revenues at the harness track racinos, and many believe that casinos will cut into that.
"Maybe they are waiting till the casinos are resolved since video slots covers part of NYRA's expenses," said Greenberg.
Wait joined NYRA's board in 1985.
He resigned from the board in 2008 amid disputes with state leaders, but rejoined two years later.
NYRA's next board meeting is slated to take place 3 p.m. Wednesday in New York City.
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