A provision in the New York state budget that would have allowed the New York Racing Association to run at night at Belmont Park in Elmont on Long Island has been taken off the table due to objections from the Standardbred industry, according to sources.
The provision, which was advanced in the budget proposal submitted to the legislature earlier this year by the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was being sought by NYRA as part of the association’s long-term plans to reinvigorate racing at Belmont and capitalize on the construction of an NHL arena at the track. The budget provision would have allowed night racing at Belmont on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, provided the last race concluded prior to 10:30 p.m.
The provision was removed from consideration during the budget negotiations due to opposition from Standardbred interests who were concerned that competition from Belmont at night would reduce wagering on their own race cards, according to the sources. Standardbred tracks in New York hold the vast majority of their race cards at night, though the tracks have the freedom to run at any time, unlike NYRA, which has been barred from running at night for decades.
Gary Pretlow, a state assemblyman who represents Yonkers, home of one of the largest harness racing tracks in the state, did not immediately return a phone call. Pretlow was quoted in the Blood-Horse as saying that the NYRA provision was dropped when Standardbred interests could not get NYRA to agree to a hold-harmless clause that would have required the association to compensate Standardbred tracks for any drop in handle that occurred as a result of night racing at Belmont.
NYRA officials would not comment on the status of the provision beyond a statement that the association released on Thursday afternoon.
“The public has a right to choose the sporting events that they wish to watch, and legislation that would allow NYRA to conduct Thoroughbred racing at night provides them with that choice – the same choice that the public currently enjoys with respect to every other athletic league able to offer their product at night,” the statement read.
The statement added that NYRA had offered to coordinate with Standardbred interests on staggered post times for night races so that contests at competing tracks did not overlap. NYRA will continue to support efforts to be allowed to run at night, the statement said.
NYRA officials had expressed strong support for nighttime racing earlier in the year after Cuomo included the provision in his budget. The association is currently assessing long-term plans that include renovations to Belmont that are designed to modernize the track and capitalize on the influx of people who may be introduced to racing by the construction of the new arena for the Islanders. The arena is expected to be completed in time for the 2021-22 NHL season.
A source with knowledge of the budget talks said that the proposal could be resurrected at a later date, though time is running short. The budget negotiations face a deadline of April 1, but the legislature has habitually pushed budget talks well beyond deadlines in previous years.
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