For the first time in history, New York City Off-Track Betting announced yesterday it plans to open today, Palm Sunday, to accept wagers, in defiance of the N.Y. State Racing and Wagering Board. Betting on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday has been banned in New York ever since legislation allowing Sunday racing in the state was passed in 1973.
“Traditionally, racing is prohibited from operating on Palm Sunday,” said OTB vice president of marketing Ron Ceisler. “There’s nothing that prohibits out-of-state simulcasting. We are opening selected branches, teletheaters and various restaurants, plus telephone wagering will be available.
“We believe we are operating within the letter of the law. We commonly open and close branches for business purposes, and that’s what we are doing today. New York City Off-Track Betting will offer their regular Sunday simulcast menu, including full-card simulcasts of Gulfstream Park and Keeneland, along with Santa Anita and Golden Gate from the first race until thoroughbred racing must be halted at 7:30 p.m.”
According to SRWB spokesperson Stacy Clifford, a letter was faxed to OTB on Friday notifying them that the board denied their request to operate on Palm Sunday. Late yesterday, the board stood by its stand. Clifford said that if OTB does take bets, the SRWB will meet sometime this week to discuss the matter and possibly impose a fine.
A message was sent to all OTB employees yesterday instructing them to listen to WOR radio (710) this morning between 6 to 9 a.m. to confirm they are open for business.
Sports Eye, the company that prints the daily program sold at the off-track outlets, said the program has been printed and will be delivered to OTB.
The Palm Sunday ban is opposed by former SRWB commissioner Bennett Liebman, currently coordinator of the Program on Racing and Wagering Law at Albany Law School.
“The Palm Sunday ban was passed as part of a compromise to make Sunday racing more palatable to legislators,” Liebman wrote last year. “The inclusion of Palm Sunday never made a lick of sense. In fact, the New York statute banning racing on Palm Sunday contains the only reference to Palm Sunday in any statute in the entire United States.”
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