SEARCH NEWS:

 

Conflict Between NYRA, Track Cooperative Heats Up

"Schwartz sought to downplay how much the decision to pull the simulcast signal by the MidAtlantic Cooperative has had on NYRA's bottom line. Though interstate handle on Belmont Park races was off 20.5% in five racing days after the tracks and their off-track betting parlors pulled the signal, Schwartz attributed much of the slide to the remnants of a hurricane that hit Belmont on a weekend.

"NYRA's signal was pulled after the consortium accused NYRA of limiting account wagering in Pennsylvania and New Jersey after it struck an exclusive simulcasting deal with TV Games Network.

"Schwartz also also opened some old NYRA wounds by sharply criticizing the MidAtlantic Cooperative's executive director, Martin Lieberman. Schwartz said Lieberman, who was once a top NYRA official, was characterized in publications as saying the dispute was about principle, not economics.

"...NYRA, which has seen employees go to jail and is now operating under the eyes of a court-appointed monitor, has been sharply criticized in recent years by state and federal officials for how it operates. Schwartz claimed NYRA's problems began when Lieberman was at NYRA

"Lieberman said the racetracks in the co-op have a strong desire to show NYRA's signal, but that NYRA, with its TVG deal, changed the terms of an arrangement the cooperative had with the New York racetracks for at least the past five years..."

< Gaming News