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Foxwoods out of Aqueduct race

NEW YORK -- As reported by the Hartford Courant: "As New York state prepares to choose an operator for up to 4,500 video slot machines at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens, Mohegan Sun executives know this much: Their main rival, Foxwoods, is out of the running.

"The development arms of Connecticut's two tribal casinos entered a contest for the Aqueduct "racino" project last fall, eager to establish a foothold in nearby New York. But state officials there ultimately decided to consider only those bidders who offered to make major capital investments, as well.

"Foxwoods had proposed only to manage the slot operation, according to a spokesman for Foxwoods Development Co., which pursues out-of-state projects for the Mashantucket Pequots, owner of the Foxwoods Resort Casino.

"A group consisting of the Mohegan Sun Tribal Gaming Authority and partners was chosen as one of three finalists with its pitch for a $1.4 billion project that included gaming facilities, a high-end hotel and extensive retail space.

"...The New York Racing Association, a state-sanctioned, nonprofit group now emerging from bankruptcy, owns and operates Aqueduct, as well as Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

"New York's top three officials — Gov. David Paterson, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno — are negotiating the selection..."

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