Reports Differ On Status Of NYRA's Contract Extension

CONTRADICTORY REPORTS: In N.Y., Ed Fountaine reports NYRA yesterday sent a letter to employees indicating "racing will shut down next Thursday unless a deal is struck with the state by then to renew the franchise NYRA has held since" '55. NYRA President Charles Hayward said "many (of NYRA's 1,300) employees will be laid off " if a deal is not reached. Fountaine notes if Aqueduct shuts down, "training [there] and Belmont Park will cease" on February 20, and the "1,000 backstretch workers who live in dormitories at the two racetracks, and the 2,300 horses stabled there will be required to vacate the grounds'" February 27 (N.Y. POST, 2/7). The DAILY RACING FORM's Matt Hegarty reported negotiations have been going on for more than two months, and NYRA has blamed New York state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno "for standing in the way of an agreement." Bruno issued a statement yesterday that said an agreement "on a long-term extension would be announced 'very shortly'" (DRF.com, 2/6). In Albany, James Odato reports five racetrack operators yesterday warned "that about 2,000 employees will be laid off this month if Albany doesn't meet their separate demands." Vernon Downs Owner Jeffrey Gural said he will temporarily close the track Monday and will shut down Tioga Downs on February 29. Gural said that his tracks will remain closed "until the VLT law is changed" (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/7).

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