New York Racing Association Dispute Turns Heated

A hot dispute between top executives of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the former racing official Tim Smith spilled into the open at a racing conference panel discussion, when NYRA's chief executive confronted Smith over his role with Empire Racing Associates, one of the groups bidding to take over NYRA's franchise.

While standing in the audience, Charles Hayward, NYRA's chief executive, asked Smith, a speaker in the panel discussion, to explain his role with Empire. As part of his answer, Smith confirmed that he had invested in Empire.

The exchange underscored the resentment that NYRA officials hold for Smith, former head of the not-for-profit advocacy group called Friends of New York Racing, as well as for Empire, whose formation was kept secret from NYRA while Empire secured the exclusive endorsement of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, which represents owners and trainers who race at NYRA's tracks.

The incident took place during a question-and-answer session after a panel discussion about the bidding process for NYRA's franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and a slots casino at Aqueduct. Smith answered Hayward by saying that the conference, conducted by the Albany Law School Racing and Wagering Law Program, was not "an appropriate forum" for the question.

"I'm quite confident in my mind that the work of Friends of New York and the work of Empire were two separate things," Smith said.

"I evaluated who I thought would be right, who would be most likely to implement the recommendations we came up with, and my wife and I made a modest investment and so are very limited partners in this effort. "

August 2, 2006
Posted By Susan Torres
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