The NYS Gaming Commission reports that Woodmere Skyroller died in her stall at Yonkers Friday. No other details were given, but we do know that Woodmere was five years old and scheduled to be raced Tuesday.
Young, still-active horses dying on the backside – this, too, is horseracing.
Gina, I believe the facts are in and that the legislators of New York State will vote on Governor Hochul’s budget proposal, as Alan has pointed out, and that the majority of them will vote with the good common sense that they voted with in 2022 on the New York Racing Association’s request for $450 MILLION in bonds backed by the State of New York with 30 years to pay back this debt.
In 2022, the New York State LEGISLATORS DENIED the request by the NYRA for the $450 MILLION in State-backed BONDS as you may remember. The legislators were using good common sense then and I expect them to continue to do so.
Of course, REDIRECTING the Video Lottery Terminal payments from horseracing to education and infrastructure and TERMINATING all the other government-directed benefits including tax write-offs and tax exemptions to the horseracing industry in New York State is a separate battle to fight in the LEGISLATIVE branch of government.
So putting aside feelings and emotions for a moment consider the facts.
Horse racing hasn’t been financially sustainable for years and it never will be.
Again, I go back to the horse racing prototype in Ontario, Canada because we started all of this long before New York state or any government in North America and why?
Beccause we have a businesman with a ton of money and influence called Frank Stronach.
Him and his political contacts promoted his “vison” to restore horse racing to it’s former glory, and it turned out to be one big delusion.
20 years later, it’s been rightfully categorized as a total and complete WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY and it HAS NOT ENDED!
In fact, all economical reports have concluded that if any geographical area in North America wants to uphold the “traiditon of horse racing” then the taxpayers, public coffers and casinos will have to support them because they can’t support themselves.
The politicians in New York have 2 choices 1) agree to financially support horse racing on the coattails of the public coffers for YEARS TO COME even risking them defaulting on a $450 million dollar loan 2) end this insanity now and create other business opportunities
It’s so LONG OVERDUE to END THE FUNDING to horse racing in any capacity.
Another thing, horse racing is an ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER and I suppose Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t mention the TONS OF MANURE, and TONS OF URINE going into the water systems in the residents surrounding Belmont did she?
Typical horse racing statement that paints a picture of utopia, but NEVER talks about the realities of horse racing and it just doesn’t work anymore nor should it.
She can’t. Her office included the money in her budget proposal, nothing has been voted on by the legislature yet.
I don’t understand how one governor (Gov. Hochul) can go against the Assembly Members and the Senators in the New York State Legislature who are against Animal Cruelty in the form of horse racing, horse slaughter for human consumption and many other types of Animal Cruelty in the State of New York. The New York State Humane Association backed several different bills that were in committee and/or up for a vote in 2021 (which I downloaded). The numbers of each bill are listed in the chart and the names of the Assembly Woman or Assembly Man and the names of the Senators involved in each bill are listed in the chart as well. How can one Governor Hochul go against the legislative branch of state government?
Assembly Woman Rosenthal is listed on several bills in that chart. I have faith that not all politicians are a pushover for rubber-stamping the built-in cruelty that is routine in the horse racing industry.
This bad business decision by Gov. Kathy Hochul is based on her utter ignorance of the horse racing business and racehorses in general.
Horse racing counts on the ignorance of politicians and they laugh all the way to the bank.
As an insider at horse racing meetings, more often than not, they would mock how dumb politicians are when it comes to horse racing.
They used it to their full advantage to get millions in taxpayers money and casino subsidies.
Ms. Hochul just paints this beautiful picture of jobs while failing to acknowledge the multitude of factors that makes horse racing operate.
We know, and mathematical facts tells us, that horse racing has not been financially sustainable for years and this all falls on the backs of the public coffers time and time again.
I keep going back to Woodbine because there’s no better example than this and it’s a total blueprint for what she’s approving now.
The politicians in Ontario went against the majority of Ontario taxpayers when they approved the casino subsidies $345 million per year which was only supposed to be temporary until they were “financially sustainable” because horse racing convinced them that getting this money would guarantee that.
After 12 years of complete and total wastage they then secured millions, just like this deal, to build exactly what the NYRA is proposing.
They actually convinced politicians, in lieu of these facts, that they needed more money to “modernize” because that’s why the subsidies didn’t work.
“People need comfort, they expect comfort was the line of the day and that’s why nobody was coming according to them.”
Everthing they are putting forth is what Woodbine did again going against taxpayers wishes.
After 20 years of getting hundreds of millions of dollars and after major renovations NONE OF THIS WORKED. NONE OF IT RESTORED HORSE RACING and it certainly didn’t make them financially self sustainable because people don’t want horse racing.
So now they have a “modernized” ultra facility sitting there that’s empty most of the year.
Plus, they can’t afford to operate it because horse racing has been dead FOR YEARS.
Back to the public troughs they went again and this time they got $100 million per year, additional government support to promote horse racing and a massive public relations blitz all paid for by taxpayers in 2020.
IT DID NOT WORK.
The initial money to go for this project is just beginning so brace yourselves New Yorkers I guarantee you in just 5 years you will be supporting this business hook, line and sinker.
That said, it shocks me how politicians are so inept and so quick to hand over millions of taxpayers dollars with zippo accountability to the taxpayers and even going against their wishes.
In this total equation there is nobody speaking out for the racehorses because they are the real victims in this horrific vile repulsive business that has no place in a civilized society.
Ms. Hochul should sign the loans and make herself fiscally and legally responsible when they default because they will – you just wait and see.
Keeping in mind that many young, underdeveloped colts and fillies will not have whatever-it-takes to tolerate the horrendous CRUELTY and ABUSE of being saddled and ridden before they actually turn two (2) years old and forced to endure the confinement and the whipping and the doping that racing demands, there will likely be fewer than 18,000 colts and fillies born in 2022 & 2023 that are still alive by 2024 & 2025 and so on.
Also, with the equine diseases being spread around, more young colts and fillies will be dead or disposed of as potential racehorses. In Montana, there are cases of EHV-1. Some horses have been euthanized because of a poor prognosis.
The projected foal crop numbers for Thoroughbred foals for 2022 is 18,700 and the projected foal crop numbers for Thoroughbred foals in 2023 is 18,500. The actual foal crop numbers for 2022 won’t be known until after December 31, 2024 and the actual foal crop numbers for 2023 won’t be known until after December 31, 2025. The rate of decline in foal crop numbers has been steady every year since 1986 with the exception of once or twice when the foal crop numbers were the same for two consecutive years.
It’s no wonder that the Thoroughbred racing industry cannot fill races with as many horses as they once did. It’s only going to get more pronounced as the years go by. In 30 years from now, the NYRA will have either paid or defaulted (I predict defaulted) on the State-Backed Bonds and there won’t be any horses to fill any races. There won’t be any new two-year-olds available to be entered for the Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby or the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes. If Governor Hochul wants to back a losing proposition with the state’s money, she ought to be impeached or something like that. The NYRA could be the laughingstock in some social circles, but there is nothing funny about the egregious routine cruelty to horses or the blatant misrepresentation of the citizenry of New York State.
Wanda, there isn’t enough racehorses to fill races now and that’s precisely why many tracks like Santa Anita are offering incentives such as paying for transportation.
Plus, the majority of the active racehorses now forced to fill races are all crippled and on their way out.
This is possibly the WORST DEAL of the century for New York residents and certainly for racehorses as it always has been.
Woodbine was the first prototype in North America for this model and they also “modernized” Woodbine and spent a fortune rebuilding it jincluding brand new dormitory apartment buildings for stable help, brand new state-of-the-art barns, new turf European style turf course, a completely new grandstand with VIP suites, separate areas for owners and trainers with buffet prime rib and seafood etc. etc, and guess what?
IT DID NOT WORK – it did not restore their business, NOBODY GOES THERE, and they have this ultra luxury facility that’s empty most of the time.
So empty in fact that FINALLY some politicians are DEMANDING that they completely overhaul horse racing in Ontario and stop funding it.
They actually reduced the race days this year by about 40 days and that’s significant.
Some female politicians, that actually care about children unlike Gov. Hochul. are demanding that these empty areas be used for daycare space in lieu of Woodbine Ractrack.
Gov Hochul has a piece of her brain and heart missing by shoving this into the budget.
Plus, NY is NOT filling race cards today and hasn’t been for a long time.
There was at least 10 races last month, stake races, with $80,000 purse money and only 4 racehorses in it.
What an outrageous waste of taxpayers money and she’s an aboslute idiot to side with horse racing and she must be getting her palms greased because no rational person would ever approve this and force it on NY residents.
It’s definitely possible that the New York Racing Association will default on the State-Backed Bonds. You know, the Video Lottery Terminal payments and the multitude of other government-directed benefits and tax breaks they’re already receiving might not be enough to pay back the loans or bonds, especially with the Association’s reputation for lavish spending. The NYRA is an extremely bad risk. The taxpayers of New York State will be left holding the bag as they already are, as if it were not bad enough already.
In 30 years, there won’t be enough horses to fill the race cards that they’re filling today. It’s one of the most glaringly bad risks of all time aside from the obvious cruelty to the horses. It’s all unacceptable!
Well said, Gina.
Aqueduct Race Track will eventually be history, but that was part of the NYRA plan for quite some time. The announcement that the current Governor of New York State is going COMPLETELY AGAINST the DECISION that was MADE by the NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE several months ago in 2022 is gut wrenching, heart breaking and disturbing in ways that I can’t describe. At this point I can only assume that horseracing in New York State is going to be propped up by government subsidies and government-directed benefits including tax write-offs and tax exemptions and STATE-BACKED BONDS in NEW YORK STATE until they don’t even have enough horses to fill the races.
Eventually, after literally thousands more Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses are born into this abusive and cruel ENSLAVEMENT as GAMBLING OBJECTS for purse money, wagering handle money, stud fee money, money from selling young, underdeveloped colts and fillies for this cruel gambling & racketeering business, money from selling horses to killbuyers and meatpackers and the money from government subsidies and government-directed benefits including tax write-offs and tax exemptions, there won’t be enough NEW FOALS born to fill out the race cards for the majority of races.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars PER YEAR to prop up an industry that consists of Animal Cruelty and Race-fixing and Racketeering, DEPRIVING young human CHILDREN of basic necessities and education only to FUND PROFITEERING off of young, underdeveloped colts and fillies bred for the sole purpose of being abused, mistreated and killed. This is tradition?!?
Mr Repole, with never ending deep pockets, would just keep flashing the wads of cash to ….NEXT. But, you are ABSOLUTELY correct,Gina. Ny, is totally taking away futures of the children.
Then let him support it not taxpayers, the public coffers or casinos!
This is all done on the backs of children and working class people who want nothing to do with horse racing.
Both Gov Hochul & horse racing belong in the Neanderthal era.
VOTE HER OUT!
Can we see who is giving the most money in political donations? Follow the money. Some people involved in Ny racing (Mike Repole), have more money than god …as they say. He could keep this animal abuse continuing just by himself. Disgustingly, he has no other things that occupy his need for attention.
The ongoing widespread cruelty and suffering in New York state is all made possible by elected politicians.
Even worse is the recent announcement that NY Gov. Kathy Hochul has singly handedly snuck in the $455 million of TAXPAYERS MONEY to support this vile business.
It’s a disgusting shame that this lady has a real problem listening to the majority of New Yorkers and it’s puzzling that she has no idea how to interpret economic reports.
I knew she had friends in horse racing and I predicted this a long time ago.
QUID PRO QUO.
You put me into office horse racing and I will make sure you get all the taxpayers money you want and here’s the thing.
It’s the SAME OLD ARGUMENT that horse racing has been using over the years to get access to millions in public subsidies and taxpayers money.
“You give us this money and we will restore horse racing to glory and we will show you that our business will become financially self sustainable.”
They’ve been saying this FOR YEARS and NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
In fact, it’s gotten worse and it’s just a matter of time, once they build this new project, that they will be back at the public troughs asking to increase their casino profit percentages.
They already get millions in breeders awards because they can’t even support their breeding and they don’t even pay their help.
There are no economic indicators that horse racing will ever be financially sustainable and all you have to do is look to the first protype at Woodbine.
It’s become a toal and complete TAXPAYER PIT and it keeps getting worse every year as their business declines every year.
Ontario taxpayers are pretty much paying for their underwear and I’m not kidding.
It’s no surpirse that NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke said: “Horse racing in New York State has a champion in Governor Kathy Hochul, who clearly recognizes the important role the sport plays withint the New York economy”
Excuse me – come again.
It has literally drained BILLIONS of money, over the years, from taxpayers and from casino profits that should be going into education.
They are claiming the jobs, jobs, jobs mantra yet again, but where in this statement is it ever acknowledged that horse racing hasn’t been financially sustainable FOR YEARS and has continued on the backs of taxpayers, the public coffers, plus casino profits.
Of course the cost to racehorses are never mentioned!
Gov. Hochul you have blood on your hands and you have completely ignored the pleas from your constiuents.
In my view, you’re just another corrupt politcian whose getting their hands greased by businesses that do nothing for the majority of residents in New York.
You have your nerve and your a good liar when you stand up and tell people that you care about children’s education because you can’t possibly care by supporting this!
This is a sorrowful day for racehorses and you have Gov. Hochul to blame !
Nowhere in her statements is even a mere mention of tearing this hell hole down, replacing it with modern businesses that actually support themselves and who will create more jobs than horse racing ever could.
Politicans like Hochul just keep falling back and stepping backwards in time so this lady can talk all she want about the environment and children, but this decision puts her back in the pioneer days.
Oh, and Ms. Hochul did you know that horse racing deliberately DOES NOT promote women so you wouldn’t have a hope in hell in getting anywhere in horse racing unless you hand out billions to them like you just did.
You are no champion of women, children or animals who suffer greatly.
You are a champion of wasted taxpayers money, against equal opportunity for women, doesn’t care that NY children don’t have spots in public education due to lack of funding, and you certainly don’t care about racehorses suffering and dying every day.
You belong in the pioneer days.
Was at least one banned substance involved in the death of WOODMERE SKYROLLER?
insidious