It did not have to be this way. Going back 20 years to the first VLT distribution contract NY State had with Yonkers Raceway. Along with the 8.5% to the overnights and 1.5% to breeders and NY bred races, there was also a huge portion of money, millions in a set aside for marketing and capital improvements.
Joe faraldo, with one hand patting his back and the other on the accounts, told everyone they now had the money for a renovated and updated race paddock. New dorms and to bring the existing stable are out of condemnation.
How much of this was done? How much was spent on marketing and advertising racing?
The entire concept of these improvements was deemed a non starter that, the State Gaming Commission allowed the legislature to to drop these funded programs in the renewed VLT contracts.
Don't blame this on the dopers, the gamblers the racing fans. The management and the SOA were granted many 10's of millions of dollars and the did nothing with it.
So, forget about it today. Today, they get nothing.
