SOANY and MGM Yonkers announce contract agreement

[seen2much]

https://ustrottingnews.com/soany-and-mgm-yonkers-announce-contract-agreement/

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Not a surprise. Very good purses, and they will still fill races, but not a good place to race for owners in general. The racing side of the operation is nothing more than a necessary evil to MGM.....and if there comes a day where MGM can get out of the racing business, they will. Sad state of affairs.

[toothman]

I don't recall reading a statement by Joe around a month ago describing what he's been doing to support NY racing. He said that he had hired a PR firm to lobby up in Albany, and to promote racing to the public.
I havent seen not a word, image or syllable of anything promoting the sport downstate.
Have you thrown in the towel on the sport and just want to get as much as you can for your guys?
Has anyone seen any marketing by the SOA?

[The Unstable]

They just announced there will be no Manhattan Casinos.  Leaving only MGM/ Genting Aqueduct/Steve Cohen Citi fired/ Ballys near Whitestone Bridge.

MGM struck a deal the day after because they had too, they couldn’t take a chance racing would cause a problem for them. If they don’t get a license who knows what they do.  My guess is they will, maybe.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Not a surprise. All the Manhattan plans were rejected. Ironically, only the board members representing Gov. Hochul, and Mayor Adams, supported a plan for a casino in Manhattan. So, no casino in Manhattan for the foreseeable future. NIMBY, plain and simple.

I think I read the Brooklyn proposal will get shot down too. I think that's today. Next up is the vote for the Queens project, from none other than NY Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock, and the Bronx project from Bally's. Genting's and MGM's bids in to offer live table games at their already existing "racinos" are scheduled to be voted on tomorrow. All votes must be done by next Tuesday. Let's see what happens.

[Yonkers1A]

Not a surprise. All the Manhattan plans were rejected. Ironically, only the board members representing Gov. Hochul, and Mayor Adams, supported a plan for a casino in Manhattan. So, no casino in Manhattan for the foreseeable future. NIMBY, plain and simple.

I think I read the Brooklyn proposal will get shot down too. I think that's today. Next up is the vote for the Queens project, from none other than NY Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock, and the Bronx project from Bally's. Genting's and MGM's bids in to offer live table games at their already existing "racinos" are scheduled to be voted on tomorrow. All votes must be done by next Tuesday. Let's see what happens.

Thanks for the info. this is going to be interesting. Billionaires slugging it out.

[Jctoronto]

Not sure anything new here..but was out today, wed the 24th
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/business/2025/09/24/meadowlands-racetrack-could-drop-hambletonian-amid-casino-push/86307964007/

[Calhoun]

Faraldo gets it done. 

[getreal]

great job by yonkers to get it done, but please get a new announcer. Hire them guys in another capacity but being the premier racetrack in NY, shouldnt you have a premier announcer?

[SeattleSlew]

great job by yonkers to get it done, but please get a new announcer. Hire them guys in another capacity but being the premier racetrack in NY, shouldnt you have a premier announcer?

What is wrong with having Elmer Fudd as the track announcer?  He is "famous"..

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Not sure anything new here..but was out today, wed the 24th
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/business/2025/09/24/meadowlands-racetrack-could-drop-hambletonian-amid-casino-push/86307964007/

From the article...

“We don’t want to have direct competition from Manhattan taking customers away from our casinos and revenue out of the state’s economy,” state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, said Monday.

Sarlo previously introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide whether a casino should be built at the Meadowlands Racetrack, and another at the Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport.

Senator Sarlo is a very powerful Senator. He's been in the General Assembly, has been Vice Chairman of the Labor Committee, served on the Appropriations Committee, Majority Leader, and is Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, as well as serving on the Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. This guy has all the right positions. Being the Mayor of Wood-Ridge, and in his role as Senator, he garnered a lot of support from the communities around the Meadowlands. Sarlo is also Deputy Majority Leader and in his professional job he is COO Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc.

The language is going to be Meadowlands and Monmouth Park specific, and the referendum will be on the ballot by 2026. We will see.....

[Harness racer]

I guess SCM was wrong about MGM having had enough with racing.

[The Exporter]

From the article...

“We don’t want to have direct competition from Manhattan taking customers away from our casinos and revenue out of the state’s economy,” state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, said Monday.

Sarlo previously introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide whether a casino should be built at the Meadowlands Racetrack, and another at the Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport.

Senator Sarlo is a very powerful Senator. He's been in the General Assembly, has been Vice Chairman of the Labor Committee, served on the Appropriations Committee, Majority Leader, and is Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, as well as serving on the Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. This guy has all the right positions. Being the Mayor of Wood-Ridge, and in his role as Senator, he garnered a lot of support from the communities around the Meadowlands. Sarlo is also Deputy Majority Leader and in his professional job he is COO Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc.

The language is going to be Meadowlands and Monmouth Park specific, and the referendum will be on the ballot by 2026. We will see.....

And that is were the challenge lies. Getting it on a ballot is done with political power. Bought and paid for with lobbying money. On the ballot, the power is back to the people. The same spot that out voted this a few years ago by a 5:1 margin. What makes anyone think this huge difference in public opinion will flip this time?

[Yonkers1A]

And that is were the challenge lies. Getting it on a ballot is done with political power. Bought and paid for with lobbying money. On the ballot, the power is back to the people. The same spot that out voted this a few years ago by a 5:1 margin. What makes anyone think this huge difference in public opinion will flip this time?

Jeff says the legislation will say only permitted at the meadowlands will be the difference

[sledge hammer]

great job by yonkers to get it done, but please get a new announcer. Hire them guys in another capacity but being the premier racetrack in NY, shouldnt you have a premier announcer?

They need to stop with the merry-go-round of announcers...for the love of god JUST PICK ONE and that's that.
I get an anxiety attack not knowing what voice I'm going to hear...and it's a turn off as well. People like consistency.