When I go away on an extended business trip like the one I
just returned from I never read the local papers while I am not here so I can
be surprised what things changed. The
problem is it’s always the same cast of characters doing crazy things.
Let’s take NYRA for example. Tom Noonan who is one of the best bloggers
around keeps his hand on the pulse of NYRA and informs the public with
information we would never really know.
Chris Kay the CEO of NYRA who is really totally blank about
the Corporation and industry he is supposed to be the leader of has started
another domino effect to change Saratoga Race Course from the most historic,
beautiful, fan friendly track in the nation to just another race track. The list to start according to Mr. Noonan and
the NYRA webpage is:
- · A permanent structure built on the other side of the horse path that runs next to the end of the current club house. It would replace the tent and the temporary modular boxes that have been used in recent years.
- · A new picnic table area along Union Avenue, replacing the parking area now used by owners and trainers.
- · A "Top of the Stretch Club" to be built at the end of the grandstand, intended "to attract a younger crowd to the Race Course."
- · Moving the jockey quarters from the administration building to the Paddock.
- · Eliminating the Open House held on the Sunday before opening day (which was always a fan favorite and a fan experience).
- · The continuation started last year of charging admission on Labor Day which was always ‘Fan Appreciation Day’
- · Turning the lower Carousal into a Sports arena which would eliminate the free seating and replace it with a high end sports bar with a $40.00 admission fee.
Kay is also said to be looking into charging fans for
taking water from the water fountains around the track and installing paid
toilets. If Cuomo who started this mess
2 years ago and extended the current board with Kay at its head for another
year doesn’t make the change to privatize the track, Saratoga will be changed
forever and its appeal will slowly dwindle.
This picture of Chris Kay was sent in by a racing fan, I cannot verify its authenticity as I have never met Mr. Kay.
I also see that the ‘Spirit of Life’ restoration is
completed and the company that did all the work did a fine job. However, this being an election I also see
that Commissioner Scirocco is taking all the praise for his Department doing a
great job, what about all the money paid to the firm that did the job?
The words ‘City in the Country’ keeps being thrown around
and our feeling is that it is just a nostalgic notion that citizens want to
keep in their minds. I am sorry but that
term does not apply to Saratoga Springs anymore. We are just a concrete & brick City with
big City problems. A big problem we have
that some areas I was in do not have is the washboards we call streets. This would be just one problem I would be embarrassed
about if I were Scirocco or Buckley.
This City’s streets are deplorable.
Come on Skip, do something about this.
A funny story in the news was the Commissioners getting
into racing (harness) gear and sharing a sulky with a professional driver and
running a race, everything was going fine I heard until Madigan put on the
brakes and Skip, who was behind her stopped so suddenly he flew out of his seat
and up Madigan’s 'wazoo' where it usually is during Council meetings. The story, as related to me was that the 'wazoo' intake propelled Madigan into first place and the track’s vet separated the two
with little problem.
As we all know or we all should know is that confessed
child porn star John Tighe will be shipping out to prison in the Boston area at
the end of July to a hospital that fits his health needs.
The story floating around is that John won the lead part
when he visited the slammer as Curly in the show ‘Men in Tights’.
I want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July, we should all take time out of our celebrations to remember those who fought and those who died to make this great Republic and if you see Skip Scirocco, thank him for screwing our all American 4th of July celebration by selling our Congress Park out for the day (the first such screwing ever on this Holiday).
