Thoroughbred Breeders:“State Takeover of NYC OTB is a Winner”
June17, 2008, Saratoga Springs, NY --- The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. praised the agreement that will enable New York State to take over of the operations of New York City’s Off-Track Betting Corporation.
“We commend Governor Paterson, Majority Leader Bruno and Assembly Speaker Silver for their persistence and determination in forging ahead with putting the management of the City’s OTB in the hands of those who are committed to seeing it succeed.” said Michael McMahon, President of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, “We’re confident this plan will protect and preserve funding for breeders, strengthen the horse racing industry, which employs almost 40,000 New Yorkers, and allow New York’s thoroughbred industry to continue to build upon the extraordinary success of the last thirty years, highlighted by the victory of the New York-bred Funny Cide in the 2003 Kentucky Derby.”
The takeover was announced on the same day as the deadline set by New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who threatened to close down NYC OTB operations unless the state took action to bail out what Bloomberg claimed to be a beleaguered pari-mutuel horse betting business that lost millions each year.
In the weeks leading up to today’s announcement, the Breeders feared that NYC OTB would be permitted to reduce its share of funding to the NYS Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund, which has been a critical part of the success of New York’s thoroughbred breeding and horse racing industries for thirty years. In response, the Breeders undertook an aggressive public awareness campaign to highlight their strong opposition to proposals that would have reduced the amount of funding available to breeding industry participants, and hurt NY's nationally acclaimed, often copied breeding program.
“A cut to the Breeding & Development Fund would have hurt 400 mostly small, family-owned farms, cost upstate jobs, threatened open space and farmland preservation, and ultimately damaged the entire horse racing industry in New York State,” said McMahon, “Fortunately, our state leaders heard our message and responded in a way that produced a winning resolution for all parties.”
On behalf of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
For Immediate Release: May 28, 2008
Breeders to Bloomberg: “Think Reform, Not Threats”
May 28, 2008, Saratoga Springs, NY --- Responding to today’s NY Post story that detailed New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation’s advertising for an auctioneer to liquidate assets in conjunction with Mayor Bloomberg’s threat to close OTB operations, Michael McMahon, President of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., (NYTB) issued the following statement:
“Mayor Bloomberg should stop threatening and start thinking about how the city’s OTB can reform its ways, improve efficiencies and become more profitable --- without hurting horseracing and taking money out of New York’s thoroughbred breeders who are the backbone of our state’s horseracing industry. Now is the time for Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Paterson and legislative leaders to come together to find ways to not just strengthen NYC OTB, but the entire horseracing industry in New York. Cutting funding to the state’s 400 mostly small, family-owned and operated breeding farms should not be an option, period. Faced with surging fuel, grain and hay prices, high property taxes and out-of-state competition, many breeders operate on a thin margin as it is. Breeders can’t afford to lose funding, and New York can’t afford to lose its thoroughbred breeders.”
Contact: Rory P. Whelan (518) 462-0603
rory@whelanmediastrategies.com
“Scratch Plans to Cut Breeding Funds”
May 19, 2008, Saratoga Springs, NY --- The New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ (NYTB) sent a strongly worded letter to Governor Paterson and Legislative leaders opposing a proposal advanced by Paterson’s Director of State Operations, Paul Francis, that would cut NYC OTB payouts by 20% to “industry partners” including the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund.
Francis revealed the plan two weeks ago in response to New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s threat to close NYC OTB operations, which are operating at a $9 million annual deficit. The plan includes a 20% reduction in City OTB payouts to “industry partners” including Finger Lakes Race Track, NYRA and the NYS Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund.
“This proposed cut represents a $1.2 million annual loss to New York’s thoroughbred breeding programs. It would have devastating effects on over 400 mostly small, family-owned and operated farms, and ultimately damage the entire horseracing industry in New York State,” said Michael McMahon, President of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’.
The letters to Governor Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver follow the NYTB’s unanimous adoption last week of a resolution affirming their opposition to “any and all efforts that would reduce the amount of funding available to the NYS Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund, as well as any measure that would otherwise negatively impact or jeopardize New York’s thoroughbred horse breeding industry.” They plan an aggressive media campaign to fight attempts to cut thoroughbred breeding funding.
“We understand the fiscal challenges to the City of New York and that its OTB is running in the red, but balancing its books on the backs of hardworking upstate horse breeders is just plain wrong,” said McMahon.
According to the Breeders, right now many New York breeding farms are struggling to keep up with rising costs of gasoline, grain and hay as well as the higher cost of doing business in New York in general.
Breeders play an important role in strengthening New York’s horseracing industry by helping maintain the highest levels of racing, producing superior quality thoroughbreds and meeting the demands of an industry facing increased competition by other states.
“No breeder can survive by relying on this funding alone, but the money is invested back into breeding which keeps it in the local economy, creates more jobs, and strengthens the thoroughbred horseracing industry in New York,” said NYTB President Mike McMahon.
May 5, 2008
Dear NYTB Members,
I validated this information which came through an e-mail.
You can go on line to your search engine and type in Purina horse grain recall and get information. Your feed dealer may not know about this . For more information contact Statesville Nc Feed Plant at 704-924-5100 or Harrisburg, Pa. plant at 717-737-4581. I called the local feed dealers in Saratoga Springs area and they were unaware. Call your feed dealer also.
Jane Decoteau, Acting Executive Director, NYTB
Subject: PURINA RECALLS HORSEFEEDS
I think it is important for all horse owners to know that Purina has issued two massive recalls this month affecting almost their entire horse feed product line. This recall was not made available to the general public. Notices went to the dealers directly. It is unconscionable that they have made no effort contact the end users. On 4/9 they recalled 27 equine products, including senior and the platformline. On 4/21 they recalled another 18 products. The problem is Aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are toxic and one of the most carcinogenic substances known. They can cause liver disfunction, immune suppression,and neurological difficulties.
Please share this information with your horse keeping friends. It seems that the only way this information is going to get out, is among ourselves. The way this has been handled by Purina is irresponsible and unacceptable.
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Ok here is what I got when I called Country Max this morning. They gave me the product names, formula numbers and item numbers.
Purina Senior - formula #3519, item #0001209
Platform Mare and Foal - formula #35SD, item #0062178
Platform Pleasure - formula #35SB, item #0062176
Pure Pride 100 - formula #3516, item #0001178 |
