New York Breeder September 2012 : Page 6

Opportunity knocks at the Spa National attention comes to the state during the high-profile meet by Jeffrey A. Cannizzo, Executive Director New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. than at Saratoga—and increases in incentive awards The summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, for New York-breds from video lottery terminal rev-unique in so many ways, also offers a one-of-a-enue have revitalized our industry after nearly a kind opportunity for breeders and the New York decade of decline. They have been a catalyst for racing industry that you might not think of right economic development statewide. The evidence of off the bat: media exposure. success is widespread: The Fasig-Tipton New York-From mid-July through Labor Day, journalists bred preferred yearling sale outperformed even the swarm to our town, not only to report on 40 days phenomenal results of last year, handle at all three of racing but also to cover industry-related events NYRA tracks has increased since the new purse taking place nearly every day of the week. This structure kicked in, new stallions have come to the year, the media exposure provided a golden op-state, and 40% more mares came to New York portunity at a very opportune time. boarding farms to foal in the first five months of Once again, the breeding and racing industries the year. All of this creates jobs, generates revenue in New York are at a crossroads. Not only will we for New York businesses, and builds a stronger see the installation of the reconstituted New York economy for communities across the state. Racing Association board in the near future, with JEFFREY A. CANNIZZO The venues I have taken our message to run the majority of its 17 members appointed by the governor and legislators, but the upcoming legislative session will the gamut. On the opening day, I was featured on Capital OTB’s include the second vote on a bill to permit full-fledged casinos in morning interview program broadcast live from the back-New York state, passed for the initial time in the last session. If stretch. I also appeared as a special guest on Andy Serling’s passed a second time, voters will have the opportunity to approve popular new Thursday night radio show on ESPN Radio 104.5, “At the Post Live: Serling on Saratoga,” broadcast live from or reject the bill in a referendum on Election Day. Currently, we do not know what provisions this bill will include Hattie’s Restaurant. Local news anchor Liz Bishop was one of for our industry. Because our task is to make sure breeding and several who interviewed me for Capital Region television news racing do not get left behind, educating legislators and the pub-outlets. In more formal contexts, I participated on a panel at the an-lic about our industry’s contribution to local and state economies is vital to our collective future. Accordingly, I have devoted much nual Saratoga Institute on Racing and Gaming Law hosted by of my time for the past six weeks to getting our message out at the Albany Law School Government Law Center focusing on the benefits of the marriage between racing and gaming. I also had meetings and seminars and in all branches of the media. Recent trends provided me with my text, so to speak. Signif-two opportunities to talk to prospective owners about the New icant increases in the NYRA purse structure—nowhere more so York program. Early in the meet, I spoke at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s ownership seminar, and near the end of the meet I was invited to be a guest expert at NYRA’s seventh “New Owners Luncheon.” I also made my case in writing in Internet and print media out-lets, addressing an extended open letter to the industry that was picked up by the T HOROUGHBRED T IMES TODAY and the Paulick Re-port . I had a brief question-and-answer piece that appeared in a special flyer distributed by the Paulick Report at the Saratoga sale. Media exposure during the meet is, of course, just the begin-ning of the battle, but the next phase is already in the works. NYTB, in conjunction with the New York Thoroughbred Horse-men’s Association and the other members of the New York Horse Racing and Agriculture Industry Alliance, has engaged a public relations firm for the fall, and is in the process of producing an educational video for legislators and the public about the New York Thoroughbred industry on the model of video created earlier this year on behalf of Pennsylvania racing and breeding. And, of course, our work in Albany will intensify as soon as the ses-sion begins. As the summer winds down, two things are very clear to me: What we have now is working very well and, in the weeks and months to come, the changing landscape in the state means we are going to have to fight hard to keep the upward trajectory on the right track. 2013 THOROUGHBRED TIMES STALLION DIRECTORY Unrivaled! Details coming soon 6 NEW YORK BREEDER September 2012

Executive Director’s Letter

Jeffrey A. Cannizzo

Opportunity knocks at the Spa National attention comes to the state during the high-profile meet The summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, unique in so many ways, also offers a one-of-akind opportunity for breeders and the New York racing industry that you might not think of right off the bat: media exposure. From mid-July through Labor Day, journalists swarm to our town, not only to report on 40 days of racing but also to cover industry-related events taking place nearly every day of the week. This year, the media exposure provided a golden opportunity at a very opportune time. Once again, the breeding and racing industries in New York are at a crossroads. Not only will we see the installation of the reconstituted New York Racing Association board in the near future, with the majority of its 17 members appointed by the governor and legislators, but the upcoming legislative session will include the second vote on a bill to permit full-fledged casinos in New York state, passed for the initial time in the last session. If passed a second time, voters will have the opportunity to approve or reject the bill in a referendum on Election Day. Currently, we do not know what provisions this bill will include for our industry. Because our task is to make sure breeding and racing do not get left behind, educating legislators and the public about our industry’s contribution to local and state economies is vital to our collective future. Accordingly, I have devoted much of my time for the past six weeks to getting our message out at meetings and seminars and in all branches of the media. Recent trends provided me with my text, so to speak. Significant increases in the NYRA purse structure—nowhere more so Than at Saratoga—and increases in incentive awards for New York-breds from video lottery terminal revenue have revitalized our industry after nearly a decade of decline. They have been a catalyst for economic development statewide. The evidence of success is widespread: The Fasig-Tipton New Yorkbred preferred yearling sale outperformed even the phenomenal results of last year, handle at all three NYRA tracks has increased since the new purse structure kicked in, new stallions have come to the state, and 40% more mares came to New York boarding farms to foal in the first five months of the year. All of this creates jobs, generates revenue for New York businesses, and builds a stronger economy for communities across the state. The venues I have taken our message to run the gamut. On the opening day, I was featured on Capital OTB’s morning interview program broadcast live from the backstretch.I also appeared as a special guest on Andy Serling’s popular new Thursday night radio show on ESPN Radio 104.5, “At the Post Live: Serling on Saratoga,” broadcast live from Hattie’s Restaurant. Local news anchor Liz Bishop was one of several who interviewed me for Capital Region television news outlets. In more formal contexts, I participated on a panel at the annual Saratoga Institute on Racing and Gaming Law hosted by the Albany Law School Government Law Center focusing on the benefits of the marriage between racing and gaming. I also had two opportunities to talk to prospective owners about the New York program. Early in the meet, I spoke at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s ownership seminar, and near the end of the meet I was invited to be a guest expert at NYRA’s seventh “New Owners Luncheon.” I also made my case in writing in Internet and print media outlets, addressing an extended open letter to the industry that was picked up by the THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY and the Paulick Report. I had a brief question-and-answer piece that appeared in a special flyer distributed by the Paulick Report at the Saratoga sale. Media exposure during the meet is, of course, just the beginning of the battle, but the next phase is already in the works.NYTB, in conjunction with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the other members of the New York Horse Racing and Agriculture Industry Alliance, has engaged a public relations firm for the fall, and is in the process of producing an educational video for legislators and the public about the New York Thoroughbred industry on the model of video created earlier this year on behalf of Pennsylvania racing and breeding. And, of course, our work in Albany will intensify as soon as the session begins. As the summer winds down, two things are very clear to me: What we have now is working very well and, in the weeks and months to come, the changing landscape in the state means we are going to have to fight hard to keep the upward trajectory on the right track.

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