Racino feels necessary
tax relief imminent and racing season will commence soon
Vernon, N.Y. – April 29, 2017 – Jeff Gural, Chairman
of American Racing and Entertainment, announced today that he has decided to
open the 2017 racing season next Friday, May 5, 2017, following a productive
meeting in Albany on Wednesday. New York State Senator Joseph Griffo,
representing the 47th District, New York State Senator John Bonacic,
Chair of the Senate Racing Gaming and Wagering Committee, New York State
Assemblyman J Gary Pretlow, Chair of the Assembly Racing and Wagering
Committee, and Beth Garvey, top counsel to the Senate Republicans, were among
the top political officials in attendance for Wednesday’s meeting in Albany. In
addition, Mr. Gural met on Thursday with Jamie Rubin on the Governor’s staff
who also seemed to understand the issues and the importance to the community of
keeping Vernon Downs open.
Two weeks ago, Jeff Gural announced that Vernon
Downs would be delaying the opening day of racing amid significant financial
losses due to the added competition from Yellow Brick Road, Lago and
Rivers. Final preparations were underway at Vernon Downs to open the 64th
season of live harness racing, which was set for Friday, April 21.
However, increased competition from the addition of these three casinos with
table games has taken revenue away from the property and caused Vernon to be
losing on average about $150,000 per month since November. Jeff Gural
indicated that tax relief requested from New York State, is necessary and would
still allow Vernon to continue to employ approximately 300 local workers,
preserve horse racing jobs and still allow approximately ten million dollars to
go to education.
“We were extremely disappointed to postpone the
opening day of racing at Vernon Downs, however we feel very optimistic that
necessary tax relief will come our way. Recognizing the hardship placed on the
horsemen, Mr. Gural has decided to begin the season next
Friday, May 5, 2017. I would like to thank Senator Griffo, Senator
Bonacic, Assemblyman Pretlow and Ms. Garvey for their productive discussion at
Wednesday’s meeting in Albany. Since reopening Vernon as a racino in
2006, we have given close to $150 million to the State for education, yet
Vernon Downs has the highest tax rate of its competitors. We look forward
to getting this rectified expeditiously which is why we decided to open the new
racing season next week which we know will benefit the region as well as the
State of New York.
The racino is hopeful that local officials will
continue to weigh in and convince the State legislature to act quickly to help
save the hundreds of jobs currently at risk at Vernon Downs. The horsemen
also agree to support legislation that would lower the tax rate that would
enable Vernon to have a solid long term future.
Final preparations are underway at Vernon Downs
to open the 64th season of live harness racing on Friday, May 5th.
Other highlights of opening night include a
race date t-shirt and wall calendar giveaway while supplies last plus a
spectacular fireworks display following the evening’s final race.
Join us Saturday May 6th to watch
and wager the Kentucky Derby. Derby post time is scheduled for 6:46 p.m. Live
racing will take place with a doubleheader with post times at 2:35pm and
7:05pm, the Derby hat contest and our Food Truck Rodeo Festival from 2pm-8pm on
the apron.
On the track, Vernon Downs will host live
racing Thursday thru Saturday with a few Sunday and usual holiday Monday
matinee races planned. Several top-class stakes races including the Empire
Breeders Classic, Zweig Memorial and Kindergarten Classic round out the 2017
racing calendar.
In addition to its video lottery terminals,
Vernon Downs offers live harness racing, concerts and other entertainment. Jeff
Gural owns Vernon Downs in Vernon, NY and Tioga Downs in Nichols, NY. In
the last decade, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs have created more than 1,000
family-sustaining jobs. For more information on Vernon Downs, please visit www.vernondowns.com.
