Frankly the song I posted for Monday is a perfect scenario.
Suffolk finally realizing The TRACK Needs It’s Horsemen/Women. About time you did know it.
Suffolk Wants Signals, Could Close
Updated: Monday, February 21, 2011 9:22 PM
Posted: Monday, February 21, 2011 11:23 AM
By Lynne Snierson
Suffolk Downs has threatened to shut down in March if the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and other chapters across the country do not restore simulcast signals by Feb. 26, according to a source close to the negotiations in the ongoing dispute over a contract for 2011.
While no one involved in the negotiations for either side will speak on the record, the source said Suffolk is now offering to race 75 to 85 days and pay purses of $103,000 to $110,000 per day spread over its traditional May-to-November live meet. The horsemen initially requested $10.5 million in total purses, while Suffolk had offered $7.5 million.
Both sides are in agreement that the track increased that sum to $8.4 million in its latest proposal. When talks began, the horsemen had taken the position they need to race a minimum of 100 days, while the track wanted a meet of 67 to 76 days. The split of the simulcast revenue, with the horsemen asking for 50-50, is still at issue.
Negotiations are continuing, and the 13-member NEHBPA board of directors, which met on the night of Feb. 20, scheduled another session for Feb. 21. Nonetheless, the source said the offer Suffolk has on the table now is contingent upon all simulcast signals being restored.
After that, the East Boston, Mass., track will start cutting days and total purses with the possibility Suffolk will cease operations for a time in March if the signals are not restored.
The horsemen, who raced without a contract in 2010 and experienced purse cuts during the summer after legislation for racetrack gaming failed to pass, pulled the simulcast signal from the New York Racing Association at the end of January. Horsemen in Ohio, Florida, Oregon, and Maryland subsequently withdrew their signals in a show of support.
Due to the decline in simulcast revenue, Suffolk already reduced its hours of operation and staffing.
“There was a lot of talk (Feb. 20) but there is no agreement yet,” said one board member who asked not to be identified. “Our discussions were mostly about clarification, of both exactly what Suffolk is offering and of what we want and what we can accept. There is no consensus among us at this time, but one may be within reach.”
When asked if there will be live racing at Suffolk this year, the board member said: “I think we will race. This will all get this worked out. It always does.”
History has proved otherwise. The NEHBPA board became embroiled in a similar contract dispute with the management of Rockingham Park after the 2002 season. After negotiations broke down and an impasse was reached, Rockingham switched to harness racing, and the New England Thoroughbred circuit ended.
End
” the source said Suffolk is now offering to race 75 to 85 days and pay purses of $103,000 to $110,000 per day spread over its traditional May-to-November live meet. The horsemen initially requested $10.5 million in total purses, while Suffolk had offered $7.5 million.
Both sides are in agreement that the track increased that sum to $8.4 million in its latest proposal. When talks began, the horsemen had taken the position they need to race a minimum of 100 days, while the track wanted a meet of 67 to 76 days. The split of the simulcast revenue, with the horsemen asking for 50-50, is still at issue.”
History has proved otherwise. The NEHBPA board became embroiled in a similar contract dispute with the management of Rockingham Park after the 2002 season. After negotiations broke down and an impasse was reached, Rockingham switched to harness racing, and the New England Thoroughbred circuit ended.
Well one thing about History people. Will Suffolk turn into a Harness meet?
Don’t think so and in reality if they did, without T.B. Signals to Simulcast? They still would have to SHUT THE DOORS AND CLOSE. And believe me a business that has had its cake and ate it too does not want that. That’s why they are now offering the Horsemen more and more what they should have from the start.
I’d still stick to my guns if the NEHBPA until Suffolk agreed to every single thing the Horsemen deserve and I’d settle for nothing less. They no more want to shut down that track then the Horsemen want to stop racing. But there comes a time when you finally have taken enough bullshit and say enough is enough that you finally take a Stand and Start Fighting Back. And when they see you’re not backing down an inch, it is then that the achievements will be in your favor. Not only will they respect you, but most importantly you’ll respect yourselves even more for having stood your ground.
But if you bow down every single time and run scared, you’ll in-fact get what they think you deserve which is nothing. In fact you’ll have put it in neon lights yourselves. Sometimes the Horsemen are their own worst enemies caving in constantly. I’m glad the NEHBPA and Maryland thought the risk was worth taking, obviously the other HBPA Chapters respected you enough that they stepped in to join you in your fight.
Now if only the Michigan HBPA had that courage, drive & fight in them as well. Because when I got done with both the State and Track they’d understand that it wont be killing just the Thoroughbreds off. Because I would pull that Inter-State Thoroughbred Simulcasting Signal from the Harness Tracks so fast their heads would spin faster than that little girl in the Exorcist. Harness tracks here reveled when DRC went down in 1998. And the T.B.s went clear across the State. Ever since Pinnacle Race Course opened they have thought of every roadblock they could think of to stand in our way.
If it were up to me, they would be standing in an empty track as well, because without the Thoroughbred Signals in-which to bet on. You Don’t Have A Race Track Business. The Thoroughbreds ARE YOUR BUSINESS.
Now if I could only make the MIHBPA understand the power they possess and how it is in their best interest to also take that risk and make that move. I’d bow to no one.
In order to be walked over, you have to be lying down.
The Michigan Thoroughbred Horsemen & Women surpassed Enough is Enough a long time ago as in 1998. Yet they still haven’t awakened. Their philosophy is: After all is said and done, there is usually more said than done.
Mine is: “You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” — Ayn Rand
The time for Action is long overdue.
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