Yesterday afternoon, during a race at the Aqueduct, two horses collided, resulting in multiple fractures for jockey Jason Gracia and a fractured skull for horse Ryan and Jack. The 4-year-old gelding was euthanized afterwards; a veteran Aqueduct worker said, "It was the worst accident I've seen." more ›

To paraphrase Captain Renault, were shocked, shocked to find that secret Albany wheeling dealing was going on in the failed AEG Aqueduct deal. Earlier this year, Governor Paterson picked Aqueduct Entertainment Group to install slot machines at the Queens Aqueduct, but AEG's selection was controversial, not only because the group was politically connected but also because its bid sucked. Now, according to the Daily News, the State Inspector General has issued a report, finding "a bidding process rife with inside dealing, secret lobbying and more than $100,000 in campaign donations from the bidders." more ›

Though Gov. Paterson is already looking for a new company to run video slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack, the controversy over the Aqueduct Entertainment Group isn't over yet. According to a confidential document released yesterday, AEG ranked a distant fourth among the six bidding groups at the time, yet was initially chosen by Paterson, quite possibly because of political connections. more ›

After the state rejected a politically-connected company's bid to bring video slot machines to the Aqueduct Racetrack amidst allegations of favoritism, Gov. Paterson said he wants to restart the selection process within a month. Paterson said he hopes to choose a winner soon so the state can benefit from a much-needed $300 million in licensing fees before the state's March 31 budget deadline, though officials might turn out delivering the budget late. more ›

After an initial deal fell apart amidst controversy and allegations of political favoritism, state officials will soon start searching for a new company to operate video slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack. Unlike the previous round of bidding that ended with Gov. Paterson's selection of the Aqueduct Entertainment Group, this time the Governor's office will actually establish a set criteria that will be used to judge applicants. "We want to limit the leaders' involvement," a Paterson official told the Daily News. more ›

Investigators researching the controversial selection of a politically-connected casino operator to run slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack are expected to subpoena Jay Z, Russell Simmons, and influential reverend and former Congressman Floyd Flake. According to the Post, Jay-Z and Flake are partners in Aqueduct Entertainment Group—the casino company that Gov. Paterson chose for the contract even though it initially said it would generate the least revenue, before drastically changing its estimates. Simmons reportedly was an advisor to Penn National Gaming, a losing bidder. Dozens of others are expected be questioned about the deal, including bidders who were passed over in favor or AEG. more ›

Gov. Paterson's controversial selection of a politically-connected casino company to operate slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack could delay a payment of $300 million to the state—widening the Albany budget shortfall to more than $2 billion as the fiscal year nears its end. "For at least five years, the state has counted on revenue from an Aqueduct deal to balance the budget," said Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. "We're still waiting to collect." more ›

Federal investigators are trying to convince the casino operators who were snubbed by Gov. Paterson in favor of a politically-connected bidder to cooperate in a probe of the Aqueduct Racetrack deal. "The [Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office] said, 'We're contemplating a further inquiry into the racino bid process: If we go ahead with that, would you guys be willing to cooperate with us?'" a bidder, whose company's slot machine plan was rejected, told the Daily News. "We said that it wasn't much of a process, but, yes, if you ask us to, of course we'd cooperate." more ›

The politically-connected casino operator chosen to bring slot machines to the Aqueduct Racetrack beat out its rivals by claiming the other bidders would cater to crowds that were too young or too classy for Queens. Documents released to the public in an effort to quell the controversy surrounding Gov. Paterson's selection of the Aqueduct Entertainment Group also reveal that the company was picked even though it initially said it would net the least amount of money for the state. Paterson has been accused of choosing the group to win the political support of AEG shareholder Rev. Floyd Flake. more ›

A Queens Congressman says some of the criticism regarding the selection of a politically-connected casino operator to run slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack has been sparked by racism. Rep. Gregory Meeks claims Aqueduct Entertainment Group shareholders and community liaisons Rev. Floyd Flake and Darryl Greene have been targeted by project opponents because they are black. "The only two people who come from the community and the only two people of color are singled out." more ›

In a show of transparency intended to quell the controversy surrounding his selection of a politically-connected company to operate slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, Gov. Paterson promised he would release documents regarding the bidders to the public. But before disclosing the documents, Paterson told the casino operators that they can "black out" anything they'd like. more ›

Following Gov. Paterson's controversial selection of Aqueduct Entertainment Group to operate video slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, federal prosecutors have reportedly seized records related to the politically-connected winning bidder. Investigators are researching ties between Aqueduct Entertainment Group and a Queens nonprofit, which was last in the news for allegedly fleecing Hurricane Katrina victims out of money raised on their behalf. more ›

The horse racing organization that has threatened to cancel the Belmont Stakes due to monetary woes says it will take the state to court instead of opening its books to auditors, according to the Daily News. The New York Racing Association refused to turn over its records to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli after he subpoenaed the group yesterday, arguing that because a court has ruled that nonprofit charter schools don't need to open their books to the state, neither should the nonprofit horse-racing organization. more ›

The horse racing organization that threatened to cancel the Belmont Stakes due to monetary woes will be subpoenaed for refusing to open its books. The state is skeptical of the New York Racing Association's claims that it doesn't have enough money to hold the final leg of the Triple Crown, because the organization was awarded $105 million in taxpayer money and had its $200 million debt erased last year, according to the Daily News. more ›

The state once again announced that it is making a concerted effort in trying to lure in companies that will set up video slot machines (or VLTs) at the Aqueduct Racetracks, offering $250 million in tax-free bonds to help pay for the project. The application process was reopened after the company Delaware North had to default on the original $370 million it was granted. Governor Paterson said, "We remain absolutely committed to bringing a VLT facility to Aqueduct, which will provide much needed economic development to the race track, and critical funding for education in New York. It is extremely disappointing that the economic crisis has slowed this development, but we are confident that Aqueduct will be transformed into a destination spot for racing and gaming fans." The state sees millions of revenue each week from gaming taking place at Yonkers Raceway's Empire City. more ›