NY - yet ANOTHER black eye

Here is the COMPLETE article which you might want to read. It's not the first time he's resigned to call attention to the horrible way the state government handles NY racing. Unfortunately, this is playing right into dictator Andy's scenario.

Charles Wait resigns from NYRA board
The Saratogian
By Paul Post

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Charles Wait of Saratoga Springs has resigned from the New York Racing Association board effective immediately, published reports say.

Wait co-chaired the large year-long Saratoga 150 celebration of Saratoga Race Course’s sesquicentennial two years ago, and was a leading voice on the NYRA board for issues of importance to Spa City racing.

No reason was given for his departure and Wait could not immediately be reached for comment.

NYRA’s next meeting, the first under new Chairman Anthony Bonomo, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday in New York.

Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo decided to extend state control of the NYRA board for at least another year, after originally charging it with returning the firm to private hands by October 2015.

It is unclear if this move was at least partially responsible for Wait’s departure.

“I don’t know why he stepped down. However, I don’t blame him,” said John Hendrickson, Marylou Whitney’s husband and a special adviser to Cuomo on Saratoga racing issues.

“The state will continue to lose strong leaders as long as [the state] continues to overreach and break its own commitments to New York racing,” Hendrickson said. “NYRA has fulfilled its requirements under state statute. We’ve done our job. The state needs to do theirs.”

“It was wholly disingenuous for the state to propose extending state control over the board several months ago, long before NYRA’s April 15 deadline to submit their (reprivatization) plan,” Hendrickson said. “What prevents the state from controlling New York racing indefinitely?”

Asked if he, too, was considering resigning, Hendrickson said, “I’m considering my options closely.”

The Daily Racing Form reported Wait’s departure on Saturday.

In January 2008, Wait purposefully resigned from the NYRA board to protest his displeasure with a contentious franchise selection process that was going on at the time. Wait was at odds with former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, whom he felt was hurting the racing industry by blocking progress on a franchise agreement.

There were serious concerns the Saratoga meet might be canceled, and many fans were slow in booking local hotel reservations because of the turmoil surrounding NYRA. Wait felt that publicity surrounding his resignation would prompt state leaders to put aside political differences and get the franchise deal settled.

Eventually, NYRA was awarded a new 25-year contract extension. He rejoined the board in 2010 and stayed on as one of five NYRA appointees when Cuomo “reorganized” the 17-member panel with 12 state appointees in October 2012.

Wait, who first joined the board in 1985, is the third person to leave it since the state’s 2012 takeover. Jane Rosenthal stepped down last year and was replaced by Marc Holliday.

Former Chairman Dr. David Skorton left the board at the end of 2014. He is scheduled to become the new head of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. this summer.

Wait served as president, chief executive officer and chairman of Adirondack Bank & Trust Company.

“It always helps to have somebody on the NYRA board from Saratoga,” said Todd Shimkus, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president. “Charles was a tremendous asset. It’s a loss.”

NYRA spokesman John Durso said Wait’s time with NYRA was marked by “distinction, and his leadership was integral to the continued, sustained success of our internationally-renowned Saratoga race meet. We are deeply grateful for Mr. Wait’s service to our organization and his commitment to our great sport.”