Three companies, Capital Play Inc., Empire Racing Associates and Excelsior Racing Associates, are competing with NYRA for the franchise. With approximately six months remaining before the important date, a selection has yet to be made.

The final decision rests on the shoulders of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the state Legislature. Spitzer told the Associated Press he’s weighing every option and will do what's in the best interest of racing, taxpayers and the next track operator.

NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said all the bidders have been broached about the idea of having one firm run the racetracks and another handle the video gaming operations. Hayward said the method has been done with much success at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada, and with the proper controls and guarantees, he said he’d support it.

“No deal has been discussed or negotiated. There does seem to be an inclination to split the gaming and racing,” Hayward said. “I think everybody wants to keep Saratoga the premier place for racing in the country.”

Another concept tossed around frequently involved splitting up downstate and upstate racing. Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Joe Dalton said the notion generated a considerable amount of negative feedback.

“I believe that’s a dead issue now,” he said.

Dalton is a member of the Concerned Citizens for Saratoga Racing, a group composed of community leaders looking to keep the tracks together. Their nine points have been widely supported and Dalton is confident they’ll be adhered to by whoever takes over the track. He said he had hoped there’d be a resolution by Friday.

“December 31 is drawing near very quickly. They have a lot on their plate in Albany,” he said.

Saratoga Springs Mayor Valerie Keehn believes it’s apparent to everyone how important the racing industry is to the entire county, specifically Saratoga Springs.

“It’s critical to the vitality of the city,” she said.

Keehn said a cohesive force is needed to run both the racing and gaming, and she is skeptical about the two being handled separately.

“This is a big decision to make. I hope the governor is looking at all the information provided to him and talking to people who know the industry,” she said.

Marion Altieri, editor-in-chief, radio show host and founder of Alpha Mare Media, is an avid racing fan. Altieri has spoken with hundreds of people about the present state of New York racing and said the governor has greatly disappointed her.

“He doesn’t know or seem to care about horse racing. He doesn’t surround himself with people who know the sport,” she said. “New York racing should be run by New York horse people, period.”

The governor has an open invitation from Altieri anytime he wants to check out the backstretch and meet with horse people to find out what they really want. She believes if a company comes in and doesn’t care about the sport, but just making money, then New York racing will go down the toilet.

“If that happens, people will rip their horses out of here,” Altieri said. “There are scores of other tracks. They don’t need New York. They come here for the big purses and hope to be treated well.”

Paul Larrabee, spokesman for the governor, said racing will continue as it normally does for the remainder of this year. Larrabee said there’s been a dramatic change in the landscape the last few months, but the governor’s guiding principle is still to do what’s best for racing and for the state of New York.

Although it’s been widely reported that the governor is considering splitting racing and gaming, Larrabee said no final decision has been made. In regard to the idea of dividing downstate and upstate racing, he said it’s not a likely scenario at this point.

Larrabee said the governor’s office is aware that a number of people are concerned about when a decision will be made, but said the Legislature will be back July 16. He’s confident a solution will be found.

“We’re working on this every single day,” Larrabee said. “The only thing that’s certain now is the franchise expires on Dec. 31.”