New York Governor Andrew Cuomo included a provision in his executive budget proposal that could impact harness racing in Saratoga, which recently began its 80th season.

“I have deep concerns that what has been proposed in the governor’s budget, what has been termed a sweetheart deal for Rivers Casino, would in fact make all of this impossible,” Assemblymember Carrier Woerner said to Spectrum News. “There would no longer be harness racing in Saratoga Springs.”

The provision in question would allow for one gaming operation, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady (located south of Saratoga Springs), to not provide purse payments to the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association (SHHA) until six months following all pandemic restrictions being lifted. With other upstate casinos being associated with other racetracks, Rivers was left on the hook for a sizeable chunk of money to subsidize SHHA, since Saratoga's casino has seen revenue dips with the COVID-19 pandemic according to Rivers Casino. The apportionment of casino revenues to upstate New York tracks has been a state policy since purse-support payments were negotiated in 2013.

On Tuesday afternoon (March 16), Rush Street Gaming—owner of Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady—has agreed with the SHHA to negotiate funding. Without an agreement, the fate of racing at Saratoga relies on the budget passed by the New York congress. The Assembly’s one-house budget bill currently does not include the provision from Gov. Cuomo. However the Senate’s bill does, though the Senate has altered the stipulation to delay payments for three months instead of six.

Rush Street Gaming has not paid its purse support to Saratoga since January 2020. Gov. Cuomo’s current proposal would require Rivers to pay its first quarter payment of $825,000, which Rush Street Gaming has said it will pay in compliance with the proposal and that the proposal would “give Rivers time to come up with the money and regain financial footing.”

(with files from Spectrum News)